A deeply tragic event occurred when Saritha Ramaraju, 48, was charged with the murder of her 11-year-old son following what was expected to be a joyful Disneyland trip. This devastating incident unfolded in a motel room, overshadowing their three-day vacation with horror.
On what was to be the day of returning her son, Yatin Ramaraju, to his father’s care, Saritha Ramaraju made a chilling 911 call at about 9:12 a.m. on March 19. She reported the unthinkable: she had killed her son and attempted to take her own life by consuming an unidentified substance.
Authorities arrived promptly at the La Quinta Inn in Santa Ana and found a heartbreaking scene. Young Yatin was discovered lifeless on the bed, his throat tragically slit, with Disneyland souvenirs scattered around him. Evidence indicated that Yatin had been murdered hours before the emergency call.
A chilling piece of evidence, a kitchen knife believed to have been the murder weapon, was found at the scene. It was purchased by Ramaraju the day before the tragedy struck.
After receiving treatment for her attempted suicide, Ramaraju was released from the hospital on March 20 and taken into custody, charged with the murder of her son.
The family had been entangled in a custody battle since Saritha Ramaraju’s divorce from Prakash Raju in 2018. Prakash held primary custody of Yatin, with Saritha granted visitation rights. This ongoing dispute has now ended in a tragic loss.
Ramaraju now faces serious legal consequences, charged with one felony count of murder and one felony enhancement for the personal use of a knife. The stakes are high, with a potential sentence of 26 years to life in prison, as stated by the Orange County District Attorney’s office.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer shared his sentiments on the matter, stating,
“The life of a child should not hang in the balance between two parents whose anger for each other outweighs their love for their child. The safest place for a child should be in their parents’ arms.”
