In a horrifying incident, a mother in the US allegedly slit her 11-year-old son’s throat, leaving his body on a motel bed surrounded by Disneyland souvenirs
An Indian-origin woman, Saritha Ramaraju, has been charged with murder for allegedly killing her 11-year-old son at a California motel during a custody visit.
The crime unfolded just after a three-day vacation to Disneyland, which was meant to be a bonding experience between mother and son, reported gujaratsamachar.com.
A Vacation That Turned Into a Nightmare
The child was supposed to be returned to his father on March 19, but instead, Santa Ana police found his lifeless body in a motel room, surrounded by Disneyland souvenirs.
The shocking discovery was made after Ramaraju called 911 at 9:12 AM, admitting she had killed her son and attempted suicide by ingesting pills.
A Chilling Crime Scene
The murder took place at La Quinta Inn, located in the 2700 block of Hotel Terrace, Santa Ana, where Ramaraju was staying with her son for the custody visit. A large kitchen knife, which she had purchased the day before, was found at the scene. Authorities believe the child had been dead for several hours before the mother called for help.
Legal Consequences and DA’s Statement
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Ramaraju faces one felony count of murder and one felony enhancement of personal use of a weapon (knife)
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If convicted, she could be sentenced to 26 years to life in prison
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer condemned the crime, saying:
“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. Instead of wrapping her arms around him in love, she slit his throat and removed him from the very world she brought him into.”
Ongoing Investigation
Senior Deputy District Attorney Harris Siddiq from the Homicide Unit is leading the prosecution. Meanwhile, the tragedy has sparked debates about the role of family disputes and mental health in violent crimes.
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