California, March 23 (H.S.): An Indian-origin woman, Saritha Ramaraju, 48, has been charged with murdering her 11-year-old son, Yatin, in New York after a Disneyland vacation. If convicted, she could face 26 years to life imprisonment.
Prosecutors alleged that she had slit his throat in a Santa Ana motel following their trip to Disneyland. Ramaraju, who divorced in 2018, had traveled from Virginia to visit her son under a custody agreement, booking a motel and purchasing Disneyland tickets for them.
On March 19, the day she was to return him to his father, Ramaraju called 911, claiming she had killed her son and attempted suicide by ingesting pills. When police arrived, they found Yatin dead on the bed, surrounded by Disneyland souvenirs, and a knife believed to be the murder weapon was discovered in the room, purchased a day prior.
The case highlights ongoing conflicts between Ramaraju and her ex-husband, Prakash Raju, regarding custody. She had sought more involvement in their son's life, alleging he made unilateral decisions without her consent.
Orange County DA Todd Spitzer condemned a mother for ending her son's life amid a custody conflict with her ex-husband, Prakash Raju. They had battled over custody, with allegations of substance abuse and control. Ramaraju is under investigation following her discharge.
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
