Deadly Custody Dispute: Mother Charged with Murder of 11-Year-Old Son in California

Santa Ana (The Uttam Hindu): A 48-year-old Indian-origin woman, Saritha Ramaraju, has been charged with murdering her 11-year-old son after a family vacation to Disneyland. The incident occurred during a custody visit in Santa Ana, California. Ramaraju allegedly slit her son's throat with a kitchen knife she had purchased the previous day. She then called 911 and reported the crime, stating that she had also consumed pills in an attempt to take her own life. The boy's body was found in a motel room filled with Disney souvenirs. Ramaraju faces one felony count of murder and one felony enhancement of personal use of a weapon, with a maximum sentence of 26 years to life if convicted.

The incident is a tragic culmination of a custody battle between Ramaraju and her ex-husband, Prakash Raju, which had been ongoing since their divorce in 2018. Ramaraju had alleged that Raju had substance abuse issues and was making decisions without consulting her. Orange County DA Todd Spitzer condemned the crime, stating that a child's life should never be caught between parents' anger and love.