A tragic incident unfolded following a family trip to Disneyland when a mother allegedly killed her 11-year-old son.
Saritha Ramaraju, 48, was arrested on March 19, 2025, after calling 911 to report that she had stabbed her son, Yatin Ramaraju, in a hotel room at the La Quinta Inn & Suites in Santa Ana. Ramaraju also mentioned ingesting an unknown substance in an apparent suicide attempt.
When officers arrived on the scene, they found Yatin unresponsive, surrounded by Disneyland-themed merchandise. A kitchen knife was discovered nearby. Despite efforts to resuscitate the boy, he was declared dead at the scene.
Mother Allegedly Kills Son After Visiting Disneyland
The Orange County District Attorney reported that it appeared Yatin had been deceased for several hours before his mother called 911.
Ramaraju was detained at the scene and transported to a hospital for evaluation. She was discharged the next day and subsequently booked into the Santa Ana Jail. Ramaraju faces one felony count of murder and a felony enhancement for the personal use of a knife. If convicted, she could face a sentence of 26 years to life in prison.
Prior to the incident, Ramaraju and her son were in Santa Ana for a court-approved custody visit. Following a divorce in 2018, Ramaraju had relocated from California. To mark the occasion, she had purchased three-day Disneyland passes for both herself and her son.
Previous Tragedies Near Disneyland
The case has garnered attention due to its location and the nature of the incident. However, this is not the first death connected to the Disneyland area. In December 2024, 25-year-old Kenneth Swets was found dead from multiple gunshot wounds near the Disneyland Resort. Authorities arrested two individuals in connection with his death.
Disneyland itself has also been the site of past tragedies. In the 1980s, Mel C. Yorba, a teenager, was fatally stabbed during a private event in the park’s Tomorrowland. This marked the first recorded homicide at Disneyland. Six years later, a 15-year-old boy was fatally shot in the Disneyland Resort parking lot during an altercation between rival gangs.
While these incidents are infrequent, they serve as a reminder that even the area surrounding the Happiest Place on Earth is not immune to violent crime.
