Mom Who Stabbed 11-Year-Old Son To Death ID'd As Irvine Woman: Police

SANTA ANA, CA — A mother who allegedly called authorities from a Santa Ana hotel to confess killing her 11-year-old son, who was stabbed multiple times, has been identified by police.

Saritha Ramaraju, 48, of Irvine, called police at around 9:45 a.m. Wednesday from the La Quinta Inn at 2721 Hotel Terrace, near the California State route 55 Freeway, authorities said.

"The mom called and she ... stated that she had killed her son," Santa Ana Police Department Officer Natalie Garcia told KCAL-9. "She also stated that she had ingested something, so she is currently at the hospital, in custody. She is in stable condition, but given the facts of this incident she is in custody."

Hotel guest Alyssah Witherell told KTLA that she heard something strange before police arrived.
"We heard the banging and something hit the wall. It sounded like something hit the floor really hard, and we heard like a short yell but that was it," she said.

A weapon was recovered, police said. Garcia said police are currently investigating a possible motive.
KCAL also reported the child was discovered on a bed, with a large kitchen knife in the room — and that, according to police, the mother showed very little emotion as she emerged from the hotel room.

According to KNX radio, officers went inside the room and found a boy suffering from multiple stab wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said the woman's last known residence was in Irvine.

KNX also said the woman and boy had been living at the hotel for weeks, though it was unclear why.

The location of boy's father was unknown.

City News Service contributed to this report.