Man, who strangled his girlfriend to death and then abused her 10-year-old son for weeks as her body rotted in the trunk of her car, was sentenced
Ohio – In a disturbing case in Ohio, a 22-year-old man, identified as K. Kahari, has been sentenced to life in prison for the brutal murder of 46-year-old girlfriend, identified as S. Ramberg, in what was described as one of the “most horrific murders” ever by officials. The sentencing occurred on Friday, with the judge and the victim’s family articulating the profound brutality and psychological torment inflicted not only on Ramberg but also on her 10-year-old son.
The horrific sequence of events unfolded in February 2023, leading to Kahari’s conviction on charges of aggravated murder, felonious assault, and gross abuse of a corpse. According to reports, Kahari strangled Ramberg during an argument in her garage. He then compounded the horror by forcing her young son to assist him in creating a makeshift bed to hide her body within the garage itself. Prosecutors detailed how Kahari forced the young boy to assist him in creating a makeshift bed in the garage to hide Ramberg’s body, where it was left for weeks. But Kahari didn’t stop there. It was revealed that he abused the 10-year-old boy for three weeks after killing his mother. The investigation showed that during that time, Kahari returned periodically to the crime scene to check on the boy and the body.
The psychological impact on Ramberg’s son was profound. Forced to live in terror and under the control of his mother’s killer, the boy endured weeks of neglect and abuse. For three weeks after Ramberg’s murder, her son lived in constant fear, trapped in a house with the chilling knowledge that his mother’s body was nearby. The distressing circumstances were highlighted during the sentencing when the family of the victim provided a heart-wrenching statement. They expressed the profound trauma experienced by Ramberg’s son, who was forced to endure the presence of his mother’s killer while fearing for his own life. “He should never have to hug his dead mother, put her in the car with her murderer,” the family stated, reflecting on the unimaginable cruelty of forcing a child to partake in covering up the murder scene. They also recounted how the boy had to “play dead while laying in his own blood so his mother‘s murderer will stop kicking him.”
After pleading guilty in December to charges of aggravated murder, felonious assault, and gross abuse of a corpse, Kahari was sentenced last week, on Friday. He will serve 39 years to life, with the possibility of parole after 39 years. The murder unfolded following an argument inside Ramberg’s garage. Police reports indicated that Kahari punched and choked Ramberg to death before attacking her son with a shovel. He then forced the boy into helping him prepare a “bed” for Ramberg’s body in the trunk of her car, compounding the atrocity with his actions toward the child.
The community and Ramberg’s family are left to grapple with the aftermath of such a brutal act. An online obituary remembered Ramberg as a “devoted mother” who was “kind, caring, empathetic,” and “fiercely loyal.” It highlighted her love for her family and friends, emphasizing the tragedy of her loss. The case has not only led to a lengthy prison sentence for Kahari but also highlighted severe issues regarding domestic violence and the protection of vulnerable individuals within a household. The judge’s statement at the sentencing echoed the sentiment felt by many, underscoring the brutal nature of the crime and its impact on the victim’s family, particularly the young boy who survived the horrific events orchestrated by Kahari.
