A 22-year-old man from Ohio has been sentenced to a minimum of 39 years in prison for a crime described by the presiding judge as “one of the most horrific murders” he has ever encountered. The man, Kandawaswika Kahari, was convicted for the brutal murder of his 46-year-old girlfriend, Susan Ramberg, and the subsequent abuse of her 10-year-old son.
Prosecutors revealed that Kahari strangled Ramberg during a heated argument in her garage. Following the murder, he forced her son to assist him in creating a makeshift bed in the garage where Ramberg’s body was left to decompose for several weeks. The young boy was then subjected to weeks of abuse and neglect by Kahari.
The victim’s family expressed their anguish during Kahari’s sentencing, recounting the traumatic experiences the young boy had to endure. They highlighted the boy’s fear and uncertainty, living alone in a house where his mother’s body lay decomposing in the garage, and being subjected to physical abuse by Kahari.
Kahari was sentenced for the murder that took place in February 2023. He pleaded guilty in December to charges of aggravated murder, felonious assault, and gross abuse of a corpse. The judge, while delivering the sentence, reiterated the horrific nature of the crime.
The prosecution detailed that Kahari would leave the boy alone for extended periods, only returning to check on him and the body. Despite the horrific circumstances, Kahari continued to provide food for the boy.
The incident reportedly began with an argument between Kahari and Ramberg in the garage. Kahari then physically assaulted Ramberg, ultimately leading to her death. He also attacked the boy with a shovel before forcing him to assist in preparing the makeshift bed for Ramberg’s body in the trunk of her car.
An online obituary for Ramberg painted a picture of a devoted mother who was kind, caring, empathetic, and fiercely loyal. It stated that she loved her family and friends more than anything. Kahari will be eligible for parole after serving the first 39 years of his sentence.