Ohio – An Ohio man was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after serving nearly four decades for the murder of his girIfriend, 46-year-old Suzan. The sentencing followed a trial in which prosecutors detailed the brutal nature of the crime, highlighting how the 22-year-old defendant attacked the victim inside her home and later attempted to mislead investigators about his involvement.
Authorities said the investigation began when police responded to a welfare check at the victim’s home in Ohio. Upon arrival, officers discovered her body inside the residence. Evidence at the scene suggested she had been beaten and strangled. A coroner’s report confirmed that the cause of death was asphyxiation and blunt force trauma. Prosecutors presented surveillance footage and phone records that placed the 22-year-old man, Kandewaswika, at the home at the time of the murder.
The victim’s then10-year-old child was also in the home during the attack. Investigators revealed that the denfendant restrained the teenager, preventing him from helping his mother or calling for assistance. The boy later testified in court that the defendant threatened him and physically held him back as he assaulted the victim. After killing her, the 22-year-old man fled the scene, leaving the teenager locked inside the house. He coerced her son into helping carry her body to the trunk of a car, telling the boy he was taking her to the hospital, but did not do so.
During police questioning, the defendant initially denied involvement, claiming he had not seen the victim in days. However, investigators uncovered text messages that contradicted his claims, as well as security footage showing him entering and leaving the home on the night of the murder. DNA evidence collected from the victim’s body also matched his.
As the case progressed, prosecutors described the defendant as a violent and controlling individual who had a history of domestic abuse. Witnesses testified that the victim had previously confided in friends about her fears of the defendant but had not reported him to the authorities.
The 22-year-old defendant faced accusations of preparing a resting place for the victim after strangling her, with police alleging that he left her son unattended at her home for extended periods while intermittently checking on both the child and the body, all while feeding the boy. Authorities in Ohio also said the defendant assaulted the woman’s son with a shovel, then coerced him into assisting in arranging the resting place for her body in the trunk of her car.
In court, the defendant showed little remorse. The judge, citing the overwhelming evidence and the brutality of the crime, imposed the maximum sentence, ensuring that Kahari would never be released. Ramberg’s family members expressed relief at the sentencing but also grief over the loss of their loved one. Her son, who was present in the courtroom, stated that no punishment could undo the trauma he endured that night.
Law enforcement officials emphasized the importance of recognizing signs of domestic violence and encouraged anyone in an abusive situation to seek help before it escalates. Authorities hope that Ramberg’s case serves as a reminder of the dangers of unchecked domestic abuse and the tragic consequences that can follow.