16-year-old arrested for allegedly stabbing mother and younger brother on south Siesta Key

Massachusetts family was on vacation, Sheriff’s Office reports

A map shows the location of Fisherman's Cove on south Siesta Key. Image from Google Maps
A map shows the location of Fisherman’s Cove on south Siesta Key. Image from Google Maps

A 16-year-old from Framingham, Mass., has been charged with stabbing his mother and 14-year-old brother while the family was vacationing on Siesta Key, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office reported on Aug. 18.

Both victims suffered multiple stab wounds, according to the report. The latest information released by the Sheriff’s Office prior to The Sarasota News Leader’s deadline this week said the mother and son remained hospitalized in critical condition and that the investigation was continuing.

The report says Melissa Ramgren was transported to Sarasota Memorial Hospital, while her younger son was taken via Bayflite to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in Tampa because he was suffering with “life threatening injuries.”

“As deputies rendered life-saving efforts [at the scene],” a Sheriff’s Office news release said, they learned that the suspect had been located nearby. The 16-year-old was arrested and charged with two counts of attempted second-degree murder. After his booking at the Sarasota County Jail on Aug. 18, the Sheriff’s Office reported later that day, he was taken into custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice.

The News Leader is not naming the youth because of his age.

Just after 9 p.m. on Aug. 17, the Sheriff’s Office report says, Melissa Ramgren called 911 to report the situation and that the 16-year-old had fled on foot. Moments later, the report continues, the Sheriff’s Office received a call from a resident on Tree Bay Lane who said the juvenile was outside, requesting help for his family.

Melissa Ramgren and her sons were staying at the Fisherman’s Cove condominium complex, which is located at 8900 Blind Pass Road, just south of Turtle Beach Park. The Sheriff’s Office report says that while deputies were rendering first aid to the 14-year-old, he told them “he thought he was going to die and asked why his brother would do this.”

The 16-year-old “was cooperative and provided a full confession to stabbing both his mother and younger brother,” a Sheriff’s Office news release says. He confirmed that the three of them were visiting Siesta Key “and had been having a good time,” the report adds.

According to the report, the boys’ father, Peter R. Ramgren, lives in Anchorage, Alaska.

An earlier news release issued by the Sheriff’s Office asked that anyone with information about the incident call the Criminal Investigations Division at 861-4900 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers by calling 366-TIPS (8477), going online at http://www.sarasotacrimestoppers.com or texting TIP109, plus a message, to CRIMES (274637).