Was Indian-origin motel manager beheaded in Dallas over a washing machine spat?

A chilling tragedy has shaken Dallas, Texas, after a 50-year-old Indian motel manager was brutally beheaded with a machete in front of his wife and 18-year-old son.

The victim, Chandra Mouli “Bob” Nagamallaiah, was managing the Downtown Suites Motel when an argument with a fellow employee, Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, spiralled out of control on Wednesday morning.

The Consulate General of India in Houston has expressed deep condolences, confirming that they are in touch with the grieving family and working closely with Dallas police as the accused remains in custody.

“We are in touch with the family and offering all possible assistance. The accused is in the custody of Dallas Police. We are following up on the matter closely,” the consulate said in a post on X.

More from Explainers

Chandra Nagamalliah beheading 'could have been prevented': Trump admin says Biden govt released 'vile monster' Florida conducts execution by lethal injection in a triple murder case

But who was Chandra Mouli “Bob” Nagamallaiah? Why was he so horrifically attacked by Martinez? Here’s how the tragedy unfolded

How the chilling attack unfolded

According to a police affidavit, the incident began when Chandra Mouli ‘Bob’ Nagamallaiah walked into a motel room where Cobos-Martinez and another employee were cleaning. He asked them not to use a washing machine that was broken.

Things turned tense when Nagamallaiah asked another person to translate his instructions instead of speaking directly to Cobos-Martinez. That seemingly small moment enraged him.

CCTV footage reviewed by police shows Cobos-Martinez storming out of the room, grabbing a machete, and launching a violent attack on Nagamallaiah.

Quick Reads

View All

‘Touched inappropriately, then thanked me…’ How South Korean tourist was sexually harassed at Bengaluru airport

Why Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau’s Davos appearance became controversial

The 50-year-old manager ran screaming toward the motel office, desperate to reach his wife and 18-year-old son. But the attacker chased him all the way.

“He chased him from 108 all the way to the office. The man was trying to get into the office to tell his family," a witness told CBS News.

Inside the office, Nagamallaiah’s wife and son tried to protect him, but Cobos-Martinez shoved them aside. He then took Nagamallaiah’s phone and key card before resuming the brutal assault. According to the affidavit, the attack continued until Nagamallaiah’s head “was removed from his body."

Police documents further reveal the horrifying aftermath. “The suspect then kicked the severed head twice into the parking lot and proceeded to pick it up and carry it to the dumpster and put it inside," the affidavit stated.

A witness recalled the victim’s wife screaming and crying as the attack unfolded. “She was hollering, but I told her to get back. We didn’t know what the attacker was going to do,” the witness told CBS News.

Moments later, Cobos-Martinez walked out of the office, still holding the bloodied machete. He was taken into custody shortly after. He has since admitted to police that he killed Nagamallaiah with the sharp weapon and is now being held in the Dallas County Jail on a capital murder charge.

Also read: 'Indians are bad': How 67-year-old nurse was brutally attacked by patient in US hospital

Who was Chandra Nagamallaiah?

Chandra Mouli “Bob” Nagamallaiah, as he was fondly known, was originally from Karnataka, India. Friends and family remember him as a loving husband, a devoted father, and a gentle soul who left a mark on everyone who crossed his path, reported PTI.

“This unimaginable tragedy was not only sudden but deeply traumatic," his friends said in a statement. “Bob’s life was taken in a brutal attack that occurred in front of his wife and son, who bravely tried to protect him. The shocking nature of this event has shaken our community."

In the days following his death, relatives, friends, and the local Indian community in Dallas have come together to support his grieving family. A fundraiser has been launched to help cover funeral costs, daily living expenses, and his son’s college education.

Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday, where members of the Indian diaspora are expected to gather in large numbers to honour his memory and extend solidarity to the family.

Meanwhile, Dallas police say the case remains under investigation as they continue piecing together what exactly led to the deadly altercation.

Also read: Who was Joy Saini, the Indian-origin doctor killed in New York plane crash?

Accused had a history of violent crimes

The accused, Cobos-Martinez, is a Cuban national with a troubling history of violent crimes, according to records from the Dallas County Jail.

Court records reveal a disturbing past. In 2017, Cobos-Martinez carjacked a woman in South Lake Tahoe while completely naked. A jury later convicted him in 2023, and he served a year and a half in prison. Just a year later, in 2018, he was charged with indecency and assault involving a child.

Despite this record, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed to Fox News that Cobos-Martinez was released from its custody on January 13 this year, even though there was already a removal order against him. ICE explained the decision, saying there was “no significant likelihood for removal in the foreseeable future.”

Authorities have since placed an immigration hold on him, raising the likelihood that he was in the US without legal status. The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has gone further, blaming the Biden administration for his release, saying that Cuba had refused to take him back because of his criminal record.

Now, with a capital murder charge against him, the 38-year-old faces life imprisonment without parole, or even the death penalty if convicted.

With input from agencies