Dallas,September 12(HS):
An Indian-origin motel manager in Dallas, Texas, was brutally murdered and beheaded by his employee following a violent dispute over the use of a broken washing machine, authorities confirmed on Thursday.
The victim, 50-year-old Chandra Nagamallaiah, originally from Karnataka, was allegedly attacked by 37-year-old Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, who has now been charged with capital murder.
According to Dallas police, the confrontation began when Nagamallaiah instructed Cobos-Martinez not to use the motel’s washing machine, which was out of order. Witnesses said the accused grew agitated after Nagamallaiah communicated through another employee rather than speaking to him directly. In a fit of rage, Cobos-Martinez retrieved a machete and launched a deadly assault.
Police reports and surveillance footage reveal that Nagamallaiah was chased across the parking lot and stabbed multiple times. His wife and 18-year-old son, who witnessed the attack and tried to intervene, were pushed aside by the accused. Moments later, the attacker allegedly decapitated the victim and desecrated the body by kicking the severed head.
Graphic footage circulating on social media reportedly shows Cobos-Martinez picking up the head and carrying it to a dumpster. He was arrested shortly afterward in the motel premises, still holding the bloodied machete.
The Indian Consulate in Houston expressed shock at the brutal killing, extending condolences to the bereaved family. In a statement posted on X, the Consulate said it was coordinating closely with law enforcement and providing all necessary assistance to Nagamallaiah’s family.
Local reports indicate that Cobos-Martinez had a prior criminal history in Houston, including arrests for assault and auto theft. He is currently in custody and faces charges of capital murder, one of the most severe criminal charges under Texas law.
This incident, described by investigators as one of the most gruesome homicides in recent Dallas history, has left the local Indian community shaken.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
