Houston, Sep 12: A 50-year-old Indian-origin motel manager, Chandra Mouli “Bob” Nagamallaiah, was beheaded in front of his wife and 18-year-old son at a Dallas motel following a dispute over a washing machine, authorities said.
The suspect, 37-year-old co-worker Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, who has a prior criminal record including arrests for auto theft and assault, was arrested and charged with capital murder. If convicted, he could face life imprisonment without parole or the death penalty.
The incident occurred on Wednesday morning at Downtown Suites Motel. According to Dallas Police Department, Cobos-Martinez became enraged when Nagamallaiah asked another person to translate his instructions. Surveillance footage reportedly shows the suspect retrieving a machete and attacking the victim, who fled toward the motel office where his family was present. Despite their attempts to intervene, Cobos-Martinez carried out the attack.
Friends and family remembered Nagamallaiah as a loving husband, devoted father, and kind-hearted individual who positively impacted everyone around him. “This unimaginable tragedy was not only sudden but deeply traumatic,” they said, emphasizing the profound shock it has caused within the local community.
A fundraiser has been launched to support the family, covering funeral expenses, immediate living costs, and the son’s college education. Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday, as friends, family, and the Indian community rally to provide support.