A disagreement with an employee resulted in the brutal murder at a roadside inn in Texas
Chandra Mouli Nagamallaiah was decapitated in front of his wife and son as the killer was upset that he did not speak directly to him and told another staff member to translate instructions.
A witness reported to police that an argument erupted between Nagamallaiah and motel employee Yordanis Cobos-Martinez. The dispute started when Nagamallaiah instructed Cobos-Martinez not to use a broken washing machine, but instead asked a witness to translate his message rather than speaking directly to Cobos-Martinez, which allegedly upset him.
CCTV showed Cobos-Martinez retrieving a machete and attacking Nagamallaiah repeatedly.
“We are in touch with the family and offering all possible assistance,” the Indian Consulate in Houston posted on X. “The accused is in the custody of Dallas Police. We are following up on the matter closely.”
According to arrest records from the Dallas County Jail, Cobos-Martinez is facing a charge of capital murder. The suspect is a Cuban national, and his immigration status is currently pending, reports said.
Cobos-Martinez has a prior conviction in California and had previously been arrested in Florida and Houston. The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement told Fox News that Cobos-Martinez was released from its custody on January 13, despite a removal order, due to “no significant likelihood for removal in the foreseeable future.”
Indian citizens and people of Indian origin have recently faced violent attacks in the US, with over a dozen such deaths since 2024. Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar has described the incidents as a “big concern” for New Delhi.
