A 50-year-old Indian-origin motel manager was brutally beheaded in Dallas, Texas, following a dispute over a broken washing machine. The horrifying assault took place in front of his wife and teenage son, leaving the family and community stunned.
The victim has been identified as Chandra Mouli “Bob” Nagamallaiah, originally from Karnataka. He had reportedly told a coworker not to use the faulty washing machine. That coworker, 37-year-old Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, became enraged when Nagamallaiah asked another employee to act as translator instead of speaking directly to him.
Surveillance footage shows Cobos-Martinez leaving the room and returning with a machete. Multiple witnesses report that he attacked Nagamallaiah, stabbing and slicing him repeatedly. The motel manager attempted to flee toward the front office, with his family nearby. His wife and 18-year-old son tried to intervene, but were pushed away as the assault continued.
Eyewitness accounts say Cobos-Martinez persisted until he decapitated Nagamallaiah. He then kicked the severed head into the parking lot, before placing it in a nearby dumpster. After the attack, Cobos-Martinez was found leaving the scene, still carrying the machete and stained in blood. He was taken into custody shortly afterwards.
Officials have charged Cobos-Martinez with capital murder. He is being held without bond and is also under an immigration detainer. He has a criminal history in multiple states, including arrests for auto theft, assault, and other violent offenses.
Friends and colleagues describe Nagamallaiah as a hardworking and kind person, deeply devoted to his family. His sudden and gruesome death has left many in the Indian-American community reeling. A fundraiser has been organized to assist his family with funeral expenses, living costs, and his son’s education.
Investigators continue to review surveillance footage and witness statements. The case has sparked widespread shock, both for the brutality of the crime and the trauma inflicted upon the victim’s family and community.