Dallas, Sept 11 — A 50-year-old Indian-origin motel manager was brutally killed in Texas when he was beheaded in front of his wife and teenage son following a dispute with a coworker, authorities said.
The Dallas Police Department identified the victim as Chandra Mouli “Bob” Nagamallaiah, originally from Karnataka. The attack occurred Wednesday morning at the Downtown Suites motel, where he lived and worked with his family.
Police said the incident began with an argument over a broken washing machine. Nagamallaiah reportedly asked another person to translate his instructions for coworker Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, 37, instead of addressing him directly. Investigators noted this infuriated Cobos-Martinez, who then retrieved a machete.
Surveillance video reviewed by detectives showed the suspect chasing Nagamallaiah toward the motel office, where his wife and 18-year-old son were present. Despite their desperate efforts to shield him, the attacker carried out the assault in front of them, police said.
Cobos-Martinez, who has a criminal history in Houston, including prior arrests for auto theft and assault, was taken into custody soon after the incident. He is being held without bond on a charge of capital murder. If convicted, prosecutors said he could face life in prison without parole or the death penalty.
The Consulate General of India in Houston expressed condolences and assured the family of full support. “We are in touch with the family and offering all possible assistance. The accused is in the custody of Dallas Police,” the consulate stated in a post on X.
Friends and relatives described Nagamallaiah — affectionately known as Bob — as “a loving husband, devoted father, and a kind soul who touched the lives of everyone he knew.” In a statement, they added, “This unimaginable tragedy was not only sudden but deeply traumatic. 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.”
Community members in Dallas and the Indian diaspora are rallying to support the family. A fundraiser has been launched to cover funeral costs, immediate living expenses, and his son’s college education.
Funeral services for Nagamallaiah are scheduled for Saturday.
