Authorities have confirmed the brutal killing of Indian-origin motel manager Chandra Mouli Nagamallaiah, who was attacked and beheaded in front of his family at a Dallas motel. Court documents and video evidence show that Nagamallaiah, 50, was chased, stabbed, and decapitated by a coworker after what began as a workplace dispute.
According to the arrest affidavit, the suspect, Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, 37, became enraged after Nagamallaiah asked another employee to translate instructions regarding a broken washing machine. Witnesses reported that Cobos-Martinez retrieved a machete, pursued Nagamallaiah through the motel corridors, and launched a violent attack. Security camera footage, now in police custody, allegedly shows the assault in harrowing detail, including scenes of family members trying desperately to intervene. Reports indicate that Cobos-Martinez ultimately severed Nagamallaiah’s head, kicked it into the motel parking lot, and later placed it inside a dumpster.
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| Chandra Mouli Nagamallaiah / Facebook |
Nagamallaiah, originally from Karnataka, India, had lived in the United States since 2018 and managed the Downtown Suites motel in Dallas. He is survived by his wife and young son, who were both present at the time of the attack. The shocking nature of his death has left the local community, as well as his family in India, in deep mourning.
Cobos-Martinez, who has a documented criminal history with prior arrests in Texas, Florida, and California, was taken into custody and charged with capital murder. Reports suggest that he had previously faced charges including assault and indecency, raising questions about how he remained free to commit such a crime. His immigration status has also come under scrutiny as political leaders and community members demand accountability.
The Indian Consulate in Houston has expressed condolences to Nagamallaiah’s family and pledged to assist them. Meanwhile, U.S. leaders, including President Donald Trump, have condemned the killing, with Trump citing the case as an example of the need for stricter immigration enforcement.
The video evidence, while too graphic for public release, has become a central piece in the ongoing investigation. Prosecutors are expected to rely heavily on the footage, along with eyewitness accounts and forensic findings, to secure a conviction. As the legal process moves forward, the case has sparked widespread outrage and raised troubling questions about workplace safety, the handling of repeat offenders, and the shocking escalation of violence in what began as a minor dispute.
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