Indian Manager Beheaded in Dallas: Communication Dispute Leads to Brutal Murder by Employee with Violent Criminal Past

Chandra Mouli Nagamallaiah (left) was beheaded by Yordanis Cobos-Martinez

New Delhi:

The brutal beheading of 50-year-old Indian motel manager Chandra Mouli Nagamallaiah in Dallas occurred because his employee, Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, was enraged that Nagamallaiah communicated instructions through another staff member instead of speaking to him directly.

According to the arrest affidavit, a witness informed police that on Wednesday, a confrontation erupted between Nagamallaiah and Cobos-Martinez. The witness and Cobos-Martinez were cleaning a room when Nagamallaiah instructed that a broken washing machine should not be used. The witness stated that Nagamallaiah asked her to translate his directions rather than addressing Cobos-Martinez personally, which apparently triggered the violent reaction.

Following this interaction, the 37-year-old Cobos-Martinez left the room, retrieved a machete, and launched a savage attack on Nagamallaiah.

Surveillance footage captured Nagamallaiah desperately running across the parking lot toward the front office as Cobos-Martinez pursued him. The attacker eventually caught up and repeatedly struck Nagamallaiah. When the victim's wife and son emerged from the front office attempting to protect him, Cobos-Martinez pushed them away and continued the assault. The wife's screams could be heard as the attacker repeatedly struck Nagamallaiah.

During the attack, Cobos-Martinez searched through Nagamallaiah's pockets, taking his cell phone and key card. He then proceeded to behead him. Disturbing video shows the perpetrator kicking Nagamallaiah's head across the parking lot before picking it up and disposing of it in a dumpster. Blood-covered and still wielding the machete, the murderer then walked away. He was subsequently apprehended by authorities. Cobos-Martinez has confessed to police that he used a machete to kill Nagamallaiah.

Records from Dallas County Jail indicate that Cobos-Martinez faces a capital murder charge. He is a Cuban national whose immigration status is currently on hold. His criminal history includes previous convictions in California and arrests in Florida and Houston.

In 2017, Cobos-Martinez carjacked a woman in South Lake Tahoe while naked. A jury convicted him in 2023, resulting in an eighteen-month prison sentence. In 2018, he faced charges of indecency and assault involving a child.

The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement informed Fox News that despite a removal order, Cobos-Martinez was released from custody on January 13 due to there being "no significant likelihood for removal in the foreseeable future." At the time of the murder, he had an outstanding warrant in California for a probation violation.

The Consulate General of India in Houston has expressed condolences for Nagamallaiah's death, stating: "We are in touch with the family and offering all possible assistance. The accused is in the custody of Dallas Police. We are following up on the matter closely," in a post on X.