In a shocking incident in Dallas, Texas, Chandra Mouli "Bob" Nagamallaiah, a 50-year-old Indian-origin motel manager, was brutally murdered and beheaded following an argument with his co-worker, Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, over a broken washing machine. The Dallas Police Department responded to a call on the morning of September 10, 2025, at the Downtown Suites motel on Samuell Blvd. Cobos-Martinez, 37, was arrested a block away, covered in blood and still carrying the machete used in the attack. He has been charged with capital murder and is being held without bond.
According to the arrest affidavit, the argument began when Nagamallaiah told Cobos-Martinez not to use a broken washing machine. Another motel employee who witnessed the event stated that Cobos-Martinez became angry because Nagamallaiah asked her to translate instructions instead of speaking to him directly. Surveillance footage showed Cobos-Martinez retrieving a machete and attacking Nagamallaiah.
Nagamallaiah ran towards the motel office, where his wife and 18-year-old son were present, but Cobos-Martinez pursued him and continued the attack despite their desperate attempts to stop him. The affidavit states that Cobos-Martinez took Nagamallaiah's cell phone and key card before resuming the attack until Nagamallaiah's head was severed from his body. Cobos-Martinez then kicked the head twice into the parking lot before throwing it into a dumpster.
Another motel worker, Kim, recalled Nagamallaiah as a problem-free manager, while another worker, Stephanie, described the attack as lasting several minutes. She stated Cobos-Martinez continued hitting Nagamallaiah until he decapitated him, then kicked the head, picked it up, and threw it in the trash can.
Cobos-Martinez reportedly confessed to the murder during a recorded police interview. Records indicate he has a prior criminal history, including arrests for auto theft in Florida and charges of indecency with a child and assault in Houston. The indecency charge was dismissed, and he received a one-year jail sentence for the assault case in January 2023. He is also being held on an immigration detainer.
The Consulate General of India in Houston expressed grief over Nagamallaiah's death and is providing assistance to the family. Friends and community members have launched a fundraiser to support the grieving family. Nagamallaiah, known as "Bob," is remembered as a loving husband, devoted father, and kind-hearted person.
The Indian American community in Dallas is in shock, grappling with the brutality of the crime. The incident has sparked conversations about the risks faced by immigrants working in vulnerable industries.
