Chandra Mouli "Bob" Nagamallaiah, an Indian-American motel manager, tragically lost his life on September 10, 2025, in Dallas, Texas. He was brutally murdered by his co-worker, Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, at the Downtown Suites Dallas motel where he worked. The incident has sent shockwaves through the Indian community and beyond, prompting an outpouring of grief and support for his family.
Nagamallaiah was born on December 2, 1974, in Karnataka State, India. Friends and family remember him as a devoted husband, loving father, and kind soul. He is survived by his wife, Nisha, and his 18-year-old son, Gaurav, both of whom witnessed the horrific attack. Nagamallaiah pursued entrepreneurial ambitions, and had a strong desire to settle in Texas and run a chain of hotels with South Indian food as the mainstay. Before moving to the U.S. in 2018, he explored various business ventures in Bengaluru. From 2018 to 2021, he resided in San Antonio before relocating to Dallas.
The circumstances surrounding Nagamallaiah's death are particularly disturbing. An argument with Cobos-Martinez over a broken washing machine reportedly escalated when Nagamallaiah asked a female co-worker to translate his instructions, which angered Cobos-Martinez. Cobos-Martinez then retrieved a machete and attacked Nagamallaiah. Nagamallaiah attempted to flee towards the motel office where his wife and son were, but Cobos-Martinez pursued him and continued the assault, ultimately beheading him in front of his family. Cobos-Martinez then kicked Nagamallaiah's head into the parking lot before placing it in a dumpster.
Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, a 37-year-old Cuban national, has been charged with capital murder in connection with Nagamallaiah's death. He has a prior criminal history, including arrests for auto theft and assault. Cobos-Martinez is currently being held without bond and faces either life imprisonment without parole or the death penalty if convicted. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials claim he should not have been in the United States at the time of the incident.
The Consulate General of India in Houston has expressed condolences to Nagamallaiah's family and is providing assistance. A fundraiser has been launched to support Nagamallaiah's wife and son, with the funds intended to cover funeral expenses and Gaurav's college education. As of September 13, 2025, the fundraiser had raised nearly $200,000. Nagamallaiah's funeral was scheduled for September 13, 2025, at Flower Mound Family Funeral Home in Flower Mound, Texas.
