Authorities in Dallas have confirmed the arrest of a suspect in the shocking murder of 50-year-old Indian-origin man Chandramouli Nagamallaiah, who was brutally beheaded in front of his wife and son at a local motel.
According to the Dallas Police Department, the incident occurred following a dispute over the use of a broken washing machine at the motel where Nagamallaiah was staying. The suspect, identified as Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, reportedly became enraged after being told through a translator not to use the damaged machine for cleaning.
Court documents reveal that Cobos-Martinez allegedly chased Nagamallaiah with a machete from a motel room to the office, continuing the assault even as the victim attempted to escape. The attack ended in the motel parking lot where Nagamallaiah was fatally beheaded. Authorities say the suspect then disposed of the victim’s head in a dumpster.
Cobos-Martinez was arrested at the scene still holding the machete and covered in blood. He faces capital murder charges and is currently in custody with an immigration hold due to his prior criminal history, which includes arrests for auto theft in Florida and assault in Houston.
“This was a brutal and senseless act of violence that has shaken our community,” said a spokesperson for the Dallas Police Department. “Our thoughts are with the victim’s family, and we are committed to ensuring justice is served.”
The investigation remains ongoing, and police are working closely with prosecutors to prepare for trial.