How a broken washing machine dispute ended in the beheading of an Indian-origin motel owner in the US

A gruesome murder shocked Dallas this week after an Indian-origin motel manager was beheaded during a dispute with a guest over a broken washing machine. The attack, which unfolded in front of the victim’s wife and child, has drawn outrage and renewed debate about immigration enforcement in the United States.

Also Read: All about Chandra Mouli “Bob” Nagamallaiah

The victim, Chandra Mouli “Bob” Nagamallaiah, originally from Karnataka, was managing the Downtown Suites motel when the incident occurred. According to police records, the suspect — 37-year-old Yordanis Cobos-Martinez — became enraged when Nagamallaiah asked him not to use the malfunctioning washing machine. Investigators say the confrontation escalated rapidly, ending in a brutal machete attack.

Shocking Surveillance Footage

Surveillance video captured the chilling sequence: Cobos-Martinez leaving a room with a machete, repeatedly attacking Nagamallaiah, and following him to the motel’s front office as the victim tried to escape. Witnesses, including the victim’s wife and son, attempted to intervene but were pushed aside. The footage reportedly shows the suspect decapitating the victim, kicking the severed head, and discarding it in a dumpster.

Suspect’s Criminal History

Authorities later apprehended Cobos-Martinez a block away from the scene, wearing a blood-stained shirt. Police recovered the machete, as well as the victim’s key card and cellphone.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that Cobos-Martinez, a Cuban national, had an extensive criminal record — including charges for carjacking, grand theft, false imprisonment, and indecency with a child. Officials said he should not have been in the country, blaming his continued presence on Cuba’s earlier refusal to accept deported nationals with serious criminal convictions.

Community in Shock

Local residents and motel staff remain shaken. “I don’t know how to explain, but he was there and not there at the same time,” a witness told NBC DFW, describing the suspect’s demeanor during the attack.

ICE called the beheading “unthinkable” and said the case highlights the need for stricter immigration enforcement.

Cobos-Martinez has been charged with murder and is currently in custody.