Indian Motel Manager from Karnataka Brutally Beheaded in Dallas Over Washing Machine Dispute
Hyderabad/Dallas, September 12, 2025 – In a shocking and gruesome incident, a 50-year-old Indian national working as a motel manager in Dallas, Texas, was brutally beheaded following a workplace dispute with a colleague over a faulty washing machine.
The victim, identified as Chandra Mouli “Bob” Nagamallaiah, hailed from Karnataka, India, and had been working at the Downtown Suites Motel where the incident took place on Wednesday morning.
According to the Dallas Police Department (DPD), Nagamallaiah got into an altercation with his co-worker, Cobos-Martinez, after instructing motel staff not to use a malfunctioning washing machine. Investigators said tensions escalated when Nagamallaiah asked another employee to translate his instructions instead of speaking directly to Cobos-Martinez, a move that allegedly enraged him.
Police reports state that a female motel worker, who was present at the scene, witnessed the heated exchange. Shortly afterward, Cobos-Martinez allegedly attacked Nagamallaiah in a fit of rage, ultimately beheading him. Emergency responders who arrived at the motel discovered the victim in a gruesome state, prompting an immediate arrest.
Cobos-Martinez was taken into custody without bond and is currently lodged in a Dallas County jail. If convicted, he could face life imprisonment without parole or the death penalty, under Texas law.
The news of Nagamallaiah’s brutal killing has sent shockwaves across the Indian community in Dallas and back home in Karnataka. Community leaders have condemned the heinous crime and are urging authorities to ensure swift justice. The Indian Consulate in Houston is reportedly in touch with the victim’s family and U.S. officials to extend all possible assistance, including the repatriation of his mortal remains.
This tragic killing has once again highlighted the risks faced by Indian workers in the U.S. hospitality sector, where long working hours, cultural differences, and workplace conflicts sometimes escalate into violent outcomes.
