Karnataka Man Beheaded By Cuban National In US Over Work Dispute, CCTV Shows Accused Kicking Severed Head

A shocking incident in East Dallas has left the Indian community in grief after a 50-year-old man from Karnataka was murdered in front of his family by a colleague, Indian Express reported.

The crime took place on the morning of 10 September at the Downtown Suites motel on Samuell Boulevard, where the victim, Chandra Nagamallaiah, had been working as a manager for the past few years.

Police reports state that the attack began following an argument over a malfunctioning washing machine. Nagamallaiah reportedly told his employee, Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, 37, not to use the broken machine.

The dispute escalated violently, with Cobos-Martinez allegedly stabbing him multiple times before chasing him toward the front office. In a horrific turn, Nagamallaiah’s wife and teenage son were forced to witness the assault.

Surveillance footage later showed the suspect beheading the victim, kicking the severed head into the parking lot, and discarding it in a dumpster.

Authorities arrested Cobos-Martinez at the scene. He was found with a machete, bloodstained clothing, the victim’s phone, and a key card. During questioning, he confessed to the crime.

Cobos-Martinez, a Cuban national, is now facing a capital murder charge and is being held in Dallas County Jail. Investigations revealed he had a violent criminal history, including convictions in California and prior arrests in Florida and Houston.

Despite a deportation order, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had released him in January 2025, citing difficulties in arranging removal flights to Cuba. ICE has since called the killing “unthinkable,” acknowledging that the suspect should not have been at large.

The Indian Consulate in Houston has offered condolences and is providing assistance to the bereaved family. Friends and community members have remembered Nagamallaiah as a dedicated worker and family man.

The gruesome killing has sparked anger online, with many in the diaspora expressing frustration over limited media coverage and raising concerns about the safety of immigrant workers.

A fundraising campaign has been launched to support the victim’s family in the aftermath of the tragedy.