The incident occurred on Wednesday when Chandra Nagamallaiah, a 50-year-old originally from Karnataka, reportedly told 37-year-old Yordanis Cobos-Martinez not to use a broken washing machine.
An Indian man was allegedly beheaded after an argument with his colleague over a broken washing machine at a motel in the US city of Dallas.
The incident occurred on Wednesday when Chandra Nagamallaiah, 50, reportedly told 37-year-old Yordanis Cobos-Martinez not to use a broken washing machine.
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Cobos-Martinez became upset after Nagamallaiah asked another employee to translate his instructions instead of speaking to him directly.
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According to reports, the accused then grabbed a machete and attacked Nagamallaiah, stabbing him multiple times.
Though Nagamallaiah tried to escape by running through the parking lot toward the front office, Cobos-Martinez chased after him.
Nagamallaiah’s wife and 18-year-old son tried to stop the accused but were pushed away.
Consulate General of India, Houston, condoles the tragic death of Mr. Chandra Nagamallaiah, an Indian National, killed brutally at his workplace in Dallas, Tx.
We are in touch with the family and offering all possible assistance. The accused is in the custody of Dallas Police.…
— India in Houston (@cgihou) September 11, 2025
The accused then allegedly decapitated the victim and kicked his severed head.
A video that has since gone viral shows Cobos-Martinez picking up the head and carrying it to a dumpster. He was arrested shortly after, as he left the dumpster area covered in blood and still holding the machete.
The Indian Consulate has confirmed the incident, expressing condolences over Nagamallaiah’s “tragic” death at his workplace.
“Consulate General of India, Houston, condoles the tragic death of Mr. Chandra Nagamallaiah, an Indian National, killed brutally at his workplace in Dallas, Tx. We are in touch with the family and offering all possible assistance. The accused is in the custody of Dallas Police. We are following up on the matter closely,” the Consulate said on X.
Cobos-Martinez, who now faces a capital murder charge, reportedly has a prior criminal record in Houston, with previous arrests for auto theft and assault.
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