Murder of two Malayali women shocks US; motive remains unknown

THE shocking killing of two Malayali women in California has sent shock waves through the Malayali community in the United States and their families in Kerala. The two women, who were reportedly close friends, were allegedly killed by another Malayali woman who lived in the same apartment complex.

The victims have been identified as Anjana Hari, 35, from Mudikkode near Mannuthy in Thrissur, and Ann Mary Mathew, 40, of Kesavadasapuram in Thiruvananthapuram. Their friend Anila, 32, a native of Moonnilavu in Kottayam, has been arrested in connection with the deaths, according to the latest reports.

The incident occurred on Friday, August 28, at the Mill Creek Apartments on Dixon Landing Road in Milpitas, in California's Santa Clara County.

Hit-and-run leads to first discovery

According to the Milpitas Police Department, officers responded at around 12.01 p.m. on August 28 following reports of a hit-and-run collision in the parking area of the apartment complex. Witnesses reported seeing a blue SUV leaving the scene.

Police found a woman suffering from severe injuries at the location. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Officers subsequently located a damaged blue SUV in a nearby parking lot. The vehicle reportedly bore damage consistent with a collision, and its 32-year-old driver was taken into custody.

The woman killed in the incident was identified by relatives as Anjana.

Second woman found stabbed

The case took an even more shocking turn when Ann Mary Mathew was found dead inside an apartment. Reports say she had suffered stab wounds.

Ann's husband, Jacob, reportedly went to the apartment after receiving information about Anjana's death. He then found Ann inside the residence. Authorities subsequently began investigating the two deaths as connected incidents.

According to relatives, Anjana, Ann and Anila were close friends and their families lived in the same apartment complex. The three women had reportedly participated together in an Onam celebration shortly before the tragedy and had even gone to a theatre to watch a film. The sudden turn of events has left their families and friends deeply shocked.

Motive still a mystery

The motive behind the killings remains unknown. Police have not publicly established why the two women were allegedly targeted.

Some reports have cited information received by relatives about a possible disagreement involving Ann and the suspect over a job-related matter. However, this has not been officially confirmed by investigators as the motive and should therefore be treated only as an unverified line of inquiry.

Relatives have stressed that the three women had been close friends for several years and had shown no apparent signs of serious conflict. The fact that they had celebrated Onam together just days before the incident has made the tragedy even more difficult for their families to comprehend.

Victims' families devastated

Anjana was a school teacher and had been living in California with her husband, Vijeesh, a software engineer, and their six-year-old daughter, Vamika. The family had moved to the US in 2021.

Ann Mary, a computer teacher, had two children, aged 12 and five. She had reportedly returned to the United States after visiting Kerala in June for her father's 70th birthday celebrations.

The families are now making arrangements to bring the mortal remains of the two women back to Kerala. Relatives said the repatriation process could take more than two weeks because of the procedures involved in the United States.

Investigation continues

The arrest of Anila marks a major development in the investigation, but authorities have yet to release a complete account of what happened inside the apartment and what led to the two deaths.

Police are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the stabbing and the fatal vehicle collision. The identities and roles of those involved are also subject to the ongoing investigation and court proceedings.

The double tragedy has caused widespread concern among Malayalis in California and Kerala, particularly because the victims and the arrested woman were reportedly members of the same close-knit community.

For the families, however, the most painful question remains unanswered: What happened between three close friends that led to the deaths of two of them?

The answer may emerge only after investigators complete their inquiry and establish the motive behind the killings.