- By Supratik Das
- Mon, 01 Dec 2025 09:36 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Dallas beheading case: Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, the 37-year-old Cuban national accused of brutally beheading his Indian-origin employer at a Dallas motel, may not face the death penalty, according to prosecutors from the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office.
Officials indicated during a recent hearing that they do not intend to seek capital punishment, limiting the possible sentence to life imprisonment without parole. The decision can still be revised until January 8 as the investigation continues. The development has sparked criticism across political circles and within the Indian-American community, given the sheer brutality of the crime and the suspect’s extensive criminal history.
What Happened In Dallas?
The killing took place on September 10 at the Downtown Suites Dallas, where Cobos-Martinez worked under a 50-year-old manager, Chandramouli Nagamallaiah, originally from Karnataka. According to surveillance footage, an argument broke out over a malfunctioning washing machine. Moments later, the suspect followed Nagamallaiah outside, pulled out a machete and chased him across the motel corridor.
Witnesses told investigators that the victim’s wife and 18-year-old son tried desperately to intervene. Despite their efforts, Cobos-Martinez struck repeatedly, ultimately severing Nagamallaiah’s head. Footage showed the suspect kicking the severed head into the parking area before picking it up and discarding it in a dumpster.
Dallas Fire-Rescue personnel arrived as Cobos-Martinez allegedly walked away still holding the bloodied machete. Police detained him minutes later. The suspect reportedly confessed to the killing during questioning.
Leaders Slam DA For ‘Soft Approach’
Dallas County DA John Creuzot, often criticised by opponents as being lenient on crime, has come under renewed scrutiny over the decision not to pursue the death penalty.
US President Donald Trump publicly condemned the killing, blaming permissive immigration policies under the previous administration. In a post on Truth Social, he said, “The time for being soft on these Illegal Immigrant Criminals is OVER under my watch.” Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna also decried the tragedy, saying the murder “should never have happened,” given the suspect’s past arrests and undocumented status.
According to federal immigration records, Cobos-Martinez entered the United States illegally and was issued a deportation order to Cuba. However, Cuba refused to accept him earlier this year due to his criminal background. He was then released under supervision in January.
His past includes a 2017 grand theft auto arrest in Florida, a naked carjacking attempt in California that led to a false imprisonment conviction, and an assault on a jailer in Texas while he was being held on an indecency-with-a-child charge. ICE has now lodged a fresh detainer, ensuring he remains in custody.
As Cobos-Martinez's trial on capital murder charges at Dallas County Jail, calls for stricter enforcement of immigration detainers and tougher prosecution policies continue to grow.