TX - Motel manager attacked and beheaded by employee during argument - Dallas, Sept 2025

[Clearsky]

Motel manager attacked, beheaded in Old East Dallas by employee, affidavit says

A motel manager was attacked and decapitated by an employee following an argument, according to an arrest-warrant affidavit.

www.dallasnews.com

Dallas police responded to a reported stabbing at about 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Downtown Suites motel, located in the 3400 block of Samuell Boulevard. At the scene, police arrested Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, 37, who faces a murder charge in the death of Chandra Nagamallaiah, 50, police said.

 

[the-professor]

[mod snip]

Suspect's prior arrest:

South Lake Tahoe police arrest naked man on alleged carjacking attempt

The victim told officers when she was walking out of the 7-11 when she saw a naked Hispanic man walking across Pioneer Trail who appear to make eye contact with her.

 

[tlcya]

I've read this about a dispute over a washing machine?

A man was beheaded at a Dallas motel after an argument that allegedly started over a broken washing machine, according to police.
[snip]
The grisly slaying was the apparent result of an argument over a broken washing machine, according to the affidavit.
Dallas Man Beheaded During Argument — and Victim's Wife and Son Tried to Stop the Horrific Attack: Police

https://twitter.com/x/status/1966094565049520367

According to an arrest affidavit, a witness said she and Cobos-Martinez were cleaning a motel room when Nagamallaiah approached and told the suspect not to use a broken washing machine. She told police Cobos-Martinez became upset because the victim was speaking to her to translate, rather than speaking directly to him.
Man attacked, beheaded with machete after argument with suspect at motel, police say

 

[vls12345]

Suspect in Dallas motel beheading charged with capital murder, affidavit reveals what led up to the attack

Breaking in downtown Dallas: Police are investigating after a person was reportedly found beheaded. This is the latest from our sister station, WFAA.

www.khou.com

Shocking details.

 

[the-professor]

There's video of it too. Horrendous.

 

[Mauig’ma]

Omg how horrendous. He’s got to be mentally insane imo

 

[tlcya]

Jail records show him listed as an immigrant. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed it assisted Dallas police during the interrogation. In a statement, ICE said, “Cobos-Martinez did the unthinkable and proceeded to kick the head around like a soccer ball.”

The agency said he had been held at the Bluebonnet Detention Center in Anson until January 13, when he was released under supervision because there were “no removal flights to Cuba.”
Suspect in Dallas motel beheading charged with capital murder, affidavit reveals what led up to the attack

He never should have been here to do this horrible deed.

 

[justtrish]

This is absolutely horrifying. I can't believe human beings are capable of things like this.

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

Editor's note: This story contains graphic details of an alleged murder.

Court document reveals gruesome details in beheading of Dallas motel manager

Both men worked at the Downtown Suites motel on Samuell Boulevard, east of Downtown.

www.cbsnews.com

ETA His wife and child were present.

 

[tlcya]

Cobos-Martinez is being held in the Dallas County Jail on a capital murder charge. Jail records also show an immigration hold.

Records show Martinez has been arrested twice for auto theft in Florida and has indecency with a child and assault charges in Houston.
Court document reveals gruesome details in beheading of Dallas motel manager

never
should
have
been
here.

 

[vls12345]

Family of man beheaded at Dallas motel shares his story as GoFundMe surpasses $350K

For the first time, the family of Chandra Nagamallaiah is speaking publicly after his murder and beheading outside a Dallas motel last week.

www.11alive.com

 

[Panniniclaus]

Seems something of an overreaction. What has Cobos-Martinez offered up?

 

[Twick]

This is something I'd expect in Mexico or France, not the US.

Suspect's prior arrest:

South Lake Tahoe police arrest naked man on alleged carjacking attempt

May I ask why? There’s a goodly number of decapitation murders in the U.S., home of the “headless body found in topless bar” headline.

 

[bluestsocks]

Cobos-Martinez is being held in the Dallas County Jail on a capital murder charge. Jail records also show an immigration hold.

Records show Martinez has been arrested twice for auto theft in Florida and has indecency with a child and assault charges in Houston.
Court document reveals gruesome details in beheading of Dallas motel manager

never
should
have
been
here.

then he probably just would have done this to someone in Cuba. Wherever he is, he needs to be locked away from society forever.

 

[tlcya]

then he probably just would have done this to someone in Cuba. Wherever he is, he needs to be locked away from society forever.

on that I can agree wholeheartedly, he is a menace no matter where he is but he is our menace right now.

 

[Spectrix]

This is something I'd expect in Mexico or France, not the US.

May I ask why? There’s a goodly number of decapitation murders in the U.S., home of the “headless body found in topless bar” headline.

I can't speak for @the-professor, but the homicide rate in Mexico is at least 5x higher than in the US, and a good deal of it is linked to organised crime where sending a message may be viewed as being important.

Unless I'm mistaken, murder by decapitation in the US is very rare.
I think Headless Body in Topless Bar might have been a movie?

This case (decapitation of Chandra Nagamallaiah) appears to be the 3rd (that I can find) this year in the US - out of 15840 total homicides (so around 0.018 percent?)

In Mexico... well, many murders go unreported, but there have been rather a lot of decapitations this year:

February 2025 - Police reported the discovery of a mass grave containing at least 34 bodies at a construction site in Zapopan, Jalisco. Human remains were found packed into 169 bags, prompting a forensic investigation. Experts have since identified 17 bodies and are continuing their work to identify more victims. This discovery has highlighted the region's ongoing issues with cartel violence and forced disappearances, linked to powerful criminal groups like the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

April 2025 - Authorities found bags of various body parts close to the tourist zone near Acapulco.
A note was reportedly found near one of the bodies indicating the involvement of criminal groups.

June 2025 - Authorities discovered 20 bodies, several of which were decapitated, on a highway bridge in Sinaloa. Four headless corpses were found by the roadside, while 16 bodies were discovered inside an abandoned vehicle. Five human heads were found inside a bag at the scene. All of the bodies showed signs of gunshot wounds. The violence was attributed to infighting between factions of the Sinaloa Cartel.

August 2025 - Six severed heads were discovered along a road in Puebla and Tlaxcala, accompanied by a threatening message from a rival gang.