Milpitas Community Mourns Two Malayali Women Killed by Mutual Friend
Two women from Kerala died in the San Jose metropolitan area on August 28, 2026, after being attacked in separate incidents within roughly ninety minutes of each other. Anila Baby, 32, from Kottayam, a mutual friend of both victims, was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder as the Bay Area Malayali community processed the loss of two of its own.
Two Kerala Women Killed Ninety Minutes Apart
Anjana Hari, 35, a native of Mannuthy in Thrissur district, and Ann Mary Mathew, 40, from Kesavadasapuram in Thiruvananthapuram, were killed in separate incidents in Milpitas and San Jose, California, on the evening of August 28, 2026. Anjana died after being struck by a vehicle in Milpitas, while Ann Mary was found stabbed inside her San Jose apartment. The two women were close friends within the Bay Area's Malayali community and shared the same social circles. Anila Baby, 32, from Kottayam district in Kerala, was identified as a mutual friend of both victims and was arrested by the Milpitas Police Department. Baby was subsequently charged with two counts of first-degree murder. Court filings allege that Baby intentionally struck Anjana Hari with a vehicle in Milpitas before traveling to San Jose and fatally stabbing Ann Mary Mathew. The two attacks occurred within approximately ninety minutes of each other. News of the killings spread quickly through Kerala-origin networks in California and reached families and friends in Kerala who had maintained regular contact with both women. The Milpitas and San Jose corridor is home to a significant Malayali diaspora, and the community response was one of deep grief and disbelief. [1]
Chargesheet Describes Planned, Professional Execution
Court documents filed against Anila Baby describe the killings of Anjana Hari and Ann Mary Mathew as deliberately planned acts carried out with sophistication and professionalism. According to reports on the chargesheet, Anjana Hari was found with severe head trauma consistent with having been struck by a vehicle. Ann Mary Mathew was found with a single stab wound at her San Jose residence. Prosecutors contend that Baby was armed prior to the attacks and moved between Milpitas and San Jose in sequence, indicating forethought rather than an impulsive act. A possible job-related dispute has been cited in reports as a potential background factor in the case, though investigators have not formally confirmed a motive. Baby was taken into custody in San Jose and booked by the Milpitas Police Department on two counts of first-degree murder. The charges carry serious sentencing weight under California law. Families of both victims have spoken publicly of their grief and disbelief that someone within their immediate circle of trust could have committed such acts. Community members have called for awareness of conflict resolution resources available to the diaspora and for greater attention to support systems for those in distress within close-knit migrant communities. [2]
Sources: [1] The Times of India · [2] The South First