A Cuban national who police say brutally beheaded his manager at a Dallas motel had been detained and later released by federal immigration authorities despite an outstanding removal order, officials and local reporting said.
Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, 37, is jailed without bond on a capital murder charge after investigators say he attacked Chandra Mouli “Bob” Nagamallaiah, 50, on a motel parking lot and later kicked the severed head across the asphalt and placed it in a dumpster. Dallas police said Cobos-Martinez admitted the killing in a recorded interview and was captured a few blocks away minutes after the attack.
Surveillance footage and the Dallas Police Department’s affidavit released this week describe a violent episode that began, police say, when Nagamallaiah asked Cobos-Martinez through a translator not to use a broken washing machine. Authorities say Cobos-Martinez left the motel room, retrieved a machete and then attacked the manager as he fled toward the front office. The affidavit says the suspect repeatedly shoved the manager’s family members away and continued the slaughter despite attempts to intervene. Witnesses told police the victim’s wife and son watched helplessly as the assault unfolded.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed the suspect had been detained by federal immigration officials on Jan. 13 and later released, saying Cuba would not accept him for repatriation because of his criminal history. ICE said the migrant had a removal order but that there was "no significant likelihood for removal in the foreseeable future." In a statement to local station WFAA, ICE described the attack, saying, "Cobos-Martinez did the unthinkable and proceeded to kick the head around like a soccer ball." The agency has placed a detainer hold on Cobos-Martinez.
Local reporting by a Dallas outlet that reviewed flight footage also said there were deportation flights to Cuba in 2023, a detail cited as part of questions about the logistics of repatriation for migrants with criminal records. ICE officials told reporters Cuba would not accept the suspect because of his criminal history, a factor that can complicate removal proceedings when the receiving country refuses to take back nationals.
Dallas police and local media reported that Cobos-Martinez had an extensive criminal record spanning multiple states. Authorities said he was wanted on a probation violation in California with an active warrant. In a separate incident in California, police said, he had been convicted two years ago of carjacking a woman while naked in south Lake Tahoe and sentenced to 18 months in custody. Local television reporting also noted prior arrests in Florida.
It was not immediately clear why federal immigration custody had not resulted in his transfer to state authorities on the active California warrant. Advocates and local commentators noted that federal immigration policy has often emphasized the arrest and removal of noncitizens with serious criminal histories, prompting questions about how the suspect was released despite the overlapping legal issues.
Cobos-Martinez was found by Dallas Fire-Rescue crews shortly after the attack, still soaked in blood and carrying a machete, the victim’s cell phone and a motel keycard, police said. He was arrested a few blocks from the motel on Samuell Boulevard and transported to the Lew Sterrett Justice Center in Dallas.
Nagamallaiah, who went by "Bob," was a motel manager whose family and members of Dallas’ Indian community described him as kind and hardworking. Organizers and community members launched a fundraising effort for his wife, Nisha, and their 18-year-old son, Gaurav, who graduated high school this year and had been planning to study hospitality management. As of the latest reporting, online donations had exceeded $151,000 to cover funeral costs and short-term living expenses.
The capital murder charge in Texas carries the possibility of the harshest punishments under state law. Prosecutors will determine whether to seek capital punishment following standard charging and review procedures. Separately, ICE’s detainer could prompt federal immigration proceedings if repatriation becomes possible.
The case has drawn attention from immigration enforcement observers and political commentators because it highlights practical challenges when a country of origin refuses to accept nationals with criminal records. Federal officials and local law enforcement have different authorities and priorities, and detention decisions can hinge on diplomatic arrangements, the status of criminal warrants, and assessments about the likelihood of successful removal.
Dallas police continue to investigate the crime and review additional surveillance footage and witness accounts. Court records show Cobos-Martinez remains held without bond pending indictment and further legal proceedings in Dallas County. ICE officials said they will continue to coordinate with local authorities as the case moves through the criminal justice system.