A Cuban national accused of beheading his boss at a Dallas-area motel was previously detained and released by federal immigration authorities despite what officials describe as a lengthy criminal history spanning multiple states, according to law enforcement and immigration officials.
Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, 37, is charged with capital murder in the death of 50-year-old motel manager Chandra Mouli “Bob” Nagamallaiah. Dallas police say Cobos-Martinez admitted the killing during a video-recorded interview and is being held without bond at the Lew Sterrett Justice Center. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said it has placed a detainer on him.
Police say the killing unfolded in the motel parking lot after what officers described as a dispute over a broken washing machine and a language barrier. According to the affidavit, Nagamallaiah asked Cobos-Martinez, an employee at the motel, not to use the broken machine. Authorities say Cobos-Martinez left the room, retrieved a machete and returned to slash and stab Nagamallaiah as he tried to flee toward the front office. Surveillance footage and witness accounts show Cobos-Martinez allegedly bending down, picking up the victim’s bleeding head, kicking it across the parking lot and placing it in a dumpster. Witnesses said the victim’s wife and their 18-year-old son attempted to intervene.
ICE confirmed to local station WFAA that Cobos-Martinez had been detained by federal immigration officials on Jan. 13 and later released despite an existing removal order. "There was no significant likelihood for removal in the foreseeable future," ICE said in a statement to WFAA, adding that Cuba would not accept him because of his criminal history. ICE also characterized the killing as "barbaric," saying Cobos-Martinez "proceeded to kick the head around like a soccer ball." Local reporting by a Dallas Fox affiliate and other outlets indicates Cobos-Martinez had arrests or convictions in at least three states, including California and Florida.
Records and reporting show additional complications in the suspect’s history. Cobos-Martinez was wanted on an active warrant in California for a probation violation related to a 2023 incident in south Lake Tahoe in which prosecutors said he carjacked a woman while naked; he was convicted in that case and sentenced to 18 months in prison. Local outlets also reported criminal records in Florida. A Dallas station reported that footage exists of deportation flights to Cuba in 2023, a detail that raised questions in local reporting about the federal claim that Cuba would not accept him.
It remains unclear why local or federal officials did not arrest Cobos-Martinez on the California warrant during his prior detention. The case has drawn scrutiny because immigration officials and the Trump administration’s rhetoric have emphasized targeting the "worst of the worst" for removal and detention. ICE statements describing the release cited the practical difficulty of removal when another country will not accept a person for deportation.
Dallas police said officers responding to 911 calls found Cobos-Martinez "soaked in blood" and carrying a machete. He was arrested a few blocks from the motel, on Samuell Boulevard, and authorities recovered the victim’s cellphone and a motel keycard. During the police interview, Dallas detectives say Cobos-Martinez admitted to carrying out the killing.
Nagamallaiah, known as "Bob" to colleagues and friends, worked as the motel manager and is being remembered by members of Dallas’s Indian community for his kindness. Organizers have raised more than $151,000 online to assist his wife, Nisha, and their son, Gaurav, who recently graduated from high school and is preparing to begin college. An organizer, Tanmay Petel, said donations are intended to cover funeral expenses and short-term living costs; Petel noted the son hopes to study hospitality management, inspired by his father’s work.
The Dallas County medical examiner will determine Nagamallaiah’s official cause of death. Prosecutors have charged Cobos-Martinez with capital murder, a charge that can carry the harshest penalties under Texas law. ICE’s detainer is separate from the criminal case and could affect immigration proceedings if Cobos-Martinez is returned or transferred to federal custody once state criminal processes conclude.
Local and national attention to the case has focused on both the brutal nature of the killing and procedural questions about the suspect’s prior release by immigration authorities. Investigators and immigration officials have provided differing explanations for why removal was not feasible, and reporting has highlighted a patchwork of criminal cases and warrants across multiple jurisdictions. Dallas police said their homicide investigation remains active and asked anyone with information to contact investigators.
The case comes amid ongoing national debate over immigration enforcement policies, removal procedures and how federal and state authorities coordinate on cases involving noncitizens with criminal records. Officials from ICE and Dallas police did not immediately provide additional details about the prior detention when asked for comment beyond their initial statements to local news outlets. Court records, law enforcement filings and immigration files could provide further clarity as prosecutors and immigration authorities proceed with their respective cases.