Yordanis Cobos-Martinez
Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, 37, is accused of beheading his Dallas motel manager during a workplace dispute. Court records show he had prior arrests for violent crime and child sex abuse. YouTube

A motel manager in Dallas lost his life in a horrific machete attack this month, leaving his family devastated and raising urgent questions about how a man with multiple violent crime arrests remained free to kill.

Chandra Nagamallaiah (50), who ran the Downtown Suites motel with his wife, died after being attacked by 37-year-old Yordanis Cobos-Martinez on 10 September. Police say the Cuban national admitted to the killing during questioning. Court records reveal he had faced charges ranging from child sexual abuse to carjacking across Texas, California and Florida.

According to an arrest affidavit reported by CBS Texas, the incident took place after an argument with motel manager Chandra over the use of a broken washing machine.

Surveillance video cited by People shows Cobos-Martinez arming himself with a machete and chasing Nagamallaiah across the motel property, even as the victim tried to flee toward the office where his wife and son were present.

Witnesses told police that the attacker continued slashing until Nagamallaiah was decapitated.

Authorities said Cobos-Martinez admitted to the killing during questioning. He has been charged with capital murder and is being held without bond, according to Dallas County jail records.

Dallas Murder Case Exposes Years of Systemic Failures

The brutal killing has exposed a troubling pattern of missed opportunities to prevent tragedy. Despite his extensive criminal history, Cobos-Martinez walked free time after time.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed the suspect was living illegally in America.

What makes this case particularly alarming is that ICE records show authorities had detained Cobos-Martinez at the Bluebonnet Detention Centre in Texas. But they released him in January 2025 under supervision after Cuba refused to take him back, citing his criminal record.

Violent Criminal History Spans Three States

Court filings reviewed by NBC DFW paint a disturbing picture of repeated violence. In 2018, Houston prosecutors charged Cobos-Martinez with aggravated assault and indecency with a child through sexual contact, according to the Houston Chronicle.

The child abuse case was dismissed in 2023 due to insufficient evidence. The assault charge was reduced, resulting in just one year behind bars. California authorities also charged him with carjacking and failure to appear in court. Florida added its own set of charges, including false imprisonment and grand theft auto.

Victim's family witnesses the killing

The beheading has devastated the family of Nagamallaiah, an immigrant from India who ran the motel with his wife. Both his wife and son witnessed the attack, according to People.

Neighbours and community leaders described Nagamallaiah as hardworking and well-liked, and said the violent death has left the community shaken.

For Nagamallaiah's family and the Dallas community, the tragedy is not about politics but about the sudden, brutal loss of a husband and father.

Illegal Immigrant Crime US Debate Intensifies

The case has sparked fierce political debate about immigration enforcement. President Donald Trump told the New York Post the killing was 'preventable', blaming current immigration policies for allowing dangerous criminals to remain in America.

Immigration experts note that deportation becomes legally complex when countries like Cuba refuse to accept their nationals with serious criminal records. This leaves American authorities with few viable options, even when dealing with individuals who pose clear public safety risks.

Cuba Deportation Refusal Creates Legal Limbo

The inability to deport Cobos-Martinez highlights a critical gap in international cooperation. When home countries refuse repatriation, violent offenders can remain in legal limbo, cycling through the justice system without a permanent resolution.

For Nagamallaiah's family, these policy debates offer little comfort. The Indian immigrant who built a life serving his community is gone, leaving behind a grieving widow and children who witnessed their father's final moments.

US Immigration Failures Under Microscope

This tragedy forces uncomfortable questions about how someone with such an extensive record of violence could remain free. Each arrest, each charge, each release represented another chance to prevent this killing.

The case continues through Dallas County courts as prosecutors build their capital murder case. Meanwhile, immigration advocates and enforcement officials alike grapple with how to prevent similar tragedies.

Nagamallaiah's death serves as a stark reminder that behind every policy debate are real families torn apart by preventable violence. His neighbours remember a dedicated businessman who worked tirelessly to provide for his family. Now they're left wondering how the system failed so completely.

As federal authorities await the outcome of state proceedings before pursuing immigration violations, one fact remains clear: a good man is dead, and the warning signs were there all along.