Kerala woman run over, another stabbed to death in US; friend arrested

Two women from Kerala living with their families in California were allegedly killed by a common friend in a double murder at a residential complex, according to police and relatives.

The victims have been identified as Anjana Hari, 35, a native of Thrissur, and Ann Mary Mathew, 40, from Thiruvananthapuram. Their common friend, Anila, 32, originally from Kottayam, has been arrested in connection with the deaths.

The motive for the killings has not yet been established. Relatives said the three women had spent time together the previous day, attending an Onam celebration before going to a theatre to watch a film, according to local media.

Union Minister Suresh Gopi, who has intervened to facilitate the repatriation of the women's mortal remains to Kerala, said the deaths had been officially confirmed as homicides. He said the specific motive and detailed findings would be known only after US authorities complete their investigation and issue formal reports.

WHAT HAPPENED?

According to police, at around noon on August 28, officers received an alert about a hit-and-run collision in a parking lot in the area. Witnesses told police that a blue SUV left the scene immediately after the collision.

Officers found a woman with significant injuries at the scene. She was pronounced dead at the spot.

Police later located a blue SUV matching the description in a nearby parking lot. The vehicle had substantial damage consistent with a collision. Police said its driver, identified as a 32-year-old Milpitas resident, was arrested. Officials did not name her, while the victim's family identified her as Anila.

The woman killed in the collision was identified as Anjana.

Her relatives in Kerala told the media that the family was initially informed that Anjana had suffered serious injuries in an accident and had been hospitalised. The family later learnt that she had died.

Ann, the second victim, was allegedly stabbed inside her apartment before Anila rammed her car into Anjana. Ann's husband, Jacob, went to the apartment after learning about Anjana's death and found Ann dead, according to relatives.

These details have not been fully established by police, and the circumstances surrounding both deaths remain under investigation.

Some relatives have suggested that Anila had recently lost her job in the US, while Ann had secured a job and work permit about two weeks before the incident. However, there is no official confirmation that employment or financial difficulties were linked to the killings.

Minister Suresh Gopi said he had spoken to the Consul General at the Indian Consulate in San Francisco regarding the repatriation of the women's mortal remains.

"According to what he informed me, orders have been issued to the funeral homes handling funeral services to proceed with all the required documentation to send the mortal remains to their home country," he said.

However, the minister said it was not yet clear when the bodies could be handed over to the families, as US authorities may retain them for further investigation.

"I am expecting an update from the Consulate later this day. Only after that will we know when the mortal remains can be brought or dispatched from there," he said.

Anjana was a schoolteacher. She lived with her husband, Vijesh, a software engineer, and their six-year-old daughter, Vamika. The family moved to California in 2021. She last visited Kerala in 2023.

Ann Mary worked as a computer teacher at a school in the US. She is survived by her husband, Jacob, and their children, Andreesa, 12, and Alisa, 5, according to her family.

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