DALLAS, TX — A 50-year-old man was killed in a violent stabbing Wednesday morning at a motel in East Dallas.
On September 10, 2025, at about 9:30 a.m., Dallas Police responded to a stabbing call at the Downtown Suites in the 3400 block of Samuell Boulevard, near the Tenison golf course.
Investigators said the suspect, 37-year-old Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, attacked the victim, identified as Chandra Nagamallaiah, with a machete following an argument on the motel property. According to the arrest affidavit, Nagamallaiah was attempting to inform Cobos-Martinez of a broken washing machine he was trying to use. Because of a language barrier, Nagamallaiah turned to another individual to translate and this triggered Cobos-Martinez. Detectives reviewed surveillance footage at the motel that showed Cobos-Martinez leaving the room after the interaction with Nagamallaiah, but later comes back armed with a machete.
Witnesses reported the victim attempted to flee to the front office area but fell, and the suspect continued stabbing him, ultimately beheading her in what police described as a brutal and tragic attack. The victim's wife and son attempted to intervene, but Cobos-Martinez fought them off.
Dallas Fire-Rescue responded, but Nagamallaiah was pronounced dead at the scene. Officers arrested the armed Cobos-Martinez about a block away. He has been charged with Capital Murder.
The investigation is ongoing and is documented under case number 130413-2025. Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Cody Clark at 214-671-3584 or cody.clark@dallaspolice.gov.
