Published Aug 31, 2026 | 9:57 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 31, 2026 | 10:22 AM
Anila, Anjana Hari and Ann Mary Mathew were close friends.
Synopsis: Two Malayali women, Anjana Hari and Ann Mary Mathew, were allegedly killed by their close friend Anila in Milpitas, California, on August 28. Anjana was fatally struck by a car, while Ann was found stabbed inside her apartment. The three friends had celebrated Onam and watched a movie together the previous day.
Two Malayali women from Keralam were allegedly killed by their close friend in California, United States, on August 28.
The three women were friends and lived with their families in the same apartment complex in Milpitas.
The deceased have been identified as Anjana Hari (35), a native of Mannuthy in Thrissur and Ann Mary Mathew (40), from Kesavadasapuram in Thiruvananthapuram.
Their friend, 32-year-old Anila, a native of Moonnilavu in Kottayam, has been arrested by the Milpitas Police in connection with the incident.
Anjana was killed after being hit by a car allegedly driven by Anila, while Ann Mathew’s body was discovered in her flat with stab wounds.
According to police, the incident happened around noon on August 28.
The police were informed that a blue SUV had hit a woman and driven off in the parking lot of the Mill Creek Apartments on Dixon Landing Road. Anjana, who was critically injured in the incident, was pronounced dead upon the arrival of the police. The blue SUV used to hit Anjana was found in the parking lot of a nearby building. The vehicle had significant damage consistent with being involved in a collision. Police found that the car was driven by Anila and subsequently took her into custody.
The other murder came to light when the deceased’s husband reached the apartment after being informed about Anjana’s death. Ann Mary Mathew’s body was found inside the apartment with stab wounds. According to eyewitness accounts reported by the media, Anila had allegedly entered Ann’s flat and stabbed her to death.
The exact circumstances and motive behind the killings remain under investigation.
The three women were reportedly close friends and had attended an Onam celebration and watched a movie together the previous day.
Anjana, a school teacher, had moved to the US in 2021 with her husband Vijesh and their six-year-old daughter. Ann Mary, a computer teacher, had recently returned to the US after visiting Kerala for her father’s 70th birthday. She was married to Kottayam native Pallathra Jacob and is survived by her two children, aged 12 and five.
Relatives said arrangements are underway to bring the bodies of both the women back to Keralam.
(Edited by Fayisa CA)
