Published Sep 11, 2026 | 1:49 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 11, 2026 | 1:51 PM
Anila Baby
Synopsis: Anila has been charged in connection with the stabbing death of Ann Mary Mathew at a residence in San Jose, California, the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office said. The charges were filed on September 8 following a homicide investigation by the San José Police Department (SJPD). She has also been charged with murder in the death of Anjana Hari in Milpitas.
Anila Baby, a former resident of Tazhakkavayal in Kottayam and an accused in the deaths of two Keralites in the United States, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder.
She has been charged in connection with the stabbing death of Ann Mary Mathew at a residence in San Jose, California, the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office said. The charges were filed on 8 September following a homicide investigation by the San José Police Department (SJPD).
She has also been charged with murder in the death of another close friend, Anjana Hari, who was run over by an SUV Baby was driving in Milpitas.
According to ABC7news report, Baby faces two counts of first-degree murder and a potential sentence of 50 years to life if convicted.
“Both women were mothers. They are residents of our community, and their families are suffering terribly from the ultimate question of ‘Why would someone do this?'” Deputy District Attorney Marisa McKeown was quoted as saying.
Reconstructing the day of the crime, police said officers responded to a report of a suspicious circumstance in the 700 block of Linda Vista Street at about 1:53 pm on August 28. They found an unconscious and unresponsive adult woman inside the residence with injuries. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
The SJPD Homicide Unit, assisted by the Santa Clara County Crime Lab and Medical Examiner’s Office, determined that the victim, Ann Mary Mathew, had suffered at least one stab wound and ruled the death a homicide.
Investigators said the victim and Baby were known to each other and quickly identified the latter as a suspect.
Baby was located and arrested by the Milpitas Police Department later the same day and booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail in connection with a separate incident.
According to Milpitas Police, officers had earlier responded to a reported hit-and-run at about 12:01 pm at the Mill Creek Apartments at 440 Dixon Landing Road. Witnesses reported seeing a blue SUV leave the area following the collision.
According to Kron4 news, Anjana Hari and the 32-year-old Baby both lived in the Mill Creek Apartments complex on Dixon Landing Road. A witness told police that, moments before she was run over, Hari walked toward Baby’s SUV like she was about to get in. Hari was “smiling and seemed to be friendly with the driver,” a police report states.
The witness also said, “They did not appear to be arguing or having any type of problem with each other. The victim appeared to be happy. When the victim walked in front of the Toyota, the vehicle suddenly accelerated from a stopped position and struck (Hari).”
Anila, Anjana and Ann Mary were reportedly close friends and had attended an Onam celebration and watched a movie together the previous day.
The motive and the exact sequence of events surrounding the deaths remain under investigation.
(Edited by Sumavarsha, with inputs from Dileep V Kumar)
