Two women originally from Kerala, India, were reportedly killed by a friend in a tragic double homicide in California. The victims have been identified as Anjana Hari, aged 35, from Thrissur, and Ann Mary Mathew, aged 40, from Thiruvananthapuram. The alleged perpetrator, a 32-year-old woman named Anila from Kottayam, has been arrested in connection with the incident.

Relatives stated that the three women had shared time together the day before the incident, attending an Onam celebration followed by a movie outing. The motive behind the killings remains unclear, pending further investigation by local authorities.

Circumstances Surrounding the Deaths

On August 28, police received a report of a hit-and-run incident around noon in a residential complex parking lot in California. Upon arrival, officers discovered a woman suffering from severe injuries, who was later pronounced dead at the scene. Witnesses described a blue SUV fleeing the area immediately after the collision.

Law enforcement located a damaged blue SUV in a nearby parking facility, which matched the description given by witnesses. The driver of the vehicle, allegedly identified as Anila, was taken into custody while the deceased woman was confirmed to be Anjana. Initial communications to her family stated that she had sustained serious injuries but had been hospitalised. However, they were later informed of her death.

Ann Mary was reportedly stabbed inside her apartment prior to the car incident involving Anjana. Her husband, Jacob, arrived at their residence after hearing about Anjana’s demise and discovered Ann deceased. The police have yet to confirm the specifics surrounding the events leading to both fatalities, and the investigation continues.

Investigation and Repatriation Efforts

Relatives have raised concerns regarding Anila’s alleged recent job loss, suggesting it may have affected her mental state. Conversely, Ann had reportedly just secured employment and a work permit two weeks prior to the tragedy. No official statements have been made linking job loss or financial stress to the murders.

Union Minister Suresh Gopi has stepped in to assist with the repatriation of the deceased women’s bodies to Kerala. He has communicated with the Consul General at the Indian Consulate in San Francisco, who informed him that necessary orders are being processed for the required documentation to send the mortal remains back to India. However, it remains uncertain when they will be released to the families, as US authorities may retain them for ongoing investigations.

Anjana was a schoolteacher who lived in California with her husband, Vijesh, a software engineer, and their young daughter, Vamika. The family had relocated to the United States in 2021 and had last visited Kerala earlier in the year. Ann Mary, who worked as a computer teacher, is survived by her husband, Jacob, and their two children, Andreesa and Alisa.

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