A 32-year-old woman from Kerala, India, is facing murder charges in California following a violent incident in Milpitas that left one friend dead and has since been linked to a second homicide.
The incident occurred at the Mill Creek Apartments on Dixon Landing Road. According to witness accounts provided to the Milpitas Police Department, the victim was approaching a blue Toyota Highlander when the vehicle suddenly accelerated, striking her before colliding with three parked cars. The driver then fled the scene. Emergency responders arrived shortly after 12:00 p.m. to find Hari suffering from severe head trauma; she was pronounced dead at the location.
Investigation into dual homicides
Following the hit-and-run, law enforcement officers located Baby in a nearby Walgreens parking lot. Court documents filed in the Superior Court of California for the County of Santa Clara indicate that the suspect appeared incoherent and exhibited visible injuries to her limbs when apprehended. Detective Tailor Goods noted in a report that Baby was unable to provide coherent responses to questioning at the time of her arrest.
The investigation took a further turn when authorities linked the suspect to a second death occurring less than two hours later. At approximately 1:53 p.m., the San Jose Police Department responded to a report of a stabbing on the 700 block of Linda Vista Street, located roughly 17 kilometers from the initial crime scene. Officers discovered the body of 40-year-old Ann Mary Mathew, who had sustained at least one fatal stab wound. Police have confirmed that the death is being treated as a homicide and that Baby is currently under investigation in connection with the incident.
Context and community response
Reports indicate that all three women had previously resided in the same housing complex on Dixon Landing Road before Mathew and the suspect reportedly moved to the San Jose address approximately two months prior to the events. While the motive behind the violence remains unclear, court filings allege that the suspect acted with malice and premeditation, suggesting a level of planning in the operation of the vehicle.
Local community members and acquaintances of the three women have expressed shock, noting that they were unaware of any existing conflicts or strained relationships between the individuals. While some initial speculation within the community suggested potential stressors such as employment difficulties, friends of the women have dismissed these theories as insufficient to explain the nature of the crimes. Investigators have recovered forensic evidence from the scenes, though specific details regarding the findings have not been publicly disclosed. Baby remains in custody at the county main prison as the investigation continues.
