An NRI woman from Kerala has been arrested by the police in the US for allegedly murdering two of her close friends, minutes apart, on August 28.

The victims have been identified as Anjana Hari, 35, a native of Thrissur district, and Ann Mary Mathew, 40, from Thiruvananthapuram district. Their mutual friend, Anila, 32, a native of Kottayam district, was arrested in San Jose, California, in connection with both the deaths.

Anjana died of injuries sustained in a hit-and-run collision in Milpitas, at the parking lot of Mill Creek apartments. “When (police) officers arrived, they found a female victim who had sustained significant injuries as a result of the collision. Unfortunately, she was pronounced deceased at the scene. Officers quickly searched the surrounding area and found a blue SUV matching the description in a nearby parking lot. The driver, a 32-year-old Milpitas resident, was arrested in connection with the incident,” police said in a statement, even as circumstances surrounding the collision are being determined.

Ann was found dead inside her home on Linda Vista Street, San Jose, with a single stab wound. The death was flagged as a homicide. Police confirmed that the victim and suspect knew each other.

Investigations are on, and the motive behind the murders are yet to come to light.

Relatives of the deceased said that all three of them – Anjana, Ann and Anila – were close friends, and had celebrated Onam together. All three lived in the US with their respective families.

Regarding repatriation of the victims’ bodies, Thrissur MP Suresh Gopi said, “The Consul General (in San Francisco) has ordered the local funeral service to proceed with documentation for the repatriation of the bodies. But because they were murders and the police investigation is on, there could be a delay.” – Image credit: Freepik – editor@nrifocus.com