After Onam Together, Two Kerala Women Found Dead in California; Friend Held

Three women from Kerala, living in the same apartment complex in Milpitas, California, celebrated Onam together last week. Two days later, two of them were dead, and the third was in police custody.

The Milpitas Police Department responded to reports of a hit-and-run in the parking lot of the Mill Creek Apartment complex on Dixon Landing Road on August 28. Officers found a 35-year-old woman with fatal injuries. Witnesses reported a blue SUV leaving the scene. Police later located a matching vehicle with collision damage nearby and arrested its driver, a 32-year-old woman.

The deceased have been identified by family sources as Anjana Hari, 35, from Thrissur, and Ann Mary Mathew, 40, from Thiruvananthapuram. Their friend, Anila, 32, from Kottayam, has been arrested in connection with Anjana's death.

Ann's husband, alerted to the accident involving their friend, rushed home and discovered his wife had been murdered in their flat. While the police press release did not initially mention Ann's death, family members in Kerala say US authorities have confirmed it was a homicide.

Anjana, a software professional who later became a teacher, had lived in California for six years with her husband and six-year-old daughter. Ann, also a former teacher, had moved to the US four years ago with her husband and two children.

Relatives in Kerala expressed shock, saying they have no information about a motive. Anjana's family said her husband is in shock and unable to speak. Ann's family noted that police have scheduled a briefing for relatives in California.

Anila, an engineering graduate from Moonnilavu in Kottayam, migrated to the US four years ago with her husband and daughter. Her parents, who were visiting the US, were due to return to Kerala this week. Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan and Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi have reportedly contacted the families to assist with repatriation procedures.