3 Kerala friends celebrated Onam in US. Two days later, two women found dead, third arrested

3 Kerala friends celebrated Onam in US. Two days afterwards, two women identified dead, third arrested While one of the women was killed in a parking lot hit-and-run, the other was discovered dead inside her flat on August 28.

Key points

• In Kottayam, a relative of Ann remarked the police in Milpitas have allowed the relatives in California a briefing on Wednesday.
• The three women, all from different parts of Kerala, lived in the same apartment complex in California, US.
• In its press release, the Milpitas police have not mentioned anything regarding the death of Ann.
• A family member of Anjana remarked, We do not know the motive of the crime.
• The couple, both software professionals, had moved to California six years ago.

In practice, the death of the two women, documented on August 28 at Milpitas in California, has left the families of the two victims, and the community at substantial, shocked and grappling with the feasible motive behind the act. (File photo).

Meanwhile, the three women, all from different parts of Kerala, lived in the same apartment complex in California, US. They were known to be quite close and, last week, had celebrated the festival of Onam together. Two days afterwards, two of them were identified dead – one at the same apartment's parking lot and the other inside her flat. The third woman was arrested for allegedly causing at least one of the deaths, with police looking into feasible connection with the other murder as well.

According to the press release from Milpitas police, the deaths were documented from Mill Creek Apartment at 440 Dixon Landing Road where personnel had rushed to after receiving reports of a hit-and-run traffic collision in the parking lot.

"Witnesses documented seeing a blue SUV leaving the area immediately after the incident. When officers arrived, they discovered a female victim, aged 35. This person had sustained significant injuries as of the collision. Unfortunately, she was pronounced deceased at the scene, " the press release stated.

Officers rapidly searched the surrounding area and identified a blue SUV matching the description in a nearby parking lot. "The vehicle had significant damage consistent with being involved in a collision. The driver, a 32-year-old woman, was arrested in connection with the incident. This remains an active and ongoing investigation. Notably, the circumstances leading up to the collision are still being determined, and extra information will be issued as it becomes available, " noted the release.

On hearing regarding the accident involving their friend, Ann's husband rushed home only to find her murdered in their flat.

In its press release, the Milpitas police have not mentioned anything regarding the death of Ann. Nevertheless, her family in Kerala stated the police have confirmed to the relatives in the US regarding it being a case of homicide.

Notably, a family member of Anjana remarked, We do not know the motive of the crime. On Saturday afternoon, we obtained information concerning the incident with Keralites in California saying that she had met with an accident. Afterwards, it was confirmed as a murder. Her husband who came down from the apartment saw his wife lying dead in the parking area. We are informed that an inquest and probe are going on. The police are yet to reveal the motive behind the crime, '' remarked the relative.

Meanwhile, the couple, both software professionals, had moved to California six years ago. "They have a six-year-old daughter. Before moving to the USA, they had worked in Bengaluru. While the husband continued to work as a software professional in California, Anjana transitioned to teaching, " remarked the relative. Call from CM, Union minister.

Notably, the relative remarked Chief Minister V D Satheesan and Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi had called them to assist expedite the procedure to bring the body back home.

"I could contact the husband, but he is unable to speak now. He is in shock and yet to come to terms with the incident. The three families were living in the same apartment complex and had celebrated the Onam festival together last week. They had a good social life, but we are yet to obtain any information concerning the motive behind the murder, " he noted.

Ann and her husband had moved to the US four years ago. "Upon hearing regarding the murder of Anjana, Ann's husband rushed to the flat only to realise that his wife had additionally been murdered. While the husband was employed at a firm, Ann was not working right now. Earlier, she applied to work as a teacher. In practice, the couple has two children, " remarked the relative.

"We do not have any information regarding the motive behind the murder. The local police have informed our family friends in Milpitas that Ann's death was a case of homicide."

Meanwhile, the accused, Anila, hailed from Moonnilavu in Kottayam. She is an engineering graduate who migrated to the US four years ago with her husband. They have a daughter. Yesterday (Sunday), we came to know regarding the incident, but none of us is familiar with the motive behind the alleged crime. Anila's parents had gone to the US for a short vacation and were slated to return to Kerala afterwards this week, '' stated a family friend.

In short, 3 Kerala friends celebrated Onam in US. Two days later, two women is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.