Bodies of Anjana, Ann Mary Mathew flown home to Kerala after California murders
Synopsis
Two young Malayali women allegedly stabbed and struck down by a close friend in California on 28 August have finally been brought home. Their bodies landed in Kochi on Monday, and funerals are set for Tuesday — closing a chapter that has devastated families across Kerala and the Malayali diaspora in the US. The motive behind the double murder remains under investigation.
Key Takeaways
Bodies of Anjana (Thrissur) and Ann Mary Mathew (Thiruvananthapuram) arrived at Cochin International Airport, Nedumbassery on Monday, 21 September .
The two women were allegedly murdered in California on 28 August by a close friend, Anila , a native of Erattupetta, Kottayam .
According to investigators, Ann Mary was allegedly stabbed at her home in San Jose ; Anjana was subsequently killed after being struck by a vehicle.
Anila is currently held in the high-security section of Santa Clara County Main Jail ; motive remains under investigation by Milpitas police .
Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi reportedly facilitated repatriation efforts; funerals for both women are scheduled for Tuesday at their respective parish churches.
The mortal remains of two Malayali women — Anjana and Ann Mary Mathew — who were allegedly murdered by a close friend in California on 28 August 2026, were brought back to Kochi on Monday, 21 September, as grieving families and communities prepared for their last rites. The bodies arrived at Cochin International Airport, Nedumbassery, on a flight from San Francisco via Los Angeles and Dubai, and were handed over to relatives after the completion of official procedures.
Final Journey Home
The body of Ann Mary Mathew, a native of Kesavadasapuram in Thiruvananthapuram, was transported to her husband's home in Kottayam. According to close relatives, the body was to be taken to her parish church on Tuesday morning, where the final rites are to be held.
The body of Anjana, originally from Thrissur, was first brought to her ancestral home at Peechi, where a large number of people gathered to pay their last respects. Her funeral is expected to be held at her family's local parish on Tuesday.
What Happened in California
The two women were killed in a double murder in California on 28 August. According to investigators, Anila — a native of Erattupetta in Kottayam and a close friend of both victims — allegedly went to Ann Mary's home in San Jose and stabbed her to death. Approximately one-and-a-half hours later, she reportedly called Anjana and asked her to come to a location, where police say Anjana was subsequently killed after being struck by a vehicle.
Anila was arrested shortly after the killings and is currently held in the high-security section of the Santa Clara County Main Jail. The motive behind the killings is still under investigation by the Milpitas police, with US authorities continuing to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Centre's Intervention
Union Minister of State for Tourism Suresh Gopi had been closely following the arrangements to repatriate the bodies from the United States since the killings last month, according to reports. His involvement reportedly helped expedite the formalities involved in bringing the remains home.
Community Grief
The murders had sent shock waves through the Malayali community in both California and Kerala. The return of the bodies on Monday brought the tragedy into sharp focus, with relatives, friends, and well-wishers gathering at both families' homes to bid farewell to the young women. The outpouring of grief underscored the deep sense of loss felt across the community — both in India and in the diaspora.
The investigation by US authorities is ongoing, and no formal motive has yet been established by the Milpitas police.
Point of View
Where personal disputes can escalate without the social safety nets of familiar networks. What is striking here is how swiftly the alleged perpetrator acted — within a span of roughly ninety minutes — suggesting a degree of premeditation that investigators have yet to formally establish a motive for. The involvement of a Union minister in repatriation arrangements, while welcome, raises a quieter question about the systemic support the Indian state provides to its citizens abroad when tragedy strikes. Until the Milpitas police establish a clear motive, the broader Malayali community — both in Kerala and in the US — will be left with grief and unanswered questions.
NationPress
21 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Anjana and Ann Mary Mathew?
Anjana and Ann Mary Mathew were two Malayali women who were allegedly murdered by a close friend, Anila, in California on 28 August. Anjana was a native of Thrissur, while Ann Mary Mathew hailed from Kesavadasapuram in Thiruvananthapuram and was residing with her husband in Kottayam.
What happened in the California double murder?
According to investigators, Anila allegedly went to Ann Mary Mathew's home in San Jose and stabbed her to death on 28 August. About one-and-a-half hours later, she allegedly called Anjana and asked her to come to a location, where Anjana was killed after being struck by a vehicle. Anila was arrested shortly after.
Where is the accused Anila currently?
Anila, a native of Erattupetta in Kottayam, is currently held in the high-security section of the Santa Clara County Main Jail in California. The motive behind the killings is still under investigation by the Milpitas police.
When and where are the funerals being held?
Both funerals are expected to take place on Tuesday. Ann Mary Mathew's final rites are to be held at her parish church in Kottayam, while Anjana's funeral is expected at her family's local parish in Thrissur, following a stop at her ancestral home in Peechi.
What role did Union Minister Suresh Gopi play in the repatriation?
Union Minister of State for Tourism Suresh Gopi reportedly closely followed the arrangements to bring the bodies back to Kerala from the US since the killings last month. His involvement is said to have helped facilitate the repatriation process.
