Mother of Cuban Accused of Texas Hotel Manager Murder: "He Must Face Justice"

The mother of Yordanis Cobos-Martínez, a 37-year-old Cuban accused of beheading a motel manager in Dallas in front of his wife and son, acknowledges the horrific nature of her son's actions and believes he must be held accountable. Speaking from Cuba, Odalis Martínez Rodríguez told Telemundo 51 that her son struggled with mental health issues. She emphasized that although Yordanis's crime is inexcusable, he was a victim of labor exploitation and lived in dire conditions at the motel, "like a dog."

"He would tell me, 'Mom, I'm like a robot, I work and work and don't get paid,'" she shared. Months earlier, after her son was released from prison in the United States, she requested his repatriation through the International Red Cross, hoping to get him medical treatment in Cuba. However, she claims the Cuban regime refused to accept him. "I was happy thinking he would come to Cuba, so I could care for him and take him to doctors... but they didn't accept him," she lamented.

Despite denying allegations linking him to murders in Cuba, Odalis admitted her son had "gone mad." She acknowledged the gravity of his actions, "He had mental issues since arriving in the U.S. Here in Cuba, he never had problems. He changed after prison. But what he did was terrible, and he must pay for it." The accused's grandmother also spoke from the island, expressing resignation and faith: "May he repent before God, for that father did not deserve to die that way."

A Tragic Crime in Dallas

Last Wednesday, Cobos-Martínez attacked Chandra Nagamallaiah, the manager of the Downtown Suites Motel in Old East Dallas, with a machete following a work dispute. He chased his boss into an office where his wife and son were present and beheaded him. Security footage captured him kicking the victim's head and throwing it into a trash bin. He was arrested shortly after, walking down the street covered in blood, still holding the machete. Police detained him without firing a shot, and he confessed during questioning. He is currently held without bail in the Dallas County Jail.

Violent Past and Immigration Controversy

Cobos-Martínez has a lengthy criminal record in the U.S., including auto theft, kidnapping, child sexual abuse, and parole violations. After serving multiple sentences, he was released in January 2025 under supervision, as Cuba refuses to take back citizens with violent pasts. The case has sparked a political uproar. Former President Donald Trump criticized the Biden administration for irresponsibility: "This crime could have been prevented. This individual should never have been in our country. He was released because Cuba won't take the bad ones."

Relatives allege Cobos committed at least two murders in Cuba before emigrating (a claim his mother denies) and that he once dismembered a man during a brawl. Journalist Javier Díaz reported that two brothers confronted Cobos-Martínez over the theft of two animals, and he responded by attacking them with a machete, killing one. Allegedly, an ex-convict uncle took the blame to prevent Cobos from going to prison. The uncle is reportedly still serving time for that crime, allowing Yordanis to remain free.

Community Shock

The victim, of Indian descent, was a respected and hardworking individual planning to visit his parents in Andhra Pradesh in October. His wife and 18-year-old son witnessed the crime, causing immense distress. The Indo-American community in Texas has shown overwhelming support for the victim's family, raising over $200,000 to cover funeral expenses and support the son's education. Nagamallaiah's funeral was held Saturday with a large turnout.

The case has not only highlighted the brutality of the crime but also exposed flaws in the U.S. immigration system and the Cuban regime's refusal to repatriate citizens with violent records, sparking vigorous political and social debate in the United States.