California woman accused of mowing down friend in double-death mystery

A tragic and deeply unsettling mystery is unfolding in Northern California, where a tight-knit community of friends has been shattered by two sudden deaths. What began as an investigation into a fatal parking lot hit-and-run has quickly expanded into a complex double-homicide inquiry, leaving families searching for answers about how a group of close friends could be torn apart in a matter of hours.

WHAT HAPPENED

On Friday, August 28, 2026, police responded to a reported hit-and-run at the Mill Creek Apartments on Dixon Landing Road in Milpitas, California. Witnesses reported seeing 35-year-old Anjana Hari walking toward a blue SUV in the parking lot, appearing relaxed and smiling. Suddenly, the vehicle accelerated from a complete stop, intentionally striking Hari and running her over. The SUV then collided with several parked cars before speeding away. Hari was pronounced dead at the scene.

Shortly after, police spotted the blue SUV driving recklessly and located it in a nearby Walgreens parking lot. Inside was 32-year-old Anila Baby, who was incoherent, disoriented, and covered in blood with visible injuries. She was taken into custody and has since been charged with murder.

As the investigation into Hari's death began, a second tragedy emerged. Just hours later, 40-year-old Ann Mary Mathew was found dead from a stabbing inside her home on Linda Vista Street in San Jose. Investigators quickly realized that Hari, Mathew, and the suspect, Baby, were all close friends and neighbors from the local Malayali community, originally from Kerala, India. Police are now actively investigating the connection between the SUV attack and Mathew's stabbing death.

Key Facts of the Case:

• Suspect: Anila Baby, 32, currently facing a murder charge.
• Victim 1: Anjana Hari, 35, killed after being intentionally struck by an SUV in a Milpitas parking lot.
• Victim 2: Ann Mary Mathew, 40, found stabbed to death in her San Jose home on the same day.
• The Connection: All three women were close friends and neighbors who had recently celebrated the Onam festival together.
• The Arrest: Baby was found incoherent and covered in blood in a Walgreens parking lot shortly after the hit-and-run.

WHY IT MATTERS

This case has sent shockwaves through the local community and the broader Indian diaspora. The three women were not strangers; they were close friends, neighbors, and active members of the local Malayali community. Just days before the tragedy, they had celebrated the traditional harvest festival of Onam together and gone to see a movie.

For the families of the victims, the sudden and violent loss of two loved ones has left them in deep grief and disbelief. The allegations of premeditation and extreme violence have transformed what seemed like a close-knit support system of families living abroad into a devastating crime scene, leaving community members struggling to comprehend how such a tragedy could occur.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

Anila Baby is currently in custody and faces a murder charge in connection with the death of Anjana Hari. Prosecutors have alleged that the crime involved great violence, planning, and sophistication.

As the legal process moves forward, detectives from both the Milpitas and San Jose police departments are working to piece together the timeline of events. Investigators are conducting forensic tests on the SUV and analyzing evidence from Mathew's home to formally establish the link between the two deaths and determine if additional charges will be filed against Baby.

WHAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW

1. What was the motive behind the sudden and violent attacks on the two friends?
2. How did the suspect, Anila Baby, sustain her own visible injuries and end up covered in blood before her arrest?
3. Will prosecutors officially file additional murder charges against Baby in connection with the stabbing death of Ann Mary Mathew?

SOURCE NOTE

This story draws on reporting from the New York Post.