Indian-origin woman held in California over killings of two Kerala friends

An Indian-origin woman has been arrested in California for allegedly killing two of her friends in separate incidents about 90 minutes apart, one in San Jose and the other in Milpitas, authorities said. Investigators later linked the two deaths and identified 32-year-old Anila Baby as the suspect.

Baby is accused of killing Ann Mary Mathew, 35, and Anjana Hari, 35, on August 28. The accused and both victims were friends and traced their roots to Kerala. Baby was arrested the same day and was initially charged in the Milpitas case. Prosecutors on September 8 also charged her with murder in Mathew's death.

The first killing took place at Mathew's home in San Jose. Witnesses reported that an unexpected guest arrived at her door. Prosecutors said Mathew was later found by her husband inside the house. Investigators said she had been strangled and stabbed, and media reports said she was left in a pool of blood. The San Jose Police Department said Mathew was found unconscious with stab wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.