Pattikkad (Thrissur): Residents and relatives in Thrissur and Kottayam remain in a state of profound shock and disbelief as further tragic details emerge surrounding the deaths of two Malayali women in Milpitas, California.

As reported earlier, Anjana (35), daughter of Pananchery Thekkuttu Haridas and Sushama from Mudikkode, and Annie (85), a Thiruvananthapuram native and wife of Jacob from Pallam House in Kurichi, Kottayam, were killed on Friday. Their mutual friend, Anila, whose native place in Kerala has not yet been confirmed, remains in police custody.

Local communities back home are struggling to process the tragic turn of events. Relatives recalled that the three women shared a close bond and had recently gathered to celebrate Onam, as well as attending a screening of a newly released Nivin Pauly film together.

According to updates from family members, the incident unfolded around 12 pm local time on Friday. Anila reportedly summoned Anjana downstairs from her apartment before striking her with a car. The vehicle fled the scene but was later identified by police through CCTV footage.

Following the hit-and-run, Anjana’s husband, Vijeesh, alerted Annie’s husband, Jacob. Unable to establish contact with Annie, Jacob requested a police welfare check. Officers arriving at the residence on the 700 block of Linda Vista Street around 2:00 PM discovered Annie’s body with fatal stab wounds.

Preliminary reports indicate that severe depression following job loss in the US may have driven Anila to commit the act. Police investigations in California are ongoing.

Anjana, who worked for a private firm, had lived in California for eight years with Vijeesh, a software engineer from Vilangannur. She leaves behind her husband, their daughter Vamika, and her sister Adithya.