A 33-year-old California woman is facing two counts of first-degree murder after prosecutors said she killed two of her best friends in separate attacks about 90 minutes apart, first inside a San Jose home and then outside an apartment complex in Milpitas.
ABC7 News Bay Area reporter Dustin Dorsey covered Anila Baby’s first appearance in Santa Clara County court, where she was accused of killing Ann Mary Mathew and Anjana Hari on Aug. 28 in what prosecutors described as two deliberate and extremely violent crimes.
Both victims were mothers, and Deputy District Attorney Marisa McKeown said their families are now struggling not only with the deaths themselves, but also with the question of why someone they knew so closely would allegedly turn against them.
First Killing Allegedly Happened Inside A San Jose Home
Dorsey reported that the first attack happened at Mathew’s home on Linda Vista Street in San Jose, where witnesses said an unexpected guest arrived at the door.
Mathew was later found by her husband inside the house, according to investigators.
Prosecutors said she had been strangled and stabbed before being left in a pool of blood.
McKeown described the allegations in severe terms, saying the prosecution believes the killings were intentional rather than impulsive.
“These are extremely serious charges,” she said. “We believe that these were willful, premeditated and extremely violent crime scenes.”
Investigators also said video recordings from Mathew’s home were deleted during the period when the attack occurred, though they said Baby’s sandals were visible outside the residence.
That detail could become important as the case moves forward, because prosecutors will likely have to show how the forensic evidence and timeline connect Baby to both scenes rather than simply relying on the fact that the two women were friends.
Second Woman Killed About 90 Minutes Later
Shortly after Mathew’s death, prosecutors said Hari was called outside to the parking lot of her apartment complex in Milpitas.
Court documents described Hari walking in front of a vehicle before the driver allegedly accelerated and struck her.
Hari was killed.
Dorsey reported that investigators later linked the two deaths together and identified Baby as the suspect in both cases.
McKeown said detectives used a combination of forensic work and follow-up interviews to build that connection.
“We were able to charge the defendant with both of those murders and do believe that they were committed within about an hour and a half of one another,” she said.
The short gap between the two deaths is one of the most unsettling parts of the case, particularly because prosecutors say the victims and suspect were close friends rather than strangers.
Police Say Baby Was Covered In Blood When Arrested
Police said Baby was covered in blood and had injuries to her face when officers arrested her after the Milpitas killing.
According to the report, she allegedly tried to flee the scene in her vehicle and made it to a nearby parking lot before being taken into custody.
Investigators have not publicly laid out a motive, which leaves the central question hanging over both families and the criminal case.
McKeown said that uncertainty has been especially painful because the women’s families were also close.
“Really, the biggest heartbreak of this case is these families were best friends and want answers as to why someone could do this to their friend,” she said.
For now, the prosecution has described the killings as planned, but the explanation for what allegedly led to them remains unresolved.
That lack of motive makes the case even more difficult to understand from the outside. When the people involved knew one another well, investigators often have to look closely at private relationships, communications and events leading up to the crime to understand what changed.
Prosecutors Filed Separate Murder Charges
Dorsey reported that murder charges connected to the Milpitas case were filed first, on Sept. 1.
Baby was later charged in the San Jose homicide as investigators continued developing evidence linking the two cases.
She is now facing two counts of first-degree murder.
If convicted, she could face a sentence of 50 years to life in prison, according to the report.
Her first court appearance was brief, and Dorsey said she shielded herself behind a bailiff and her defense attorney while appearing before the judge.
Baby remains in custody without bail.
At this stage, the charges remain allegations, and she has not been convicted of either killing.
Families Left Searching For A Reason
McKeown said both Mathew and Hari were mothers and members of the local community, which has added another layer of grief for the people left behind.
“Both women were mothers,” she said. “They are residents of our community, and they and their families are suffering terribly from the ultimate question of why would someone do this?”
That question is likely to remain central as the case proceeds.
The prosecution says the crimes were premeditated, but the public record described by Dorsey does not yet explain what prosecutors believe the motive was or whether there had been any dispute between the women beforehand.
The fact that all three women reportedly knew one another closely also means the case is likely to involve a detailed examination of their relationships and communications leading up to Aug. 28.
For the families, however, those legal details may take a back seat to the loss itself.
Two women were killed in separate locations on the same day, and prosecutors say the same person who knew them personally was responsible for both deaths.
Next Court Date Set For November
Baby is scheduled to return to court on Nov. 17 for a plea hearing.
Until then, she will remain in custody without the opportunity for bail.
Dorsey said investigators are continuing to work through the evidence, while prosecutors say they hope the case can eventually provide the victims’ families with some explanation for what happened.
For now, the case remains one built around a tight timeline, two separate crime scenes and relationships that prosecutors say once connected the suspect and both victims as friends.
What remains missing is the answer the families appear to want most: why.
Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, John developed a love for the great outdoors early on. With years of experience as a wilderness guide, he’s navigated rugged terrains and unpredictable weather patterns. John is also an avid hunter and fisherman who believes in sustainable living. His focus on practical survival skills, from building shelters to purifying water, reflects his passion for preparedness. When he’s not out in the wild, you can find him sharing his knowledge through writing, hoping to inspire others to embrace self-reliance.
