Authorities say the two women knew their accused killer, but investigators have not publicly explained why the longtime relationships allegedly turned deadly.
MILPITAS, Calif. — The families of two South Bay women are waiting for answers after prosecutors accused a friend of killing them in separate attacks about 90 minutes apart, a case that has moved into court while authorities continue investigating what may have led to the deaths.
Anila Baby has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the Aug. 28 deaths of Ann Mary Mathew in San Jose and Anjana Hari in Milpitas. Investigators say all three women knew one another, and police have described Baby and Hari as friends who lived in the same apartment complex. Prosecutors have said the evidence points to deliberate attacks, but authorities have not announced a motive.
The close relationships among the women have become a central unanswered part of the case. Deputy District Attorney Marisa McKeown said the families are struggling with why someone they knew could allegedly be responsible for the deaths. She said investigators hope their continuing work can provide answers as the criminal case moves forward.
Authorities say the day’s first killing occurred at Mathew’s home on Linda Vista Street in San Jose. Prosecutors allege Baby arrived at the residence and attacked Mathew inside. Mathew was later found by her husband. San Jose police said officers responded shortly before 2 p.m. and found her unconscious and unresponsive. Medical personnel pronounced her dead at the residence.
Police initially said Mathew had suffered injuries of an unknown nature. Investigators from the department’s homicide unit later worked with the Santa Clara County Crime Lab and medical examiner’s office and determined that she had suffered at least one stab wound. Prosecutors have since alleged that Mathew was both strangled and stabbed. San Jose police classified the death as the city’s 17th homicide of 2026.
Investigators also focused on evidence showing who had been at Mathew’s home before her death. Prosecutors said Baby’s sandals were seen outside the residence. They also said recordings from a home video system were deleted during the period surrounding the killing. Police said Baby and Mathew knew each other, allowing detectives to identify Baby as a suspect early in the investigation.
About 90 minutes after the San Jose attack, according to prosecutors, Hari was outside the Mill Creek Apartments in Milpitas. Police were called shortly after noon to reports of a pedestrian hit by a blue SUV. Hari was pronounced dead at the scene. Witnesses told police that Hari appeared friendly with the driver before the SUV accelerated and struck her.
Police said the SUV left the apartment complex after also damaging parked vehicles. Officers later found a heavily damaged blue Toyota SUV in a Walgreens parking lot about a mile away. Baby was located with the vehicle and taken into custody. Statements from friends and relatives established that Baby and Hari lived in the same apartment complex and knew each other well, investigators said.
The two investigations developed separately before authorities brought them together. Prosecutors first filed a murder charge related to Hari’s death. San Jose detectives continued gathering evidence in Mathew’s case, and the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office reviewed that investigation on Sept. 8. Baby was then charged in Mathew’s death as well.
Prosecutors say the evidence supports allegations of willful and premeditated killings, but the case remains at an early stage and Baby has not been convicted. She faces a possible sentence of 50 years to life if convicted on both first-degree murder counts. Authorities have not released evidence establishing why the women were allegedly targeted, and the motive remains under investigation.
Baby remains jailed without bail and is scheduled to return to court Nov. 17 for further proceedings, when she is expected to have an opportunity to enter a plea. For the victims’ families, the legal case is proceeding while the central question of what led to the two deaths remains unresolved.
Author note: Last updated September 12, 2026.