MILPITAS, Calif. — A Milpitas woman appeared in a Santa Clara County courtroom Thursday to face charges in connection with a chilling double-homicide that has left two grieving families searching for answers.
Anila Baby, 33, stands accused of murdering two of her closest friends in a span of just 90 minutes on August 28. Prosecutors have charged her with two counts of first-degree murder, and if convicted, she faces a potential sentence of 50 years to life in prison. She remains in custody without bail.
According to court documents and statements from the District Attorney’s office, the wave of violence began at a home on Linda Vista Street in San Jose. Prosecutors allege that Baby arrived at the residence of Ann Mary Mathew as an unexpected guest. Mathew’s husband later returned home to discover his wife had been brutally strangled and stabbed, leaving her dead in a pool of blood. Investigators noted that while security footage from the home had been deleted during the time of the attack, investigators recovered a pair of sandals belonging to the defendant outside the residence.
Just 90 minutes later, the violence shifted to an apartment complex in Milpitas. Authorities allege that Anjana Hari was lured to the parking lot of the complex. As Hari walked into the path of an oncoming vehicle, prosecutors claim the driver accelerated intentionally, striking and killing her.
“These are extremely serious charges,” said Deputy District Attorney Marisa McKeown. “We believe that these were willful, premeditated, and extremely violent crime scenes.”
Police apprehended Baby near the Milpitas scene as she allegedly attempted to flee in her vehicle. Officers reported that she was covered in blood and had visible facial injuries at the time of her arrest. Forensic evidence and follow-up interviews allowed investigators to connect the two scenes, cementing the theory that the killings were linked and deliberate.
The tragedy has resonated deeply throughout the community, particularly given that the suspect and the victims were part of the same social circle. “Both women were mothers. They are residents of our community, and their families are suffering terribly from the ultimate question of ‘Why would someone do this?’” McKeown said. “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.”
Following the initial murder charge filed on September 1 for the Milpitas incident, prosecutors added the second murder charge for the San Jose homicide this past Tuesday. Baby is scheduled to return to court on November 17, at which point she is expected to enter a formal plea.
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