Anila Baby (left) appeared in court in connection with charges of murdering her friends, Ann Matthew (middle) and Anjana Hari.
33-year-old Anila Baby, an Indian woman residing in Milpitas, California, appeared in Santa Clara County court for the first time Thursday after she was charged with two murders. Both murders were executed on the same day, 90 minutes apart. Baby faces two counts of first-degree murder and a potential sentence of 50 years to life if convicted.
Both the murdered women were believed to be her “best friends”. Police identified Baby as the suspect and said the two women knew each other. Hari walked toward Baby’s vehicle in the parking lot, according to investigators. Earlier reports said witnesses saw Hari appearing relaxed and smiling as she approached the vehicle. Officers said she appeared incoherent and had blood on her arms and legs.
Prosecutors alleged that Baby then accelerated the SUV and deliberately struck Hari, killing her. Investigators also found evidence that several other vehicles were damaged in the incident. Baby allegedly fled the scene in the SUV before police found her in a nearby parking lot. She was arrested.