SAN JOSE, Calif. (KRON) -- A Milpitas woman charged with murdering two victims in the South Bay is currently being evaluated for mental competence before her case moves forward in Santa Clara County Superior Court.
Anila Baby, 32, is accused of killing 39-year-old Ann Mathew in San Jose, and 35-year-old Anjana Hari in Milpitas. The two women were slain within hours of each other on Aug. 28.
This October, Baby's defense attorney raised doubts about her mental competency to stand trial. Judge Meghan Piano suspended criminal court proceedings and doctors were appointed to examine Baby's mental state. Baby is scheduled to return to court on Dec. 18, when attorneys will submit the doctors' reports and conclusions.
Hari and Baby both lived in the Mill Creek Apartments’ complex on Dixon Landing Road in Milpitas. Family members told police that they were "good friends."
Just before noon on Aug. 28, Hari was walking through the apartment complex when a blue Toyota Highlander SUV ran her over, according to court documents obtained by KRON4.
Moments before she was run over, Hari walked toward the SUV like she was about to get in, a witness told police. Hari was “smiling and seemed to be friendly with the driver,” a police report states. "The victim appeared to be happy. When the victim walked in front of the Toyota, the vehicle suddenly accelerated."
Anjana Hari (Photo courtesy GoFundMe)
Hari suffered fatal head injuries and the driver fled the scene.
About two hours later, police officers responded to a residence on Linda Vista Street in San Jose, where they found Mathew deceased from stab wounds.
Detectives spotted Baby sitting in her damaged SUV parked less than a mile from Mill Creek Apartments. In addition to blood covering her arms and legs, "she appeared incoherent and was unable to answer questions," the police report states.
The District Attorney’s Office charged Baby with two counts of murder. Investigators have not released a suspected motive.
If the judge decides, based off doctors' reports, that Baby is mentally incompetent to stand trial, the case will remain suspended.
