By Sumesh Rajan | October 8, 2025
Kottayam, Kerala, INDIA: Days after her children living abroad lost contact with her and raised an alarm, the mystery surrounding the disappearance of 49-year-old Jessy from Kanakkary village in Kerala’s Kottayam district was tragically solved when her body was found dumped in a 50-foot-deep gorge in Idukki district. Police have arrested her husband, 59-year-old Kappadakunnel Sam George, on charges of murdering his estranged wife and disposing of her body.
According to Kottayam Superintendent of Police Shahul Hameed A, Sam, a former IT professional with stints in Bengaluru and the Middle East, allegedly killed Jessy following a heated argument at their home on September 26. The couple, though estranged for nearly a decade, had been living under the same roof—Jessy on the ground floor and Sam on the first floor—following a court directive under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act that allowed her to stay in the house.
A long-troubled marriage
Sam and Jessy’s marriage had been turbulent for years. The two met in Bengaluru and married in 1994, despite family opposition. The marriage was neither registered nor solemnised in church. Jessy, a native of Kaipattor in Pathanamthitta, was Sam’s second wife—his first marriage had ended in separation, and Jessy helped raise the daughter from that relationship alongside their two sons, both of whom now work abroad.
Their relationship reportedly began to deteriorate during their stay in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. After returning to Kerala, they settled in Kanakkary, where tensions continued to mount. Since 2015, they had been living separately within the same home, with Jessy frequently objecting to Sam’s alleged relationships with other women.
Foreign links and growing friction
Police said Sam had a pattern of befriending women during his foreign travels, often inviting them to Kerala under the pretext of promoting educational opportunities. Earlier this year, he travelled to Tehran, where he befriended an Iranian woman and persuaded her to pursue studies in Kerala. She later enrolled in a yoga and naturopathy course at Mahatma Gandhi University (MGU) in Kottayam—the same institution where Sam had taken admission in 2024 for a postgraduate course in Tourism and Travel Management.
According to the head of the university’s School of Tourism Studies, Dr. Robinet Jacob, Sam had concealed his marital status and claimed to be a bachelor. “He studied only for five months and didn’t attend the first semester exam. He gained admission through the regular entrance exam, and we never suspected his background until after his arrest,” Dr. Jacob said.
Police revealed that Sam had tried to bring the Iranian woman to stay in his home, but Jessy’s strong objection forced him to abandon the plan. The situation further strained their already hostile relationship. At the same time, Jessy’s maintenance petition against Sam was pending in court, and the accused reportedly feared that the verdict would go in her favour.
Murder and disposal
On September 26, during yet another argument, Sam allegedly smothered Jessy to death. He then placed her body in the trunk of his car and drove approximately 60 km to Udumbannoor village in Idukki district, where he dumped it in a deep gorge. Investigators believe the act was premeditated—Sam had previously lived near the location and had revisited the area days before the murder.
“The spot was carefully chosen, and his earlier visit indicates pre-planning,” said SP Hameed. After disposing of the body, Sam abandoned his car and went into hiding.
Missing complaint and arrest
Jessy’s three children, who live abroad, became worried when they couldn’t reach their mother for several days. They contacted relatives in Kerala, who approached the police. Based on leads, the police launched a search and eventually traced Sam and the Iranian woman to Mysuru, Karnataka. Sam was arrested and brought back to Kerala, where he led the police to the gorge where Jessy’s body was found.
“The Iranian woman has no role in the murder. She learned about the incident only after Sam’s arrest and has fully cooperated with the investigation,” police clarified.
Background of the accused
Sam hails from a wealthy family in Uzhavoor, Kottayam. Once a successful IT professional, he later attempted to reinvent himself academically and socially after returning from the Gulf. However, behind this façade, police say, was a man deeply entangled in personal and legal turmoil.
Jessy, described by neighbours as soft-spoken and religious, had lived in constant distress due to the marital discord. “She endured a lot silently,” said a neighbour. “Her children adored her and would speak to her daily. When she stopped answering calls, they immediately knew something was wrong.”
With Sam now in judicial custody, the Kottayam police are preparing to file the charge sheet. The case has shocked the community in Kanakkary and reignited discussions about domestic violence and the vulnerability of women in estranged relationships.
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