The couple have two college-going children.
AB Wire
James Nallan, 63, who allegedly shot dead his wife Sonia Nallan, 48, at their house in San Jose, California, last Saturday, suspected her of having an affair, and murdered her after confronting her about his suspicions, according to police.
About 12:45 a.m. last Saturday, officers responded to reports of the shooting on the 1700 block of Indigo Oak Lane on the southeast side of the city, said police Sgt. Enrique Garcia.
Investigators found Sonia Nallan suffering from at least one gunshot wound, Garcia said. She was rushed to a hospital but did not survive. James Nallan was arrested, and there are no other suspects, Garcia had then said. Police did not describe a possible motive in the murder then.
But now, the San Jose Police Department say Nallan believed his wife was having an affair.
“James admitted that he felt she was having an affair and confronted her when she returned home that evening. During the confrontation he shot her one time in the head with the purchased firearm,” said Sgt. Patrick Guire.
Nallan told police he bought a handgun and shot her because he believed she was having an affair, according to a police statement of facts submitted to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, according to the Mercury News.
Nallan in fact reported the fatal shooting of his wife around 12:45 a.m. and said he would wait for officers outside the home, the statement says.
James Nallan also identified a handgun found inside the home as the murder weapon, the statement says.
The families of both James and Sonia Nallan were still reeling Tuesday, said Chris Nallan, the younger brother of James Nallan and a pastor at San Jose International Christian Center.
“We have a lot of arrangements to make,” said Chris Nallan, the suspect’s younger brother, adding that Sonia Nallan’s funeral is scheduled to take place 1:30 p.m.Friday at Chapel of the Chimes in Hayward.
Sonia has left behind her two sons – Sahil, 21, who attends UC Berkeley and Nitin, 20, who attends UC Irvine.
The American Bazaar had earlier reported that Chris Nallan visited the Nallans’ two-story stucco home Saturday afternoon. He said the family is in shock.
“They had a wonderful relationship,” he said.
James and Sonia met at a technology firm and had been married for decades, Chris Nallan said. They have two children in college, according to the Mercury News.
About seven years ago, James Nallan suffered severe injuries in a fall while doing home repairs. And he fell into a coma for three months.
When he awoke, his personality had changed dramatically, his brother said. Once fun-loving and engaging, he became withdrawn, and his moods were unpredictable, Chris Nallan said.
Sonia Nallan cared for her husband, who was unable to work, the report said.
“She knew that he wasn’t right. She was very devout,” said Chris Nallan, pastor at the San Jose International Christian Center. “She was always there.”
He said Sonia would often come to her in-laws’ house and confide about the difficulties of caring for her husband. “We are a very close family,” Nallan said. “We knew what she was going through.”
According to her LinkedIn profile, Sonia Nallan worked as a technical recruiter at Encore Semiconductors.