Tenant Who Dismembered Landlord Sentenced To 58 Years: Reports

CHICAGO — A woman was sentenced Wednesday to nearly 60 years in prison for killing her landlord and hiding the victim’s head and limbs in a freezer, according to reports.

Sandra Kolalou was charged with first-degree murder in the October 2022 death of Frances Walker. Kolalou, 39, was found guilty earlier this year of the murder charge as well as dismemberment and aggravated identity theft, WGN reported, and she received a sentence of 58 years.

Kolalou lived at a boarding house run by Walker, who was in her 60s, in Chicago’s West Ridge neighborhood, but after complaints from other tenants, Walker changed the locks and posted an eviction notice on Kolalou’s door, officials said shortly after the death.

Walker’s head, arms and legs were found in a kitchen freezer by police, according to authorities, who said Kolalou tried to dispose of evidence at a local beach, where bloody towels were found.

The morning of the killing, Oct. 10, neighbors received a series of strange texts from Walker’s phone explaining that Kolalou would be taking care of her dog and should be given tenants’ keys if they moved out, prosecutors said.

Kolalou maintained her innocence and her lawyers plan to appeal the case, according to WGN.

“With God as my witness, I never harmed Fran,” she said, the outlet reported.

Walker’s family told WLS they were satisfied with the outcome.

"Sandra asked the judge for mercy, but she did not give my sister any mercy so she did not deserve mercy,” the victim’s sister, Benita Walker, said, according to WLS.