A Chicago woman who was found guilty of killing and dismembering her landlord was given a 58-year jail sentence.
Sandra Kolalou was sentenced by Cook County Judge Ursula Walowski on Wednesday, July 10, almost three months after she was found guilty of first-degree murder in connection with the death of 69-year-old Frances Walker in October 2022, according to WGN-TV, CBS Chicago, and The Chicago Tribune.
Walowski told Kolalou, “The nature and circumstances of this case are quite aggravating, for a human being to do this to another human being,” during the sentencing hearing, referring to Walker’s death as “something out of a horror movie,” according to The Chicago Tribune.
According to the publications, Walowski sentenced Kolalou to 50 years in jail for killing Walker, six years for dismemberment, and two years for aggravated identity theft. The Chicago Tribune reports that Kolalou’s lawyer intends to file an appeal of the ruling.
Kolalou reportedly insisted on her innocence during the sentencing process, telling the judge, “I understand a jury found me legally liable for murder,” according to WGN-TV. However, I didn’t do this crime. God is my witness; I never did Fran any damage.”
During the court proceedings, Walker’s relatives gave testimony. Among them was her niece Katerina Lee Walker, who claimed that her aunt’s passing made her retreat from social interactions.
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“I couldn’t be in the place of happiness. She reportedly told The Chicago Tribune, “I couldn’t bring myself to move, even though everyone else was moving around me.”
Walker’s severed body, which included her head and limbs, was discovered in a freezer at the Arcadia Terrace area house they shared. After failing to find Walker, other residents reported hearing cries in the middle of the night. This led the police to make the finding.
At a prior press conference, Chicago Police Chief of Detectives Brendan Deenihan stated, “Based upon the totality of the evidence, the detectives believe the crime occurred in the victim’s bedroom, and then they do believe that the dismemberment took place on the first floor of that residence.”
Walker’s death, according to Deenihan, happened after she “recently” gave Kolalou an eviction notice.
Walker is described in her obituary as a “talented pianist and organist.”
Fran was an ardent Catholic who held reverence for all faiths. Her obituary also stated that she was “kind, caring, positive, and spunky” people stated.
