A Chicago woman has been sentenced to 58 years in jail after being convicted of murdering and dismembering her landlord.
According to WGN-TV, CBS Chicago, and The Chicago Tribune, Cook County Judge Ursula Walowski sentenced Sandra Kolalou on Wednesday, July 10, nearly three months after she was convicted of first-degree murder in the death of Frances Walker, 69, in October 2022.
During the sentencing, Walowski described Walker’s death as “something out of a horror movie,” telling Kolalou, “The nature and circumstances of this case are quite aggravating, for a human being to do this to another human being,” according to the Chicago Tribune.
Walowski sentenced Kolalou to 50 years in jail for Walker’s murder, six years for dismemberment, and two years for aggravated identity theft, according to media reports. Kolalou’s attorney intends to challenge the ruling, according to The Chicago Tribune.
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According to WGN-TV, Kolalou maintained her innocence during the sentencing, saying, “I understand a jury found me legally liable for murder.” But I didn’t commit the crime. With God as my testimony, I never hurt Fran.”
Walker’s family members gave testimonies in court, including her niece, Katerina Lee Walker, who said her aunt’s death forced her to withdraw from her social life.
“I could not be where happiness was. “People were moving around me, but I couldn’t get myself to move,” she told The Chicago Tribune.
Walker’s fragmented remains, including her head and limbs, were discovered in a freezer in their shared house in the Arcadia Terrace neighborhood. Police made the finding after other residents heard screaming in the middle of the night and were unable to locate Walker.
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“Based on the totality of the evidence, the detectives believe the crime occurred in the victim’s bedroom, and then they believe the dismemberment took place on the first floor of that residence,” Chicago Police Chief of Detectives Brendan Deenihan stated at a prior press conference PEOPLE reported.
Deenihan stated that Walker died after she “recently” presented Kolalou with an eviction notice.
Walker’s obituary describes her as a “talented pianist and organist.”
“Fran was a devout Catholic who honored all religions. “She was kind, caring, positive, and spunky,” the obituary stated.