trial

Sandra Kolalou sentenced to nearly 60 years in murder, dismemberment of landlord Frances Walker

ByABC7 Chicago Digital Team and Leah Hope

Wednesday, July 10, 2024

Tenant gets 58 years for landlord's murder; remains found in freezer

Sandra Kolalou was sentenced to 58 years in the the murder and dismemberment of her landlord Frances Walker in 2022. Some of Walker's remains were found in a freezer in her home.

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A judge sentenced Sandra Kolalou to nearly 60 years in the murder and dismemberment of her landlord Frances Walker in 2022.

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Kolalou, who was a tenant of the boarding house owned by Walker, was charged with first-degree murder.

A jury convicted her in April. She was also found guilty of one charge of dismembering a human body and one charge of aggravated identity theft.

On Wednesday she was sentenced to 50 years for the murder of Walker, six years for dismemberment and two years for aggravated identity theft.

"Her being inside a jail is the right decision to make society safe," said Maggie Walker, victim's sister-in-law.

"It could have been anybody; it was extra sad that it was the best person I knew in my life," said Arnold Walker, the victim's brother. "Why did it have to be her?"

Walker rented rooms in her home on North Washtenaw Avenue, and prosecutors said after she was reported missing in October of 2022, they found her head, arms and legs in the freezer of the home but not her torso.

"Sandra asked the judge for mercy, but she did not give my sister any mercy so she did not deserve mercy," said sister Benita Walker.

More evidence was found in a trash can on Foster Beach. Blood was also found in her bedroom and on knives, police said.

Kolalou told jurors she was being framed and when asked if she would hurt Walker, claimed "No, I would do anything for Fran."

During sentencing, the judge heard victim impact statements from five of Walker's relatives, saw video of Kolalou fighting a prison officer, and then heard testimony from that officer.

The judge also heard letters read on Kolalou's behalf and saw video of Kolalou supposedly helping a woman having an asthma attack, but it was revealed Kolalou was actually arrested for that incident.

Kolalou's attorney says Kolalou and her attorneys were shocked by the long sentence.

"Ms. Kolalou maintained her innocence. She maintained her innocence and we just want people to know this case will come back," said her attorney Samuel Jackson III.

The Walker family left court saying they were satisfied with the sentence, but still deeply missing their loved one. They said their challenge now is to not let any of Kolalou's actions impact any more of their lives.