Prosecutors have charged a woman with murdering her landlord, who was found dismembered in their North Side home’s freezer on Monday.
Sandra Kolalou, 36, is charged with first-degree murder, concealing a homicidal death, and misdemeanor aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. She is due in bond court on Thursday.
Chicago police said in a media statement that Kolalou “participated in the murder” of Frances Walker.
Police tracked Kolalou down after she left Walker’s home in the 5900 block of North Washtenaw in a hired tow truck, authorities said. Walker, 69, rented rooms in her home to others, and Kolalou was one of her tenants, according to police.
During a Wednesday evening press conference, CPD Chief of Detectives Brendan Deenihan said Walker had recently served Kolalou with eviction papers, and police believe that may have led to the murder.
Other tenants in the home heard a scream around 2:30 a.m. Monday, and that may be when the murder took place, Deenihan continued. Investigators believe Walker was killed in her bedroom, and Kolalou then dismembered her, possibly using large butcher knives, according to Deenihan.
The other residents, increasingly concerned on Monday that something had happened to Walker, tried to reach her by phone. Deenihan said some residents received text message responses from Walker’s phone that Kolalou may have sent.
The aggravated assault charge stems from allegations that she threatened a tow truck driver with a knife before police arrested her on Monday evening.
In January, an 84-year-old woman told police that Kolalou tackled her in the hallway of an Uptown condo building. The woman pinned the older woman to the floor and tried to put an inhaler in her mouth, saying, “I can help you,” according to a CPD report documenting the allegations.
A witness saw what was happening and called the police.
The alleged victim in that incident did not show any signs of injuries. She claimed not to know Kolalou.
Police said the older woman refused to file felony charges, so they filed a charge of misdemeanor battery against Kolalou. She was found not guilty in July, according to court records.