Chicago woman arrested after landlord found dismembered in freezer
A woman on Chicago’s North Side has been arrested after her landlord was found dismembered, authorities confirmed.
The woman, whose identity has not been released, was taken into custody after a tenant reported Frances Walker, 69, missing from her home on North Washtenaw Avenue in the city’s North Side on Monday, FOX 32 Chicago reported.
Neighbors first became concerned when they did not see the landlord tending her garden over the weekend.
“We just assumed she was sick because it’s flu season,” explained Andy, another nearby resident.
“And then we started to realize she wasn’t around and tried calling her. We received no text or call and that’s when we thought something had happened.”
When police arrived, suspicions almost immediately zeroed in on one of Walker’s tenants.
“When the police arrived, that individual [who made the call] told the police there was another suspect who lived in the residence who the other tenants were afraid of,” Chicago Police Chief of Detectives Brendan Deenihan later told a news conference.
“And that suspect had recently called a tow truck and carried a heavy bag out to the tow truck.”
Police located the tow truck driver, who told them he picked up a woman who disposed of a large bag in a garbage can across the city at Foster Avenue Beach.
Law enforcement then recovered the bag, which was filled with bloodied rags.
“Based upon that evidence the detectives were able to go into the residence, and they eventually discovered human remains in a freezer,” Deenihan said.
“At that point, we backed out of the residence to secure a search warrant.”
Police said Walker’s body was dismembered.
“It’s extremely unbelievable that someone would do something like this to her,” neighbor said Cecilia Soto told WLS.
“She was too kind. That’s all I can say is she was very kind. She was always loving. She was very happy. She was always with her dog Lukie.”
Police said late Tuesday that the tenant had been taken into custody. She is being questioned at the Area Three police headquarters, where she is said to not be cooperating with investigators.
A longtime resident of North Washtenaw Avenue, Walker was known to her neighbors as an avid gardener who played piano for several churches and a ballet company. She frequently rented out rooms in her house to female tenants.
“I know that she’s very friendly. She’s familiar with everybody else in the neighborhood,” neighbor Miranda Castillo told FOX 32 Chicago.
