Woman reveals how she survived attack from suspect in Chicago landlord’s murder
The Chicago woman accused of murdering her landlord allegedly tried to kill another earlier this year by stuffing an inhaler down her throat and singing, “I’m a doctor, I can kill you.”
Sandra Kolalou, 36 — who has been charged with first-degree murder in the gruesome death of her landlord, Francis Walker — also allegedly attacked another woman back in January, WGN News reported.
“She started to sing, ‘I’m a doctor, I can kill you. I’m a doctor, I can help you,” the woman told the news station on Friday about the harrowing incident, which police said happened near a North Side condo stairwell.
The victim alleged that Kolalou knocked her to the ground.
“She got on top of me, she put her hand over my nose, squeezed it shut. Put her other hand over my mouth, closed it shut – tried to kill me,” added the asthmatic woman, who had taken a breath from her inhaler before the alleged attack.
She claims Kolalou tried to stuff the device into her mouth.
“I had one breath left and I bit what I thought was her hand. What I ended up biting was her finger,” she told WGN. “(Officers) tried to get her up off the floor, tried to take her away. Which they eventually did. Taking her to a psychiatric hospital.”
Kolalou was reportedly found not guilty of battery in the case during a trial in the summer.
“And since I wasn’t dead, I guess I don’t count!” the woman told the news outlet.
Authorities discovered Walker’s remains last week in a freezer at a West Ridge residence after her tenants became concerned about her whereabouts, NBC Chicago reported.
“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,” Chief of Detectives Brendan Deenihan told a news conference.
“And that suspect had recently called a tow truck and carried a heavy bag out to the tow truck,” he added.
Kolalou, who was seen carrying garbage bags, allowed officers to search her room, but when they didn’t find anything, she was allowed to leave with the tow truck after saying her car had broken down, NBC Chicago reported.
Police later 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.
The driver, Antonio Coria, 24, told the NBC station that a neighbor of Kolalou’s called to warn him that the woman may have committed a crime.
Kolalou paid Coria with Walker’s credit card before becoming angry that he wouldn’t take her to another shop, the outlet reported, citing prosecutors.
She then reportedly pulled a knife on Coria, who defended himself with a stick until cops arrived.
“The tow truck driver actually gave us a location and explained the person he was transporting actually pulled a knife, so officers responded to that scene and placed the suspect into custody,” the police official said.
Authorities said they found Walker’s head and severed limbs inside the freezer.
During a bond hearing last week, prosecutors alleged Kolalou had been given an eviction notice and was heard arguing with Walker.
“Other tenants heard loud bangs and the victim and the defendant arguing on the first floor,” said Assistant State’s Attorney Anne McCord Rodgers. “The basement tenant heard the defendant screaming and what sounded like a dish breaking.”
Walker’s niece Lorilee told NBC Chicago: “It was horrible, and knowing what happened it’s even, you can’t just explain it. You never thought it would happen to your family.”
Kolalou also faces a felony charge of concealing a homicidal death, and a misdemeanor count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon against the driver, the station reported.
The suspect, who maintains her innocence, is due back in court on Oct. 31.
