A Chicago woman serving a decades-long prison sentence for the brutal murder and dismemberment of her landlord is set to receive nearly $3 million from the city’s transit authority, following a decision by an Illinois appellate court that has sparked outrage and renewed scrutiny of the civil justice system.
The Illinois First District Appellate Court ruled on Dec. 31 to uphold a $2.8 million jury verdict against the Chicago Transit Authority, rejecting the agency’s attempt to overturn the award. The payout will go to Sandra Kolalou, who is currently incarcerated and will remain behind bars until at least July 2076, when she turns 90, according to CWB Chicago.
Kolalou was convicted in April 2024 by a Cook County jury for the 2022 murder of her 69-year-old landlord, Frances Walker. She was sentenced by Judge Ursula Walowski to 50 years in prison for murder. In addition, Kolalou received six years for dismembering Walker’s body and another two years for aggravated identity theft, bringing her total sentence to 58 years.
The civil case that resulted in the multimillion-dollar award, however, stemmed from an entirely separate incident years earlier. According to court records cited by the Cook County Record, Kolalou claimed she was struck by a CTA bus in March 2018 while crossing a Chicago street. She filed a lawsuit the following year against both the transit authority and the bus driver, alleging severe injuries.
In her lawsuit, Kolalou said the crash caused debilitating back and leg pain that she rated as “10 out of 10,” claiming the injuries prevented her from living a normal life. That civil case was resolved before her criminal conviction, meaning the jury that awarded damages did so without knowledge of the horrific crimes she would later be found guilty of committing.
During the civil proceedings, Kolalou’s attorney successfully argued that she be allowed to proceed under the name Sandra White, her maiden name. According to CWB Chicago, the judge presiding over the civil trial also barred any mention of Kolalou’s criminal charges or her incarceration, effectively shielding jurors from information that might have influenced their view of her credibility or character.
Prosecutors later detailed the disturbing facts of Kolalou’s murder case. She had rented a room from Walker in Chicago’s Arcadia Terrace neighborhood, according to CBS Chicago. Authorities said Kolalou killed Walker just days after receiving an eviction notice, then dismembered the body in an attempt to conceal the crime.
Despite the shocking nature of Kolalou’s criminal conduct, the appellate court emphasized that its ruling was strictly limited to the civil case. In its opinion, the court made clear it was not endorsing her actions.
“Our decision should not be read as an endorsement of White’s conduct,” the court wrote, using the name Kolalou employed during the civil trial.
The ruling highlights a jarring disconnect between civil liability and criminal accountability, leaving taxpayers on the hook for millions of dollars while a convicted murderer sits behind bars. For critics, the case is a stark example of how the legal system can produce outcomes that defy common sense, even while technically following the law.
[READ MORE: Trump Says 9/11 Could Have Been Prevented If Officials Heeded His Warning About Bin Laden]
