Chicago Woman Wins Nearly $3M from CTA After Convicted Murderer’s Lawsuit Win

By Rob Redding

Editor & Publisher

NEW YORK, Jan. 5, 2025, 8 p.m. — The Chicago Transit Authority is on the hook for nearly 3 million dollars after a woman convicted of a brutal murder and dismemberment sued the CTA and won. Sandra Kolalou, a Black woman serving a 60-year sentence for the 2022 slaying of her White landlord, Frances Walker, has now scored a major legal victory that raises eyebrows across the city.

Kolalou was convicted of killing Walker, a beloved White woman on Chicago’s North Side, just days after receiving an eviction notice. Prosecutors say Kolalou dismembered Walker and left her remains in a freezer. The crime shocked the neighborhood and drew widespread media attention.

But in a twist that is raising racial and social questions, a Cook County court sided with Kolalou and awarded her nearly 3 million dollars from the CTA. The lawsuit originated from a 2022 incident when Kolalou was struck by a bus on the Far North Side. Her ongoing legal battles and her injuries from that crash became part of her legal strategy.

Despite her conviction for murder, Kolalou’s attorneys argued her injuries from the bus crash contributed to her emotional state, leading to the lawsuit. The CTA appealed the verdict, but the court upheld the ruling and denied their bid to dismiss the case.

Meanwhile, Kolalou remains behind bars, serving a 58-year sentence for the gruesome killing. Prosecutors say she dismembered Frances Walker, a White woman in her sixties who was known for her kindness and community service.

This case has sparked fierce debate across Chicago. Critics question whether justice has truly been served when a woman convicted of such a heinous crime receives a multi-million dollar payout. Many suggest the case highlights racial disparities in the city’s justice system, with a Black woman now profiting from a crime that shocked the city.

Walker’s family is devastated. Her brother Arnold Walker said through tears, “Why did it have to be her? She was the best person I knew in this world. Sandra was the one who took her life and dismembered her. Now she’s getting millions?”

Rob Redding is the author of Black Power in the Age of Artificial Supremacy Featuring Redding-Shim Kwet Yung out on Amazon.com now. He is the bestselling author of 17 books. He is the host of Redding News Review Unrestricted and creator of ReddingNewsReview.com. He is also an emerging visual artist who lives and teaches at two colleges in New York City.