A man from Maryland has been sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for the brutal killing and dismemberment of a beloved second-grade teacher in 2023.

Harold Landon III was found guilty in June for the murder of Mariame Toure Sylla, a 59-year-old educator at the Dora Kennedy French Immersion School in Greenbelt. Sylla vanished on July 29, 2023, after setting out on her customary walk near her home, as reported by WRC.

Just a few days later, on August 1, authorities discovered human remains in a retention pond located 20 miles away in Clinton, according to CrimeOnline. The remains were identified as Sylla’s torso through DNA testing, although no other parts of her body were ever found.

Landon was subsequently apprehended and charged with her murder. A witness had captured him in photographs at the pond, where he was reportedly seen discarding items and then washing his hands in the water.

The defense for Landon claimed that he had no memory of the attack due to drug use and pointed to a troubled childhood as a factor. However, the prosecution strongly disputed these claims, presenting a different narrative in court.

“This act was not caused by some type of rage based on substance abuse; it was premeditated. It was calculated before, during and after,” Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy said.

There was no connection between the two. Sylla was originally from the Ivory Coast and was nearing retirement when she was murdered.