A Maryland resident found guilty of murdering and dismembering a second-grade educator in 2023 has received a life sentence without parole.

In June, Harold Landon III was found guilty of the murder of Mariame Toure Sylla, a 59-year-old teacher at Dora Kennedy French Immersion School in Greenbelt. Sylla vanished after her routine walk near her residence on July 29, 2023, according to WRC.

On August 1, authorities discovered human remains in a retention pond located 20 miles away in Clinton, as reported by CrimeOnline. The torso, identified through DNA as Sylla’s, was the only part recovered.

Landon was apprehended and charged with the crime after a witness captured images of him near the pond, where he appeared to discard something and subsequently clean his hands.

During the trial, Landon’s defense claimed he couldn’t remember the incident due to drug use, citing a troubled upbringing. However, prosecutors argued otherwise.

“This was not an act of rage induced by substance abuse; it was a carefully planned crime,” stated Aisha Braveboy, the State’s Attorney for Prince George’s County.

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