University Park Man Indicted In Greenbelt Teacher's Gruesome Death: Prosecutor

Warning: This news story contains graphic details about the death of a homicide victim and may be disturbing.

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — Harold Landon III, 33, of University Park has been indicted in connection to the killing of 59-year-old Mariame Toure Sylla, a Greenbelt teacher.

Sylla disappeared during one of her regular evening walks at a park near her condo in Greenbelt on July 29. She taught second grade at Dora Kennedy French Immersion School.

After her disappearance, both the police and community searched for her. On Aug. 1, that search came to an end when Prince George’s County Police confirmed that a woman’s partial remains found by a pond near Joint Base Andrews belonged to Sylla. Her remains were found dismembered and her head decapitated in a manner consistent "with a machine cut such as a reciprocating saw," WUSA9 reported.

On Aug. 31, investigators searched Landon's residence and recovered several power tools, including a reciprocating saw, which were seized for further analysis. Based on surveillance footage, phone records and witness information, police arrested Landon. Sylla and Landon did not not know each other, though they lived near each other, according to WJLA.

“Ms. Sylla was a cherished teacher, sister, mother and friend. The community’s relentless search for her after her disappearance is a testament to that," said State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy. "We all desperately hoped for a different outcome. I will be prosecuting this case along with Assistant State’s Attorney Jonathon Church, and we will fight to get justice for Ms. Sylla and the entire community.”

Landon has been charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, first-degree assault, second-degree assault and disposing of a body in an unauthorized place in connection to Sylla's death.

“Ms. Sylla was a beloved teacher and member of the Greenbelt community. Her murder is tragic," Prince George's Police Chief Malik Aziz said in a statement. "We hope the arrest of Landon provides some comfort to her family and all who knew and loved her."

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