PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, Md. – A veil of sorrow and justice blanketed Prince George’s County on Tuesday as a jury convicted Harold Landon III of first-degree murder in the horrifying killing of Mariame Toure Sylla, a beloved second-grade teacher whose violent death shocked a community and left an unfillable void in the hearts of her students, colleagues, and loved ones.
The verdict marked the end of a painful chapter in a case that began nearly two years ago when Sylla, 59, vanished during a routine walk in her Greenbelt neighborhood. Her remains — decapitated and dismembered — were found days later near a pond in Clinton, Maryland. The sheer brutality of the crime has left the community shaken, and today’s conviction brought both relief and heartbreak.
“This verdict won’t bring Mariame back,” said Fatimat Sylla, the victim’s elder sister who traveled from the Ivory Coast to attend the trial. “But it gives us peace. She mattered. Her life mattered.”
A Gruesome Crime, a Painstaking Case
The prosecution laid out a deeply disturbing timeline supported by a trove of physical and circumstantial evidence. Investigators found a red electric saw, believed to have been used to mutilate Sylla’s body, at the home of Landon’s brother. A K9 unit alerted to the scent of human remains on the saw, and phone records placed Landon at the pond shortly before Sylla’s body was discovered.
In recorded jailhouse calls, Landon was heard attempting to cover his tracks — instructing his family not to cooperate with detectives and to hide his white pickup truck, which was later photographed at the crime scene. In another chilling call, played in court, Landon said, “I let the savage inside me out.”
Landon was already in custody for an unrelated domestic violence charge when police connected him to the murder. DNA evidence found on his boots matched Sylla’s, further sealing the prosecution’s case.
Despite the defense arguing a lack of motive or prior connection between Landon and Sylla, the jury deliberated quickly, returning a guilty verdict on the charge of first-degree murder.
A Final Trial for a Veteran Prosecutor
For State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy, this case was more than just a courtroom battle — it was her final trial before stepping into her new role as County Executive.
“Justice was served today, but it came at a tragic cost,” Braveboy said outside the courthouse, her voice heavy with emotion. “Mariame was a teacher, a neighbor, a sister, and a light in our community. We must honor her by continuing to fight for the safety and dignity of every resident.”
Braveboy used the moment to call for greater investment in forensic infrastructure, including a first-class DNA lab to speed up investigations and support future prosecutions.
A Legacy of Love, Lost Too Soon
Sylla, who immigrated to the U.S. in 2020, quickly became a cherished figure at Dora Kennedy French Immersion School. She was known for her gentle nature, infectious optimism, and ability to make every child feel seen and loved. Her sudden disappearance in July 2023 sent waves of panic through the community.
When her remains were found, those waves turned to heartbreak — a beloved teacher gone, not by accident or illness, but by unimaginable violence.
As the courtroom emptied and the gavel fell on a two-year ordeal, loved ones embraced, tears falling freely — not in celebration, but in solemn remembrance of a woman whose only crime was going for a walk on a summer evening.
Landon is scheduled to be sentenced on October 17. He faces life in prison — a punishment that, for many, still feels insufficient for the horror Sylla endured.
But for Fatimat and the many children whose lives Mariame touched, today brought a measure of closure.
“She came to this country to teach love,” Fatimat said quietly, standing outside the courthouse. “And even in her death, she has taught us the importance of truth.”