Trial Continues In Gruesome Murder Of Beloved Teacher Mariame Toure Sylla

GREENBELT, MD — The trial continues in the death of a beloved Greenbelt teacher who was found dead September 2023 after being reported missing in July.

Mariame Toure Sylla, 59, was found dead and Harold Francis Landon III, 33, of University Park was arrested in connection to her 2023 death. Sylla disappeared during one of her regular evening walks at a park near her condo in Greenbelt on July 29, 2023. She taught second grade at Dora Kennedy French Immersion School.

After her disappearance, both the police and community searched for her. On Aug. 1, 2023, 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."

On Aug. 31, 2023, 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, WJLA previously reported.

A witness interviewed by police reported that on July 31, 2023, around 9:30 p.m., they saw a man in a white pick-up who was at the pond near where the body was found. The witness said the man was carrying something and appeared to dump it in the area where the body was found. The witness gave police a description of the man and they took pictures of him, court documents disclosed. Surveillance video uncovered by police also showed the white pick-up in a parking area next to the pond where the body was found, Patch previously reported.

Investigators identified Landon as a suspect in the case. Landon had already been arrested by the Greenbelt Police Department on Aug. 1, 2023, in an unrelated domestic violence case. Court documents stated that Landon tried to stab his ex-girlfriend and her friend. The two were able to get the knife away from Landon and flee. The documents say Landon already had a protective order that forbade him from going near the woman. That happened the same day Sylla's body was found. Investigators say Landon's phone records also placed him at the pond on July 31, 2023, the day before Sylla's body was found.

In court this week, Prince George's County State's Attorney Aisha Braveboy shared other evidence that points to Landon as Sylla’s killer, such as Sylla’s DNA being found on Landon’s boots. After opening statements, the state called Sylla’s sister to the stand. She testified that she never heard from Sylla after July 29.

The jury also heard from a witness who claimed to have seen Landon at the pond area while he was walking his dog and took pictures of Landon’s vehicle, according to WUSA.

Landon’s defense attorney informed the jury during his opening statements that there’s no evidence that Landon and Sylla knew each other before Sylla was killed or that Landon had a motive to kill her. However, he also said a motive is not required for the charge of first-degree murder. Landon faces five counts, including first- and second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault, and disposing a body in an unauthorized place.

If convicted, Landon could spend the rest of his life behind bars. The trial continues this week.

Related:

• University Park Man Indicted In Greenbelt Teacher's Gruesome Death: Prosecutor
• Teacher Reported Missing, Police Search Park Where She Went For Walks
• Greenbelt Teacher Missing 9 Days, No Tie To Rachel Morin Case: Police
• Teacher Missing Nearly 3 Weeks, Son Arrested On Unrelated Charges
• Missing Greenbelt Teacher Found Dead, Man In Custody: Police
• Gruesome Details Of Teacher's Murder Disclosed In Court Documents