Cousin Sentenced In Killing Of Harlem Mom Found In Storage Tub: DA

EAST HARLEM, NY - A Bronx man was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the 2022 killing of his cousin, whose body was left inside a storage container for days, authorities said.

Khalid Barrow, 23, was convicted last month of murder, concealing a human corpse and related charges in the death of 35-year-old mother Nisaa Walcott of East Harlem, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement.

Barrow hid Walcott’s body for days while he stole her money, used her apartment and convinced her child to cover up for him, Bragg added.

Walcott’s body was found in February 2022 inside a plastic storage container on the side of a Bronx road near Yankee Stadium in the Melrose neighborhood, Patch previously reported.

“The defendant’s criminal conduct was an unspeakable betrayal,” Bragg said. “Khalid Barrow strangled his cousin in her own home, all for his own financial gain. I am amazed by the resiliency of Nisaa Walcott’s family members, who have persevered through the horrific murder of their loved one by her own cousin. They attended the trial every single day, listening to incredibly disturbing testimony. No sentence can undo this family’s pain, but I hope they continue to heal from this terrible loss.”

On Feb. 16, 2022, Barrow strangled Walcott in her East Harlem apartment where he was staying, according to statements provided at trial.

Barrow then bound Walcott’s ankles with a wi fi cord, hid her body inside a plastic tub lined with fabric scraps and placed the tub in a storage room before scrubbing the apartment with bleach, prosecutors said.

Barrow also impersonated Walcott to her 14-year-old son from her phone in order to gain access to Walcott's EBT account’s PIN. He also instructed the teen son to leave the apartment door unlocked.

Barrow continued to impersonate Walcott in texts to her coworkers and other relatives to avoid being found out.

On Feb. 18, 2022, Barrow tried to rent a car to take Walcott’s body upstate but was unsuccessful. Instead, he moved the plastic tub with her body to the roof of her apartment building. All the while, he used the victim's credit cards and bank accounts to purchase marijuana, drinks and food, prosecutors said.

It was only when a relative asked Walcott to send him a photo so he knew she was okay on Feb. 23 that Barrow replied with an old photo that the relative promptly recognized. The relative contacted Walcott’s son, whom Barrow instructed to say everything was fine.

Walcott was reported missing by family members the next day.

On Feb 25, 2022, Barrow took the tub with Walcott’s body to the Highbridge section of the Bronx and left the container on the sidewalk. Her body was discovered later that afternoon.