Sandy Springs police have identified a woman killed at her home in a neighborhood off North Spalding Lake Drive Monday and charged her roommate with murder.
Police were called to a home on Fawndale Way Monday after a disturbance was reported and discovered Chelci Chisholm, 59, in the garage holding an object and “challenging officers” according to a press release from Sandy Springs police.
After police subdued Chisholm, they found the body of Marlene Colon, 73, inside the home. She had been struck with a blunt object, police said. Chisholm is charged with malice murder, aggravated assault and obstruction, Sgt. Salvador Ortega said in a statement.
An autopsy will be performed by the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office to determine the exact cause of death.
Police said Colon owned the home and had rented a room to Chisholm. Police are uncertain which of the two women made the 911 call for help.
Chisholm has not cooperated with detectives on what led to the incident and they are continuing to gather information.
Friends of Colon said she had recent health problems and used an oxygen tank to help with breathing. She planned to meet a friend on Monday to pick up a tank and when she didn’t show up, friends became concerned, an acquaintance, Dave Groveman, said.
Colon was a member of the social group Celebrate Atlanta where Groveman is group organizer. He described her as a small person in stature but feisty.
“Marlene was sweet and perhaps too nice,” Groveman said. “She had a new boarder but she’s had troubles with tenants in the past. She had one removed for not paying her.”
Members of Celebrate Atlanta are discussing raising funds to place a bench plated with Colon’s name in a local park, Groveman said.
Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact Sandy Springs Police Detective Sergey Voronkov at SVoronkov@SandySpringsGA.Gov or by calling 770-551-2562
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