A jury convicted a San Francisco woman this week of murdering one of her roommates and dismembering the victim's body in an attempt to cover up the killing.
Lisa Gonzales, 55, was found guilty of second-degree murder in connection with the slaying of 61-year-old Margaret Mamer following a jury trial, prosecutors announced Wednesday.
Gonzales Killed Mamer After She Refused to Vacate a Room She Rented to Her Despite Serving a 30-Day Notice
According to prosecutors, Gonzales killed Mamer sometime between May 13 and June 2 at the Mission District apartment they shared in the 200 block of 14th Street.
According to court documents, starting in August 2017, Gonzales rented a room to Mamer and charged her only $400 per month after learning that Mamer had recently lost her home and fallen on hard times. However, by December, Gonzales became frustrated after things around the house started to go missing or were misplaced.
Gonzales allegedly asked Mamer to move out, but Mamer stayed in the apartment and around mid-April, Gonzales gave her a 30-day notice to leave. Mamer, however, did not leave, according to court documents. When she was told of the various ways she could legally evict her, Gonzales responded, "No thanks, I'll do it my way," according to prosecutors.
Gonzales Told Investigators Mamer Had Relocated and She Had Helped the Victim Move Out
Mamer was reported missing on June 1, 2018, by friends who had not heard from her for several days. When officers conducting a welfare visited the apartment Gonzales lied about Mamer's whereabouts.
"As they all sat in the kitchen, Ms. Gonzalez told them that she lived in the unit with (one) roommate and no one else. She also stated that the victim had once lived in the apartment, but lied and claimed that she recently relocated to Eureka. She also told the officers that she helped the victim move out on May 15, 2018, and she had not seen her since," the district attorney's office wrote.
Officers then searched the apartment building's storage area and found a blue container with Mamer's dismembered body parts hidden inside. The SFPD Crime Scene Investigation Team processed the bathroom for evidence and located the victim's blood spatter all over the scene, prosecutors said.
Third Roommate Said She Heard Sawing Noises Coming from the Bathroom, Apartment Had a Metallic Smell
The third roommate told investigators that when she returned home from work on May 15, 2018, she noticed a metallic smell in the apartment. She also reported sawing noises coming from the bathroom and noticed a hacksaw under the sink in the laundry room. When she asked where the victim had gone, Gonzales told her that she had left, "but not the way she wanted to."
An autopsy revealed the victim died as a result of multiple sharp force injuries to her head and heart, including on her face and skull. Gonzales is currently in custody. She will be sentenced at the San Francisco Hall of Justice courthouse on April 24.
