In a shocking case that unfolded in the heart of Manhattan, 23-year-old Khalid Barrow has been sentenced to serve 25 years to life in state prison for the brutal murder of his 35-year-old cousin, Nisaa Walcott. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced the sentencing, shedding light on the horrifying details that led to Barrow’s conviction.
The gruesome incident took place on February 16, 2022, when Barrow intentionally asphyxiated Walcott in her apartment in East Harlem, where he was staying at the time. Following the murder, he bound her ankles with a Wi-Fi cord, concealed her body in a plastic tub lined with fabric scraps, and stashed it in a storage room. To erase any traces of the crime, Barrow meticulously scrubbed the apartment with bleach.
Barrow’s betrayal did not end with the murder. He immediately embarked on a spree of deception, impersonating Walcott to cover his tracks and exploit her financial resources. Using her phone, Barrow sent text messages to Walcott’s 14-year-old son, manipulating him to provide the PIN for her electronic benefit transfer account and leaving the door unlocked. He continued the charade by impersonating Walcott in messages to her co-workers and other relatives.
Walcott’s son, Omir Walcott, delivered a heart-wrenching statement during Barrow’s sentencing, describing the trauma he experienced due to the accused’s actions. “My whole family is destroyed,” he lamented, highlighting the profound impact of the tragedy.
Despite Barrow’s attempts to rent a car to dispose of Walcott’s body upstate, he was unsuccessful. Instead, he moved the tub containing her body to the roof of her apartment building. Barrow shamelessly continued to use her credit cards and accounts for personal expenses, including food, drinks, and marijuana.
The facade began to unravel when a concerned relative, prompted by suspicions, asked Walcott to send a current photo to ensure her well-being. Barrow, still impersonating Walcott, responded with an old photo. The relative, not deceived, contacted Walcott’s son. In a desperate attempt to mislead, Barrow instructed the son to reassure the relative that everything was fine.
Walcott’s family eventually reported her missing on February 24, a day after realizing her absence. Disturbingly, Barrow moved the tub containing Walcott’s body just hours after police officers spoke to him about her whereabouts.
Surveillance footage captured the chilling moment when Barrow transported the container out of Walcott’s building and later unloaded it on the sidewalk in the Highbridge neighborhood. The container, discovered by a passerby, contained Walcott’s lifeless body.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg expressed his dismay at the unspeakable betrayal, stating, “Khalid Barrow strangled his cousin in her own home, all for his own financial gain.” Bragg acknowledged the resilience of Walcott’s family members, who attended the trial daily, facing disturbing testimony. While the sentencing cannot undo the family’s pain, Bragg hopes they find healing amid this terrible loss.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the capacity for heinous acts within familial relationships and the enduring impact on the victims’ families. As justice is served, the community grapples with the aftermath of a tragedy that left an indelible mark on the lives of those affected.