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Cook County prosecutors have secured a 120 year prison sentence against a Chicago man who murdered a 72-year-old woman and her dog in the basement of her South Side apartment building, according to the Office of Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez.

Danelo Solis, 28, was sentenced today after his conviction in November for the 2008 murder of Dorothy Brown-Taylor.

According to prosecutors, on June 16, 2008, the victim was discovered by neighbors strangled and sexually assaulted in the basement of her apartment building in 7200 Block of South Coles. Near her body, investigators also found her dog, Frisky, who had also been killed.  

Investigators learned that Solis had been doing some construction work on the victim’s building and that he was the last person to be seen with her. When confronted, Solis gave a statement to police admitting to strangling and sexually assaulting the victim and killing her dog. Police were also able to locate other individuals who told them Solis had admitted to killing Brown-Taylor. DNA recovered from the victim was also later matched to Solis.

In November, Solis was convicted after a bench trial before Judge Thomas Gainer of First Degree Murder, Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault, and Aggravated Cruelty to Animals. Today, Judge Gainer sentenced him to 120 years in prison.

State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez thanked the Chicago Police Department and Assistant State’s Attornesy Erica Dillon and Annette Milleville for their work on the case.

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