A San Francisco woman has been found guilty of the second-degree murder of her roommate, whose dismembered remains were hidden in a basement storage container. The jury’s verdict against 55-year-old Lisa Gonzales was announced on April 1, 2026, with the San Francisco District Attorney, Brooke Jenkins, labelling the crime as one of the “most gruesome” the city has seen in years.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Police-Tape-110825-6109ec712146436aa731e3a2f631e2d4.jpg)
Margaret Mamer, aged 61, was reported missing on June 1, 2018, after friends expressed concern for her wellbeing when they had not heard from her for more than a week. Tension reportedly escalated between Mamer and Gonzales just prior to her disappearance. The case took a grim turn when an unnamed individual informed police that a murder may have taken place at their rented accommodation in the Mission District.
Upon investigation, officers arrived at the residence located on the 200 block of 14th Street. They found that Mamer’s living quarters had been cleared out. Gonzales informed the police that Mamer had recently relocated to Eureka. She claimed to have assisted Mamer in moving out on May 15, 2018, and stated that she had not seen her since.
However, police proceeded to search the basement storage area, where they discovered a blue container containing human remains. These remains were later identified as belonging to Mamer and appeared to be in an advanced state of decomposition, prompting concern that they had been hidden away for several weeks.
An autopsy delivered a shocking revelation: Mamer had sustained numerous sharp force injuries to the face and skull, in addition to being stabbed in the chest. The forensic examination revealed that her body had been dismembered post-mortem, with significant portions of her limbs sawn off and her body halved.
The investigation unveiled a series of troubling events leading up to Mamer’s murder. A third roommate reported that, in mid-April 2018, Gonzales had issued a 30-day eviction notice to Mamer, expressing frustration that she was not leaving. Although police informed Gonzales of the legal procedures available to evict Mamer, she allegedly rejected these options, stating, “No thanks. I’ll do it my way.”
Witness accounts detail unsettling behaviours from Gonzales prior to the murder. During one lunch hour, the third roommate heard sawing noises emanating from the bathroom, which persisted for several hours. After returning home later on, she could detect an unusual metallic odour lingering in the apartment. When she inquired about Mamer’s whereabouts, Gonzales provided a cryptic response stating that Mamer had left “but not the way she wanted to.”
In light of these horrifying details, Gonzales has been convicted of second-degree murder, with the jury affirming that she had used a weapon during the crime. She now faces a potential sentence of 16 years to life in prison, with her sentencing hearing yet to be scheduled.
District Attorney Jenkins expressed relief that the jury reached its guilty verdict, emphasising the severity of the crime and the necessity for justice in addressing such violence within the community. The case highlights the tragic consequences of unresolved conflicts and the perilous situations that can arise in shared living arrangements.
As the city reflects on this distressing case, it serves as a sobering reminder of the issues surrounding domestic conflict and the importance of seeking peaceful resolutions. The forthcoming sentencing will mark another chapter in a case that has already shocked and saddened many within the local community.