New York City, NY – Two individuals face charges in connection with the murder of a 52-year-old woman named Nadia Vitels, whose body was discovered in a duffel bag inside her Manhattan apartment. Kensly Alston, 18, and Halley Tejada, 19, were apprehended following a week-long investigation by the New York City Police Department.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg announced on April 18 that Alston and Tejada had been indicted for the murder of Vitels in her Kips Bay apartment. The charges include two counts of second-degree murder, along with first-degree burglary, robbery, criminal possession of stolen property, grand larceny, and concealment of a human corpse.
According to court documents and a press release, Vitels was in the process of moving into her new apartment when the crime occurred. Alston and Tejada allegedly entered her residence with a pink suitcase while she was away and proceeded to leave the building multiple times before returning with Vitels present.
The duo reportedly used Vitels’ credit card to make purchases, including a vape and a suitcase from Target. They left the apartment that evening with various items, driving Vitels’ car to Pennsylvania. Concerns arose when Vitels’ family could not reach her, prompting a search of her apartment, where her body was eventually found in a bag inside a closet.
Forensic analysis revealed that Vitels died from blunt force trauma. During their time in Pennsylvania, Alston and Tejada utilized Vitels’ credit cards to buy several items, including electronics, clothing, and a diamond ring. The suspects were eventually apprehended in York, PA, by the United States Marshals after nine days on the run.
The tragic circumstances surrounding Vitels’ murder have shocked the community, with District Attorney Bragg expressing condolences to her loved ones while promising to seek justice in her case. The details of the investigation highlight the extent of the crimes committed by the accused individuals and the steps taken by law enforcement to bring them to justice.