New York, NY – Two teenagers are facing murder charges in connection to the death of a woman found in her Manhattan apartment last month. The individuals, identified as Kensly Alston, 18, and Halley Tejada, 19, were also charged with burglary, robbery, criminal possession of stolen property, grand larceny, and concealment of a human corpse by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.
According to authorities, the suspects allegedly beat 52-year-old Nadia Vitels to death in an apartment on the 19th floor of a building in Kips Bay. Vitels was discovered in a closet with her foot protruding from a bag on March 14. She had sustained multiple facial fractures, a brain bleed, and two broken ribs, leading to her death.
Sources revealed that Vitels may have been deceased for several days before her family grew concerned and asked the building superintendent to check on her well-being. Her body was eventually found in a bag hidden under a pile of coats in a bedroom closet.
The tragic incident occurred as Vitels was in the process of moving into the apartment following the passing of her mother. Alston and Tejada were reportedly residing at the vacant unit when she returned on March 12. The teenagers allegedly gained entry to the apartment using a key, and later used Vitels’ credit card to purchase a suitcase before fleeing the scene with her car.
After fleeing to Pennsylvania, the suspects were apprehended on March 22 at a residence in York. They were charged with receiving stolen property related to a car crash and later extradited back to New York to face murder charges. At their arraignments, the teenagers pleaded not guilty and are being held without bail.
As the investigation continues, the attorneys representing Alston and Tejada have yet to make a public statement regarding the charges. The case remains ongoing, with authorities working diligently to bring justice to the victim and her family.