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NYC squatters got engaged, spent big after stuffing slay victim in duffel bag, prosecutors say

Anusha Bayya and Leonard Greene, New York Daily News on

Published in News & Features

“Kensly Alston and Halley Tejada allegedly murdered Nadia Vitels in her own apartment while she was moving in to start a new chapter of her life,” said Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. “I send my deepest condolences to her friends and family as they continue to mourn her loss. My office will secure justice for Nadia Vitels.”

After allegedly beating the woman to death, the couple stole her Lexus and drove to Pennsylvania, where they crashed the vehicle in Lower Paxton Township, Pennsylvania, about 30 miles from where they were apprehended, police said.

They spent the next week wandering around the area, going to “multiple car dealerships trying to purchase a car for $1,000 which they (were) unable to do,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said.

Elizabeth Clerkin, an assistant district attorney, said Tejada yelled at Vitels that he would kill her after Vitels told the couple to leave the apartment.

The couple ended up chasing her into the bedroom.

“Tejada stomped on the head while (Alston) kicked the body,” Clerkin said. “She was still breathing.”

 

According to the prosecutor, Tejada stomped on Vitels’ head with his bare foot while Alston watched.

“You should put your shoes on before you hurt yourself,” Alston told him, according to Clerkin.

Alston confessed that after dragging Vitels’ body to the kitchen, “she held open the bag while defendant Tejada put Ms. Vitels’ body in the bag and that she was still breathing,” said the ADA.

An autopsy revealed Vitels died from blunt force trauma to the head, the city Medical Examiner said March 15, ruling her death a homicide.

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