New York City, NY – Two individuals, Kensly Alston and Halley Tejada, face murder charges in connection with the death of 52-year-old Nadia Vitels, whose body was discovered in a duffel bag at her Manhattan apartment on March 14. The arrests came after an intensive week-long search by the New York City Police Department.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg revealed on April 18 that Alston and Tejada have been indicted on multiple charges, including second-degree murder, first-degree burglary, first-degree robbery, criminal possession of stolen property, grand larceny, and concealment of a human corpse in relation to Vitels’ murder in Kips Bay.
Court documents suggest that on March 10, Vitels was moving her belongings into her new apartment when Alston and Tejada reportedly entered the residence with a pink suitcase. The pair allegedly left the building several times before Vitels returned to her apartment with her dog two days later.
According to police investigations, Alston and Tejada left the apartment on the same day to make purchases using Vitels’ credit card, later returning to enter the apartment. They were then seen leaving the building with various items, including a suitcase bought at Target and a pink suitcase.
Vitels’ family became concerned on March 14 when they were unable to reach her, prompting them to access her apartment where they found her dog alone and her body concealed in a bag inside a coat closet. The cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma.
The duo was arrested in York, Pennsylvania on March 22 after making purchases with Vitels’ credit cards during their stay in the state. Bragg expressed condolences to Vitels’ loved ones and vowed to seek justice for her tragic death.
Alston and Tejada are currently facing legal proceedings as authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Vitels’ death, marking a significant development in the case that has gripped the city.