New York, USA – In a tragic turn of events, two suspects have been apprehended in connection to the brutal murder of a woman whose body was discovered concealed in a duffel bag within a New York City apartment. Halley Tejada, 19, and Kensly Alston, 18, were arrested in York, Pennsylvania, approximately 185 miles away from Manhattan, after being linked to a stolen vehicle. The U.S. Marshals have labeled them as persons of interest in the fatal beating of 52-year-old Nadia Vitels.
Reports reveal that Tejada hails from Washington Heights while Alston is a resident of the Bronx. Vitels’ lifeless body was found inside a duffel bag in a closet at a 19th-floor apartment on 31st Street in the Kips Bay neighborhood of Manhattan back on March 14. The medical examiner’s investigation determined that her death was caused by blunt force trauma to the head. Her son made the grisly discovery after becoming concerned when he couldn’t reach her.
Allegedly, Tejada and Alston were squatting in the apartment when Vitels unexpectedly arrived, intending to either relocate herself or someone else. Surveillance footage captured the suspects taking Vitels’ car from where it was parked on the street before later being involved in an accident in Pennsylvania. The two suspects were tracked down by the Joint Fugitive Task Force following a series of events that unfolded after Vitels’ death.
Both Tejada and Alston have past encounters with the law, with Tejada facing a prior arrest for property damage and Alston having a juvenile record for assault. The building’s superintendent expressed awareness of rumors regarding potential squatters but doubted anyone had moved in without authorization. The mysterious circumstances surrounding the case raise questions about how the suspects gained access to the apartment.
Vitels, who had recently traveled from Spain to get the apartment ready for occupancy after her mother’s passing, was remembered by her son during her funeral as a caring individual who was finally looking forward to focusing on herself. Her untimely demise serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by unexpected intruders. The investigation continues, shedding light on the complexities surrounding Vitels’ tragic death.