WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT — Nadia Vitels, 52, was discovered dead inside a duffel bag at her residence in Kips Bay. According to CBS New York, her son found her body in a cupboard.
After the murder, the teenagers drove Vitels’ vehicle in the direction of Pennsylvania
A squatter man was sentenced to 20 years after he reportedly beat a New York City woman to death in her own apartment before stuffing her corpse into a body bag and using her credit card to buy a PlayStation 5.
On December 17, 2025, Halley Tejada entered a guilty plea to second-degree murder and was sentenced in Manhattan Supreme Court, according to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.
“Nadia Vitels was about to start a new chapter of her life when Halley Tejada brutally murdered her in the very apartment she was moving into,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr. said in a statement. “Halley Tejada has been sentenced to a sentence of 20-years-to-life in state prison for his abhorrent and fatal conduct.”
READ MORE: The 17-year murder spree of evil New York serial killer Rex HeuermannREAD MORE: Accused Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann expected to plead guilty — including to new murder
“My thoughts are with Ms. Vitels’ loved ones who continue to mourn her painful loss,” Bragg added. “I know this sentence will not bring her back, but I hope it can serve as a measure of comfort.”
According to the district attorney’s office, Tejada was given the shorter sentence that the court had provided, despite the prosecution’s request for a sentence of 25 years to life.
Co-defendant Kensly Alston(Image: Dauphin County Prison)
On March 14, 2024, Vitels, 52, was discovered dead inside a duffel bag at her residence in Kips Bay. According to CBS New York, her son found her body in a cupboard.
Tejada and co-defendant Kensly Alston reportedly broke into Vitels’ apartment while she was relocating her possessions, according to an April 2024 indictment released by Bragg’s office. They were still inside when Vitels returned a few days later with her dog. Vitels was beaten to death, according to the prosecution, and her body was hidden inside a bag in a coat closet.
Halley Tejada entered a guilty plea(Image: Dauphin County Prison)
The indictment also claimed that the couple used Vitels’ credit cards to buy a PS5, AirPods, clothes, food, and a diamond ring before fleeing to Pennsylvania in her vehicle.
The indictment states that the man and woman were first accused of a number of crimes, including burglary, robbery, and concealing a corpse.
Alston’s case is still continuing despite her not guilty plea. The couple left the apartment at approximately 2:24 p.m. “to purchase a vape at a smoke shop and a suitcase at Target using Ms. Vitels’ credit card,” according to the police timeline. Afterwards, they came back and entered the apartment using a key.
Click here to follow the Mirror US on Google News to stay up to date with all the latest news, sports and entertainment stories
The indictment also claimed that the couple used Vitels’ credit cards to buy a PS5, AirPods, clothes, food, and a diamond ring(Image: Linkedin)
Alston and Tejada took toilet paper, a Target bag, the suitcase they purchased at Target, and the pink suitcase they had brought with them when they left the building that same evening. After that, the teenagers drove Vitels’ vehicle in the direction of Pennsylvania.
Sign up to our FREE newsletter and get the top stories to your inbox
DAILY NEWSLETTER: Sign up here to get the latest news and updates from the Mirror US straight to your inbox with our FREE newsletter.