Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. today announced the indictment of KENSLY ALSTON, 18, and HALLEY TEJADA, 19, for murdering Nadia Vitels in her Kips Bay apartment last month.

ALSTON and TEJADA are each charged in a New York State Supreme Court Indictment with two counts of Murder in the Second Degree, one count of Burglary in the First Degree, one count of Robbery in the First Degree, six counts of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, seven counts of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, and three counts of Concealment of a Human Corpse. [1]

“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. I send my deepest condolences to her friends and family as they continue to mourn her loss,” said District Attorney Bragg. “My Office will secure justice for Nadia Vitels.”

According to court documents and statements made on the record, on March 10, 2024, beginning at approximately 10:33 a.m., Ms. Vitels transported items from her vehicle to her new apartment on East 31st Street, before leaving in her car a few minutes later.

Later that day, at approximately 1:00 p.m., ALSTON and TEJADA accessed Ms. Vitels’ apartment with a pink suitcase before briefly leaving the building twice that same day.

On March 11, 2024, at approximately 5:30 p.m., TEJADA briefly went to Target.

On March 12, 2024, Ms. Vitels parked her car in front of her building and returned to her apartment with her dog at approximately 11:30 a.m., where ALSTON and TEJADA were still allegedly inside the apartment.

Later that day, ALSTON and TEJADA briefly 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. They returned at approximately 3:03 p.m., entering the building with a key.

At approximately 5:45 p.m., ALSTON and TEJADA left the building wearing blue gloves, with the suitcase they purchased at Target, the pink suitcase they arrived with, toilet paper, and a Target bag. They drove away in Nadia Vitel’s car a few minutes later, heading towards Pennsylvania.

On Thursday, March 14, 2024, Ms. Vitels’ loved ones were concerned that she had not responded to their messages since she moved into the apartment. The super of the building let her family access her apartment, where they immediately noticed that her dog was alone and saw a crack in a bedroom wall. When they checked the coat closet by the front door, coats were piled on a bag on the floor. A family member moved the coats aside and noticed that the bag contained Ms. Vitels’ body.

It was later determined that the cause of death was blunt force trauma.

During their nine days in Pennsylvania, ALSTON and TEJADA made multiple purchases with Ms. Vitels’ credit cards, including a PS5, airpods, clothing, food, and a diamond ring.

The defendants were apprehended by the United States Marshals on Friday, March 22, 2024, in York, Pennsylvania.

Deputy Bureau Chief Elizabeth Clerkin (Trial Bureau 30) and Assistant D.A. Jillian Shartrand (Trial Bureau 30) are handling the prosecution of this case under the supervision of Bureau Chief Erin Tierney (Trial Bureau 30) and Executive Assistant D.A. Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division).

D.A. Bragg thanked the NYPD’s 17th Precinct Detective Squad, specifically Detectives John Hostetter and Derek Capponi, and the Manhattan South Homicide Squad, specifically Detective Kevin Carrig.

D.A. Bragg also thanked the United States Marshals, Lower Paxton Township Bureau of Police, Springettsbury Township Police Department, and Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office for their partnership in this case.

Defendant Information:

KENSLY ALSTON

• Murder in the Second Degree, a class A-I felony, two counts
• Burglary in the First Degree, a class B felony, one count
• Robbery in the First Degree, a class B felony, one count
• Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, six counts
• Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, seven counts
• Concealment of a Human Corpse, a class E felony, three counts

HALLEY TEJADA

• Murder in the Second Degree, a class A-I felony, two counts
• Burglary in the First Degree, a class B felony, one count
• Robbery in the First Degree, a class B felony, one count
• Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, six counts
• Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, seven counts
• Concealment of a Human Corpse, a class E felony, three counts

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[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.