Additional Coverage:
- NYC squatter murdered woman before stuffing her body in a duffel bag before buying a PS5 with her credit card (themirror.com)
A New York man who unlawfully occupied an apartment was sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to the second-degree murder of a woman he beat to death in her own home. Following the killing, he reportedly placed her body in a bag and used her credit card to purchase a PlayStation 5.
On December 17, 2025, Halley Tejada accepted the plea deal in Manhattan Supreme Court, as confirmed by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr. commented on the case, stating, “Nadia Vitels was about to begin a new chapter in her life when Halley Tejada brutally ended it in the very apartment she was moving into. Tejada has now been sentenced to 20 years to life in state prison for his reprehensible actions.”
Vitels, 52, was discovered deceased on March 14, 2024, inside a duffel bag at her Kips Bay residence. Her son found her body concealed in a cupboard, according to reports.
The indictment revealed that Tejada and his co-defendant, Kensly Alston, had broken into Vitels’ apartment during her move. When Vitels returned a few days later with her dog, they were still inside. The prosecution states she was beaten to death, and her body was hidden in a coat closet.
Following the murder, the two allegedly used Vitels’ credit cards to make various purchases, including a PlayStation 5, AirPods, clothing, food, and a diamond ring. They then fled to Pennsylvania in her vehicle.
Tejada received a sentence shorter than the prosecution’s requested 25 years to life. Meanwhile, Alston, who has pleaded not guilty, remains in ongoing legal proceedings.
Authorities have detailed a timeline indicating that Alston and Tejada left the apartment to buy a vape and a suitcase using Vitels’ credit card, then returned using a key. Later that day, they departed with several items, including toilet paper and suitcases, driving Vitels’ car toward Pennsylvania.
This tragic case underscores the severity of violent crimes involving home invasions and the profound impact on victims’ families.