Squatter sentenced for brutal murder of woman in New York apartment

A man who admitted to killing a New York City woman before concealing her remains in a duffel bag has been sentenced to 20 years to life in state prison.

Halley Tejada received his sentence in the Manhattan Supreme Court after entering a guilty plea to second-degree murder on 17 December 2025.

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office confirmed the sentencing, which follows the discovery of 52-year-old Nadia Vitels in her Kips Bay flat on 14 March 2024.

The court heard that Vitels was moving into the apartment when Tejada and a co-defendant, Kensly Alston, were squatting inside the property.

When Vitels returned to the unit, the pair allegedly beat her to death and hid her body in a coat closet. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr. described the crime as "abhorrent and fatal conduct," noting that the victim was on the verge of starting a new chapter in her life.

Prosecutors had originally sought a longer sentence of 25 years to life for the defendant.

Following the murder, the pair reportedly fled to Pennsylvania in the victim’s vehicle. The indictment alleged they used Vitels' credit cards to purchase luxury items, including electronics and jewellery.

"I know this sentence will not bring her back, but I hope it can serve as a measure of comfort," Bragg added in his statement.

While Tejada has been sentenced, Alston has pleaded not guilty to related charges, and her legal proceedings remain pending.

This case has drawn significant attention to the dangers of squatting in urban residential developments.