Torture alleged as murder charge upgraded in New Rochelle killing

Jonathan Bandler, Rockland/Westchester Journal News
Updated ·2 min read
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A murder charge against a New Rochelle woman accused of killing her girlfriend and hiding the body in a closet for a week has been upgraded because the victim was allegedly tortured for months — and she faces additional charges alleging abuse of four other women.

Kenya Tilford, 41, pleaded not guilty to first- and second-degree murder Tuesday following her indictment in the September 2023 suffocation killing of Concetta Morton in Tilford's apartment at 155 Franklin Ave. Morton, 27, had been living there in the months leading up to her death.

Tilford was arrested Sept. 15 at an Elmsford motel after a relative who had seen Morton's body in the third-floor apartment notified police and directed them to where Tilford was.

Tilford initially claimed she had been in Virginia that week but police had surveillance video showing her at Home Depot in New Rochelle purchasing items she may have intended to use to dispose of the body - including bleach, tarps and a chainsaw.

She was initially charged with second-degree murder and concealment of a corpse.

The Franklin Avenue apartment building in New Rochelle where Kenya Tilford allegedly suffocated her roommate to death. The body was discovered Sept. 15 and police still maintained a presence there five days later.
The Franklin Avenue apartment building in New Rochelle where Kenya Tilford allegedly suffocated her roommate to death. The body was discovered Sept. 15 and police still maintained a presence there five days later.

The first-degree murder charge is under the theory that Tilford "acted in an especially cruel and wanton manner pursuant to a course of conduct intended to inflict and inflicting torture upon the victim prior to the victim's death," according to New York State penal law.

It is believed to be the first time Westchester prosecutors have charged first-degree murder alleging torture.

The indictment was not made public because of sex charges related to two alleged victims, and the nature of Tilford's relationship with them was not available.

But online court records show that the 18-count indictment includes felony charges of first-degree kidnapping, first- and second-degree strangulation, and third-degree aggravated sexual abuse, assault and intimidation.

First-degree murder is punishable by a minimum of 20 years to a maximum of life in prison. The minimum sentence for second-degree murder is 15 years to life.

Tilford's lawyer, Cynthia Lobo, could not immediately be reached for comment.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: New Rochelle NY alleged torture killing gets first-degree murder charge