Kensley Alston, 20, has been sentenced to 20 years-to-life in prison for her role in the 2024 murder of Natalie Vitels, a Manhattan homeowner. Prosecutors revealed that Alston admitted to striking Vitels five times with a metal frying pan during the fatal assault.
The incident occurred when Vitels discovered Alston and her boyfriend, Halley Tejada, squatting in her Kips Bay apartment. After Vitels demanded they leave, a confrontation ensued, and the pair allegedly chased her into a bedroom where they beat her to death. At one point, Alston reportedly told Tejada to put on shoes to avoid hurting his feet while kicking the victim.
Prosecutors stated that the couple then placed Vitels’ body in a closet while she was still alive. She was discovered two days later with severe injuries, including skull fractures and broken ribs, which investigators described as consistent with being struck by a train or falling from a great height.
Alston, who was 18 at the time of the crime, expressed a brief apology before her sentencing. Her accomplice, Halley Tejada, who was 19 at the time, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and received a 20-year prison sentence in April. During his sentencing, Vitels' son, Misha, referred to Tejada as an “animal” for stealing his mother.
Following the murder, Alston and Tejada attempted to flee in Vitels’ Lexus SUV and used her credit cards and cash to purchase items including a PlayStation 5, AirPods, clothing, and a diamond engagement ring. They were apprehended by federal authorities in Pennsylvania nine days after the murder.
Misha Vitels, 23, shared the profound impact of his mother's death, describing constant paranoia and the inability to feel secure. He spoke of his mother’s plans to build a new life in the city after caring for her sick parents.
Vitels' family has filed a lawsuit against the building management, alleging that lax security and a faulty front door contributed to the squatters gaining access. The lawsuit is ongoing.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg stated that while the sentencing may offer some closure, it cannot bring Ms. Vitels back, and his thoughts are with her loved ones.