New Rochelle, New York, manslaughter torture suspect charged with first-degree murder

Lina Portman3 days ago

0 1 minute read

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 after being charged in the September 2023 suffocation death of Concetta Morton at Tilford's apartment at 155 Franklin Ave. Morton, 27, lived 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 gave them a tip on Tilford's whereabouts.

Tilford initially claimed she was 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 body.

The first-degree murder charge is based on the theory that Tilford “acted in a particularly cruel and wanton manner as part of a course of conduct designed to inflict and inflict torture on the victim prior to his death,” according to New York state criminal law.

This appears to be the first time Westchester prosecutors have charged first-degree murder based on 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 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 carries a minimum sentence of 20 years to life imprisonment. The minimum sentence for second-degree murder is 15 years to life imprisonment.

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

Lina Portman

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