White Plains, NY – Westchester County District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah announced today that a New Rochelle woman has been indicted for the murder and torture of her intimate partner, 27-year-old Concetta Morton. This case marks the first time the Westchester DA’s Office has charged someone with torture murder.
DA Rocah stated, “In a first for this Office, we are charging the defendant for not only murder, but also for allegedly acting in an especially cruel manner and inflicting torture upon Ms. Morton before her death. We commend the New Rochelle police for their role in this exhaustive investigation. My Office will seek justice for all of the victims.”
Kenya Tilford, 41, was arraigned on July 2 before New York State Supreme Court Justice Anne Minihan in Westchester County Court. She faces an 18-count indictment including charges of Murder in the First Degree, Murder in the Second Degree, Strangulation in the First Degree, Concealment of a Human Corpse, Tampering with Physical Evidence, and multiple counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse, among others.
The defendant is accused of torturing Morton over three months, ultimately causing her death by asphyxiation. Morton’s body was found concealed in a storage bin at Tilford’s Franklin Avenue apartment. Surveillance footage showed Tilford purchasing items including a hooded coverall, bleach, tarps, paper towels, rubber gloves, a chainsaw, and the storage bin used to hide Morton’s body.
Tilford also faces charges related to intimidating one individual, threatening another with a knife, and physically and sexually assaulting two other intimate partners. The New Rochelle Police Department arrested her on September 15, 2023, at an Elmsford hotel following a tip received by Tarrytown police.
The investigation was supported by the Westchester County Medical Examiner, DA Criminal Investigators, and Crime Analyst Alessia Vicari. The case is being prosecuted by Homicide Bureau Chief Lana Hochheiser, Assistant District Attorney Courtney Johnson, and Homicide Bureau Senior Trial Counsel Brian Bendish.
Tilford remains in custody at Westchester County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court on July 16.