New rochelle woman indicted for torture killing of intimate partner

New Rochelle Woman Indicted for Torture Killing of Intimate Partner

Posted by
1 min read
July 8, 2024

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.

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Facebook

Don't Miss