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New Rochelle resident Kenya Tilford, age 41, was arraigned in Westchester County Court on charges connected to her alleged torture killing of her intimate partner, 27-year-old Concetta Morton, the Westchester County District Attorney's Office announced on Monday, July 8.
The case is the DA's Office's first torture murder charge, officials added.
According to the DA's Office, Tilford allegedly tortured Morton for three months before killing her by asphyxiation. She then hid Morton's body inside a storage bin at her New Rochelle apartment on Franklin Avenue, officials said.
While the body was hidden, Tilford was allegedly seen on surveillance video buying a hooded coverall, bleach, tarps, paper towels, rubber gloves, a chainsaw, and the storage bin containing the body.
In addition to her alleged killing of Morton, Tilford also faces charges for intimidating one victim, threatening another victim with a knife, physically and sexually abusing one of her intimate partners, and sexually assaulting another intimate partner she also allegedly intimidated, the DA's Office said.
Tilford was eventually arrested at an Elmsford hotel on Sept. 15, 2023, after Tarrytown Police received a tip about Morton's body.
She is now charged with:
- First-degree murder;
- Second-degree murder;
- First-degree strangulation;
- Concealment of a human corpse;
- Tampering with physical evidence;
- Two counts of third-degree intimidating a victim or witness;
- Second-degree assault;
- First-degree unlawful imprisonment;
- Three counts of third-degree aggravated sexual abuse;
- First-degree kidnapping;
- Second-degree attempted assault;
- Second-degree strangulation;
- First-degree coercion;
- Third-degree assault;
- Second-degree menacing.
Tilford is now being held at Westchester County Jail and will next appear in court on Tuesday, July 16.
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