New Rochelle woman charged with torture murder in girlfriend's death
This is the first time in Westchester County history that charges have been brought against someone for a torture killing, according to the county.
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A New Rochelle woman faces a rare charge of torture murder in the death of her girlfriend, authorities said.
Kenya Tilford, 29, is accused of torturing Concetta Morton, 28, for three months before killing her last September, according to Westchester County District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah. Tilford then allegedly dumped Morton's body in a storage bin behind her apartment.
Tilford faces 18 counts including murder, concealment of a human corpse, and intimidating a victim or witness, Rocah said.
This is the first time in Westchester County history that charges have been brought against someone for a torture killing, according to the county.
"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," Rocah said in a statement.
Prosecutors allege that Tilford tortured Morton for three months and ultimately caused her death by asphyxiation before concealing her body inside a storage bin at her Franklin Avenue apartment. During this period, Tilford was captured on surveillance video purchasing a hooded coverall, bleach, tarps, paper towels, rubber gloves, a chainsaw and the storage bin in which Morton's body was found.
The defendant remains remanded to Westchester County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court on July 16.
