A Bronx woman was sentenced Friday to 20 years to life in prison for the fatal beating and robbery of a mother in her Kips Bay apartment earlier this year. Kensly Alston, 20, was convicted for the March 10, 2024, killing of Nadia Vitels, who was found bludgeoned inside her East 31st Street residence near Third Avenue. Alston acted alongside her then-boyfriend, Halley Tejada, who received a similar sentence in April after pleading guilty to second-degree murder.

At the time of the attack, Alston was 18 and Tejada was 19. Authorities said the couple had been squatting inside the victim’s vacant unit for several days prior to Vitels’ arrival during a Sunday morning move-in. Prosecutors explained that Alston struck Vitels multiple times on the back of the head with a frying pan before stuffing her body into a duffel bag and hiding it in a closet. The severe skull fracture suffered by the victim was described in court as comparable to injuries seen from high-impact traumas such as train accidents or falls from great heights.

Following the deadly assault, Alston and Tejada fled using Vitels’ car and went on a spending spree over the course of a week, using the victim’s credit card to buy items including new iPhones, a diamond engagement ring, video games, and meals. After evading capture for several days, the pair were apprehended in Pennsylvania by U.S. marshals.

Nadia Vitels, originally from Moscow, Russia, had immigrated to the United States and built a career working in the nonprofit and marketing sectors. She recently collaborated with her son, Misha Vitels, at Earth Brands, a company focusing on environmentally friendly biodegradable and compostable products. Vitels had spent several years caring for her ailing parents and was reportedly poised to begin a new chapter in her life, including plans for travel.

Misha Vitels, 23, delivered an emotional victim impact statement during the sentencing. He described his mother as a resilient and devoted parent who made sacrifices to support her family. Misha expressed that her murder deprived her of the chance to enjoy personal happiness after years of caregiving. He also voiced concerns about Alston’s eligibility for parole at a relatively young age, reflecting on the lasting trauma and unanswered questions stemming from the crime.

Before sentencing, the judge gave Alston an opportunity to speak, and she offered a brief apology. The presiding Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Rachel Pauley acknowledged the gravity of the loss and expressed sympathy for the victim’s family, emphasizing that the court’s decision could not restore what was taken.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who attended the sentencing, extended his condolences to the family, noting that while the ruling may provide some closure, it cannot undo the tragedy experienced by those closest to Vitels.