WHITE PLAINS, NY (March 20, 2026) — A New Rochelle woman has been convicted of murder and numerous related felonies in what prosecutors described as the first trial under New York’s “torture-murder” provision in Westchester County history.
Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace announced that a jury on Friday found Kenya Tilford, 43, guilty of Murder in the First Degree, a class A-I felony, under the torture-murder provision, as well as Murder in the Second Degree, Strangulation in the First Degree and Concealment of a Human Corpse in connection with the 2023 killing of 27-year-old Concetta Morton.
The jury also convicted Tilford of Intimidating a Victim or Witness in the Third Degree (two counts), Assault in the Second Degree, Aggravated Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree (three counts), Kidnapping in the First Degree, Strangulation in the Second Degree and Coercion in the First Degree related to her conduct involving prior intimate partners and witnesses.
Prosecutors said they intend to seek the maximum possible sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Sentencing is scheduled for April 23 before Judge George Fufidio.
Cacace said, “The final months of Ms. Morton’s life were a nightmare most of us could not possibly envision. Over the course of months, the defendant worked methodically to lure Ms. Morton away from her family, knowing she had special needs, and began to exert control over every aspect of her life. The defendant then subjected Ms. Morton to prolonged bouts of torture before, ultimately, suffocating her to death and attempting to dispose of her corpse.”
She added, “Before these predations, the defendant had sexually abused two prior intimate partners. And after killing Ms. Morton, she threatened a witness connected to the case.”
Cacace said, “Despite the circumstances of her death, Concetta Morton must be remembered by how she carried herself when she was alive, as a beacon of light and joy to all who knew her. Her memory will live on in her loving family, whose perseverance through these traumas helped achieve accountability today. We will continue to keep them in our thoughts and support them throughout the rest of this process.”
“I would also like to thank the members of the jury for their service through this especially difficult trial. My office will be seeking the maximum possible sentence for the defendant,” she said.
In a statement released March 20, the New Rochelle Police Department said the verdict followed a multi-week trial and described the outcome as the result of “outstanding Detective work by our General Investigations Unit, and the exceptional prosecution of the case by our partners in the District Attorney’s Office.”
Police Commissioner Neil K. Reynolds said, “Their dedication to uncovering the truth, and holding this defendant accountable has delivered justice in one of the most horrific cases our department has ever investigated.”
Reynolds added, “While we are thankful for the verdict in this case, we must not forget Concetta Morton. Although we hope and we pray that this outcome brings a measure of closure to her family and friends, we understand that nothing can undo the pain caused by these crimes.”
The department also thanked “the jurors, witnesses, and all law enforcement and prosecutorial personnel who contributed to this result” and said it “remains committed to protecting victims of domestic violence and bringing perpetrators to justice.”
The district attorney also commended the New Rochelle Police Department for its investigatory work on the case.
The case is being prosecuted by Homicide Bureau Chief Lana Hochheiser and Senior Assistant District Attorney Courtney Johnson.
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New Rochelle Woman Charged with Murder, Concealment of a Human Corpse (9/18/2023
This article was prepared with the assistance of AI tools under the direction and editing of Robert Cox.