New York woman gets life for torture-murder of developmentally disabled girlfriend

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. (TCN) -- A 43-year-old woman has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for torturing her girlfriend for several months before killing her and dumping her body in a storage bin behind an apartment building.

Kenya Tilford was convicted in March of first-degree murder under the torture provision of the statute, as well as strangulation, concealment of a corpse, witness intimidation, and other related charges, NBC New York reports. She was sentenced April 23.

In May 2023, 27-year-old Concetta Morton moved into Tilford’s apartment with her, the Journal News reports. She was developmentally disabled, and her family became concerned for her safety once Morton ordered her to leave the apartment one night. Morton’s family persuaded her to come back and live with them twice during the first month that Morton and Tilford were together, but Morton ultimately returned to Tilford’s apartment.

In the months she lived with Tilford, Morton was reportedly forced to sleep in the bathtub and had bleach poured on her. 

NBC reports Tilford was captured on surveillance footage buying a hooded coverall, bleach, tarps, paper towels, rubber gloves, a chain saw, and a storage bin, according to a press release from the district attorney.

Police believe Tilford killed Morton on Sept. 11, 2023, according to the Journal News. Her cousin led police to Morton’s body after Tilford had asked for help getting rid of it. The body was in the storage bin Tilford had been seen purchasing and was decomposing.

In court, two other women spoke of their past treatment at Tilford’s hands. One said she had had pills forced in her mouth and underwent three days of sexual abuse; another said that Tilford had told her about fantasies she had about kidnapping and rape, according to The Journal News.

At Tilford’s sentencing, Morton’s sister Joanne Dunn said, “She encountered a monster. The person she loved tortured her, starved her, and beat her to death. This was not a single act. This was ongoing. This was intentional. This was someone taking advantage of her vulnerability again and again.”

According to Patch.com, Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace said this was the county’s first torture-murder trial. “I hope that with this sentence, Ms. Morton may finally rest in peace, and that the Dunn family may find a small measure of comfort knowing she has finally achieved the justice in the afterlife that was denied to her during her brief time on Earth.”

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