NYC squatters got engaged, went on shopping spree after stuffing slay victim in duffel bag

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The young squatter couple accused of beating a Manhattan woman to death and stuffing her body in a duffel bag went on a wild shopping spree, got engaged while on the lam and even bought a diamond ring with the victim’s credit card to seal the deal, authorities said Thursday.

After fleeing to Pennsylvania and crashing the victim’s Lexus they stole from outside the murder scene, Halley Tejada,19, of Manhattan, and Kensly Alston, 18, of the Bronx, used the victim’s credit cards to go on a spending spree that included Apple AirPods, clothing, food, a PlayStation 5 and the ring, according to prosecutors.

Alston, despite the trouble she was in, fancied herself in love, authorities said. The couple had just celebrated her 18th birthday and wound up engaged by the time they were apprehended.

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“Tejada stomped on the head while [Alston] kicked the body,” Clerkin said. “She was still breathing.” According to the prosecutor, Tejada stomped on Vitels’ head with his bare foot while Alston watched. “You should put your shoes on before you hurt yourself,” Alston told him, according to Clerkin.

Alston confessed that after dragging Vitels’ body to the kitchen, “she held open the bag while defendant Tejada put Ms. Vitels’ body in the bag and that she was still breathing,” said the ADA. An autopsy revealed Vitels died from blunt force trauma to the head, the city Medical Examiner said March 15, ruling her death a homicide.

Officials said Vitels’ wrists were bound with tape, her neck and ribs had cords wrapped around them and the Medical Examiner would ultimately find signs of blunt force trauma, rib fractures, bruising and a hinge fracture to the skull, Clerkin said.

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