Two squatters in a Kips Bay apartment building who allegedly murdered a woman last week and stuffed her in a duffel bag before fleeing inside her car remain on the loose, police officials said Thursday.
According to Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny, 52-year-old Nadia Vitel had arrived at the vacant 19th floor apartment inside of 206 East 31st St. last week, which had belonged to her mother before she died. However, when she arrived, cops believe she was met with a horrific surprise.
“We believe that some squatters took the apartment over and this woman came home to get this apartment set up, and walked in on the squatters that were there,” Chief Kenny said.
Investigators believe the squatters, a man and a woman, had been inside the apartment for at least two days before she arrived. The unknown pair apparently attacked Vitel when she entered the home, killing her with blunt force trauma to the head.
An autopsy also found that Vitel suffered multiple facial fractures, a brain bleed, and broken ribs. Police have yet to determine what weapons, if any, were used to kill Vitel.
When Vitel’s son had not heard from his mother in several days, police said, he joined with the building’s superintendent on March 14 and entered the apartment, which is when they made the grim discovery.
“The super makes entry into the apartment, does a quick look around. As they’re getting ready to leave, the son opens up the closet door and discovers the duffel bag with a foot sticking out,” Chief Kenny said.
Neighbors told cops that they heard the garbage chute opening and closing. Later investigators would find some of Vitel’s belongings at the bottom of the chute.
Police say they have video of the suspects fleeing the building on East 31st Street. The pair apparently then stole Vitel’s Lexus and fled over the George Washington Bridge into New Jersey. They wound up crashing the ride somewhere in Pennsylvania.
Chief Kenny stated that they have identified the suspects and the Regional Fugitive Task Force are on the hunt for the killers.
Anyone with information regarding their whereabouts can call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (for Spanish, dial 888-57-PISTA). You can also submit tips online at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, or on X (the platform formerly known as Twitter) @NYPDTips. All calls and messages are kept confidential.
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