Nadia Vitel: Woman found dead inside duffle bag in Manhattan apartment during welfare check

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.

MANHATTAN, NEW YORK: Police discovered the body of a 52-year-old woman hidden inside a duffel bag in the closet of her Manhattan apartment on Thursday, March 14.

According to DailyMail, the woman was identified as Nadia Vitel, originally from Kyiv, Ukraine.

The apartment complex, situated on East 31st Street in Kips Bay, comprises 69 units and functions as a government housing facility where residents' rent is determined based on one-third of their income.

Vitel's death was ruled as a homicide after medical examiners confirmed that she died from blunt force trauma to the head, as per CBS News. 

NYPD observed several bags containing Naida Vitel's belongings

During the welfare check, officers from the New York City Police Department were observed removing several bags containing the victim's belongings from the building, including three suitcases and bags of clothes.

Jean Pompee, a resident of the building for 22 years and its superintendent, was the first person to enter Vitel's apartment upon receiving a distress call from her relatives, who informed him that they hadn't heard from her in a couple of days.

Upon entering the apartment, Pompee noticed something was amiss, as Vitel's dog had urinated on the floor, indicating unusual behavior. He also noted signs of a struggle in the apartment, such as the breaker panel being damaged. 

Meanwhile, Vitel's son had reportedly found a body in a closet near the apartment's entrance. Concerned family members then contacted the Fire Department, who quickly arrived at the scene.

Pompee noted, "The fire department opened the bag and discovered her body. I didn't peek and see the body myself; they just said there was a body in there and called the police. It was in the closet by the entrance to the door."

He confirmed that there was another name on the lease of Vitel's apartment, indicating that she may have been subletting, and expressed surprise, stating, "Apparently she [Vitel] was subletting. I didn’t know she was going to be moving in."

Describing the building as a friendly community filled with elderly residents who frequently host gatherings and barbecues in the community garden, Pompee remarked that there were six packages in the lobby addressed to the original leaseholder of Vitel's apartment, which had accumulated over several days.

While no arrests have been made in the case, police are apparently looking into two unidentified individuals, who were seen entering the building on video footage. 

Older residents of the Manhattan building show concern over the conduct of newer occupants

Other residents of the building expressed their fear and uncertainty regarding the situation involving the Ukrainian national. "I’m scared beyond belief It’s so sad what happened to this woman," shared one elderly occupant anonymously.

Another person claimed, "Since Covid we have been getting strange young people in the building and it is not safe. Drugs are being sold in here- they have no business being in a senior living facility."

"I spoke to the building manager before about how many people can just walk into our building. Just last week someone came into my apartment and refused to leave so I had to call the police," recounted one more resident who chose to remain anonymous.