3rd Conspirator Pleads Guilty to Lesser of 2 Charges in Nadell Murder Case

Diana Nadell organized a 4-woman conspiracy to kill her mother-in-law for the inheritance money, according to the Rockland County District Attorney. 

She now is the only accused conspirator facing trial, the DA announced today. 

Indicted yesterday, the woman accused of accompanying Nadell to her mother-in-law's house and helping her strangle and stab the 80-year-old pleaded guilty immediately after she was arraigned today to the lesser of the two charges she faced: second-degree murder.

The other two named as co-conspirators pleaded guilty last month to first-degree hindering a prosecution (also a felony).

The indictments handed up yesterday charged Nadell and Andrea Benson each with one count of first-degree murder and one count of second-degree murder.

Here is the full text of the DA's June 19 statement:

Rockland County District Attorney Thomas P. Zugibe today announced that Andrea Benson (DOB 09/08/88) of 4625 Central Avenue, Apt. 1, NE Washington, DC pled guilty to:

• One count of Murder in the Second Degree, a class “A-1” Felony 

immediately following her arraignment on an Indictment charging her with the murder of Peggy Nadell. 

On January 25, 2014, at approximately 10 a.m., Peggy Nadell was found murdered in her home at 644 Andover Road, Valley Cottage, New York. 

An extensive investigation by the Clarkstown Police Department and the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office revealed that on January 24, 2014, Diana Nadell (DOB 12/05/63) of 8240 SW 185th Terrace, Cutler Bay, Florida travelled to Washington, D.C.. Once there, Nadell offered Benson money to drive with her to New York to assist in the killing of her mother-in-law, Peggy Nadell. 

Upon arriving at 644 Andover Road after 1 a.m. on January 25, Diana Nadell and Andrea Benson murdered Peggy Nadell. Peggy Nadell suffered strangulation, multiple blunt force trauma wounds to her head and face as well as multiple stab wounds to her torso, ultimately causing her death. 

According to the charges, Tanisha Joyner (DOB 05/02/88) of 1538 Butler Street SE 303, Washington, DC. and Eltia Grant (DOB 10/08/89) of 1050 Gladys Avenue, Apt. 7, Long Beach, California rendered criminal aid to Diana Nadell. Joyner today admitted to providing Clarkstown Police a false alibi, later telling detectives Diana Nadell was with her in Washington, D.C. during the evening hours of January 24, 2014 through the early morning hours of January 25, 2014. 

Grant acted as a go-between for Diana Nadell and Benson in aiding in the logistics and specifics of the false alibi.