Nadell Alibi-Makers Out on Time Served

Two women arrested in the conspiracy to kill Valley Cottage resident Peggy Nadell were sentenced to time served today.

Rockland County DA Thomas Zugibe said the two only got involved after Peggy Nadell was dead, slain by her daughter-in-law and a helper who beat and stabbed her to death 18 months ago.

Tanisha Joyner and Eltia Grant had been asked to provide alibis for Diana Nadell and Andrea Benson. They were initially charged with conspiracy to commit murder. They pleaded guilty to a lesser charge: Hindering Prosecution in the First Degree, a class “D” Felony.

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Here is Zugibe’s full statement:

Rockland County District Attorney Thomas P. Zugibe today announced that Tanisha Joyner (DOB 05/02/88) of Laurel, Maryland and Eltia Grant (DOB 10/08/89) of Compton, California were each sentenced to time-served on misdemeanor charges as part of their cooperation agreements in the prosecution of Diana Nadell and Andrea Benson in connection with killing of Peggy Nadell in her Valley Cottage home on January 25, 2014.

Both women pleaded guilty to Hindering Prosecution in the Third Degree, a Class “A” misdemeanor.

District Attorney Zugibe said Joyner, whom attempted to provide a fake alibi for Diana Nadell while police were investigating the slaying, turned state’s evidence ten days after her arrest when she pled guilty and agreed to testify against Diana Nadell and Benson, Peggy Nadell’s killers.

Grant, whom relayed messages via telephone calls from Diana Nadell to Andrea Benson regarding a false alibi during the police investigation, also agreed to cooperate with the prosecution. She pled guilty less than a month after her arrest and also agreed to testify against Nadell and Benson.

“This dogged investigation revealed that Tanisha Joyner and Eltia Grant had absolutely no involvement in the murder of Peggy Nadell,” said District Attorney Zugibe. “Their criminal conduct was limited to their actions after Peggy Nadell was killed in cold blood by Diana Nadell and Benson.”

Said Zugibe, “Joyner and Grant’s cooperation and testimony were critical to this case and served as a turning point in the prosecution of the killers. Their testimony likely led to the guilty pleas of both Diana Nadell and Benson.”

PHOTO: Diana Nadell