The family of a developmentally disabled woman who was murdered in 2023 is keeping her memory alive by turning grief into purpose.
On Tuesday, Oct. 13, family members gathered at City Hall to accept a posthumous proclamation from Peekskill Mayor Vivian McKenzie honoring Concetta “Chetta” Morton, in commemoration of Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October.
Morton, a 27-year-old woman from Peekskill with mental delay, had her life cut short in September 2023 as a result of intimate partner violence. She was tortured for three months and murdered by Kenya Tilford, who was sentenced to life in prison without parole on April 23, 2026.
Deborah Dunn on Oct. 13 wears a “Justice for Chetta” sweater, while son-in-law Daryl Francis wears a purple ribbon. (Eric Harvey)
The proclamation was accepted by Morton’s mother, Deborah Dunn, who adopted her when she was one-year-old. Dunn said the last three years have been the most horrible time in her life due to the void of her daughter not being there.
Dunn thanked the Peekskill Common Council, family members (several of whom were present), her pastors, and her son-in-law Daryl Francis, who chairs the Peekskill Youth Bureau and kept the recognition secret to surprise the family. Morton was also honored by family throughout the weekend.
“I’m a little overwhelmed right now because so much is being said about her, and the only thing that hurts is that she’s not here to hear it,” Dunn said.
She continued, “I say to all youth, if your parents say to you that they see danger, just please listen, because we see beyond what you see. In Chetta’s situation we were trying to protect her life. Even in her death, we will win, and in her death there will be a purpose. And we have to turn our pain into purpose.”
Also present was Assemblymember Dana Levenberg, who said she had a phone call that morning with colleagues of the Legislative Women’s Caucus about how to address sexual assault amid gang-rape allegations brought by the woman known as “Jane Doe” at Cornell University.
Family members, priests, council members and city officials honor Concetta “Chetta” Morton on Tuesday, Oct. 13. (Eric Harvey)
“We have to be aware that what happens to people when they become victims can have long-term consequences,” Levenberg said. “We have to educate people about what it means to be a victim and make it easier for people to get help when they have mental health disorders.”
Mayor McKenzie stressed the importance of community members reacting when they suspect someone is being abused.
“A lot of people could be saved if we just stepped up and made that call,” McKenzie said. “Sometimes you have to step outside of your comfort zone [by] calling someone’s family to let them know their loved one is in danger. ”
The proclamation read by McKenzie calls domestic violence a “community-wide tragedy that demands our unwavering attention, education, prevention efforts, and unconditional support for survivors.”
It further says, “Concetta’s legacy now calls upon every citizen of Peekskill to recognize the warning signs of domestic violence, actively encourage healthy and respectful relationships, support survivors on their path to healing, educate our young people, and ensure that individuals experiencing abuse know that they are never alone. And may her memory forever inspire our community to work hand-in-hand toward a future built on mutual respect, where every single person can experience love safely and without fear, control, abuse or violence.”
As council members look on (left), Deborah Dunn (right) accepts a proclamation from Mayor Vivian McKenzie honoring her daughter Concetta “Chetta” Morton, whose life was cut short by an intimate partner in 2023. (Eric Harvey)
According to the proclamation, Morton was a “beloved daughter of the Peekskill community whose vibrant life, deep relationships, bright hope and grand dreams extended far beyond the tragedy that ultimately took her from her family and community.”
Morton was an alumna of the City of Peekskill Youth Bureau. “Chetta was all over Peekskill,” Dunn said. “She was everywhere and she did everything with the Youth Bureau.”
Dunn shared with the Peekskill Herald that she and family members are “trying to create “Chetta’s Law,” so an adult that has mental delay or mental illness can have a proxy [to] speak for them. We’re trying to create something so that her death won’t be in vain.”
Elected officials encouraged those suffering from domestic violence to call 988, which is directed usually for those facing suicidal thoughts in addition to mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline is (800) 799-SAFE (7233). The New York State Domestic Violence 24 Hour Hotline (English & Español/multi-language accessibility) is (800) 942-6906 or 711 for deaf or hard of hearing. For more information, click here.
