Steve Lieberman

slieberm@lohud.com

A 24-year-old California woman accused of conspiring to kill Peggy Nadell pleaded guilty Tuesday to a lesser charge and agreed to cooperate against the two women charged with murdering the 80-year-old grandmother for part of her $4 million estate.

Eltia Grant, 24, of California joined Tanisha Joyner, 26, of Washington, D.C., as cooperative witnesses who each admitted to a charge of second-degree hindering prosecution. They've been promised leniency for their assistance in agreements the judge sealed until their sentencing.

Peggy Nadell's daughter-in-law, Diana Nadell, 50, and another woman, Andrea Benson, 25, face murder charges in the elder Nadell's beating and stabbing death inside her Valley Cottage house early on Jan. 25.

Both Grant and Joyner were originally charged with second-degree conspiracy to commit murder. Grant was accused of helping to connect the various parties to the plot, while Joyner was accused of providing Diana Nadell with a false alibi — claiming she had been in Washington, D.C., at the time of the murder and making calls from Diana Nadell's cellphone to back up that story.

"After an investigation, the credible evidence did not support a conviction for conspiracy in the second degree," prosecutor Richard Kennison Moran said after court. "That requires Ms. Grant had been aware of Diana Nadell's intent to murder Peggy Nadell when she contacted Andrea Benson."

Grant was released without bail pending a court date of Sept. 19, when County Court Judge Charles Apotheker said he will schedule her sentencing and presentence report.

She left the county jail with an older couple, identified as relatives, who declined to comment. Her lawyer, Michael Bongiorno, a former Rockland district attorney, declined to discuss the plea.

The hindering-prosecution charge carries a maximum of 2 1/ 3 to 7 years in state prison.

A grand jury indictment against Diana Nadell of Florida and Benson, of Washington, D.C., is expected either Wednesday or Thursday.

Diana Nadell, the mother of Peggy Nadell's two grandchildren, is accused of orchestrating the killing to get her husband's share of the family inheritance. Prosecutors have said they do not believe her husband, James, was involved.

Grant and Joyner were arrested last month along with Diana Nadell and Benson after a five-month Clarkstown police investigation into Peggy Nadell's killing.

Diana Nadell faces life without parole if convicted of first-degree murder. Benson faces 15 to 25 years to life if convicted of second-degree murder.