Valley Cottage murder suspect pleads not guilty

VALLEY COTTAGE, N.Y. (WABC) -- One of the suspects charged in the stabbing murder of Rockland County activist Peggy Nadell appeared in court and pleaded not guilty Wednesday morning.

Diana Nadell is the victim's daughter-in-law, and authorities believe she and three other women conspired to kill the 81-year-old Nadell in her Valley Cottage home because of her $4 million estate.

Charges were upgraded to first-degree murder prior to the arraignment, with 20 to 30 family and friends of the victim in attendance, most wearing "justice for Peggy" pins.

On Tuesday, suspect Andrea Benson, of Washington, D.C., was arraigned on murder and conspiracy charges.

Court papers say Benson agreed to help with the killing in exchange for a payment.

The complaint says Diana Nadell wanted some of her mother-in-law's multimillion-dollar "marital inheritance."

Benson is being held without bail at the Rockland County jail. She's due back in court on Friday.

Peggy Nadell was a county Democratic committeewoman who was outspoken on environmental and women's rights issues.

Also charged are Eltia Grant and Tanisha Joyner. Grant was arraigned last Thursday morning in Clarkstown Justice Court, and bail was set at $500,000.

She was then transported back to the Rockland County Jail.