Shivangi Sinha
In February 2016, authorities discovered the body of Desirae Withey at her home in Perry, New York. She had been strangled to death, and her two young children were found inside the residence unharmed. Initially, the investigation provided few leads, leaving many questions unanswered. However, it wasn’t until the following day, after receiving a crucial tip, that the full picture began to emerge. The case is thoroughly explored in Investigation Discovery’s ‘Mean Girl Murders’ episode titled ‘Tough Cookies,’ which outlines how the suspect was ultimately identified and brought to justice.
Desirae Withey’s Daughters Were in the House When She Was Killed
Desirae D. “Desi” Withey was born on April 30, 1982, in Rochester, New York. Raised by her parents, Duane and Alice Withey, alongside her four siblings—Bethany, Amy, Bryan, and Justin—Desi grew up in a warm, supportive home filled with love and laughter. From a young age, she displayed a vivid imagination and a deep love for the arts, especially music, dance, and literature. Known for her bright and magnetic personality, she left a lasting impression on everyone she met. Her adventurous nature and joyful energy made every moment spent with her memorable.
In 2010, Desi became a mother for the first time with the birth of her daughter, Sophia Isabel George. It was a moment that transformed her life. She was devoted and nurturing and she poured her heart into creating a safe and loving environment for her child. In 2014, she welcomed her second daughter, Zoe Madison Withey. It was a day she described as one of the happiest of her life. Raising her girls as a single mother, Desi moved into a home on Borden Avenue and took up a job at Creative Foods, where she was deeply valued. Outside of work, she loved painting and spending peaceful, quality evenings with her daughters, cherishing their quiet family moments.
At approximately 9:30 am on February 6, 2016, Desi’s eldest daughter approached a neighbor for help, saying her mother was unconscious. Authorities were promptly contacted, and when police arrived at the home, they found her unresponsive in her bed. She was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy later confirmed that she had died from asphyxiation, and the death was officially ruled a homicide. The medical report revealed multiple injuries and lacerations across her body, prompting law enforcement to launch an immediate investigation to identify the perpetrator and deliver justice.
Desirae Withey’s Killer Confessed to the Crime in a Suicide Note
At the outset of the investigation, police found themselves with limited leads. Desi Withey led a quiet, routine life and had no known enemies or conflicts that could explain such a violent act. Friends and family described her as warm, kind, and well-liked, with no apparent threats in her personal life. Investigators determined that the attacker had likely entered her home during the night and taken her life while her two daughters remained inside, unaware. Then, on February 7, 2016, police were alerted to a drug overdose involving a woman named Kira Kastenhuber at a residence in Rochester, New York.
At the Rochester residence, Kira received emergency medical attention and was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital. During the search of the home, authorities discovered a suicide note in which she had confessed to the killing of Desi and accepted full responsibility. Once she recovered, Kira provided a written statement admitting that she had been overcome with rage after learning that her ex-boyfriend had begun dating Desi. The two women had previously worked together at Creative Foods and had shared a close friendship, which fell apart when Desi entered the relationship and it ultimately led Kira to commit the murder.
Kira Kastenhuber is Serving Her Sentence at a New York State Prison Today
Kira Kastenhuber was formally charged with second-degree murder, though prosecutors maintained that the crime had been premeditated and deliberately executed. She was held at the county jail without the option for bail. In October 2016, Kira entered a guilty plea to the charge. Two months later, in December 2016, she received a sentence of 15 years to life in prison. In February 2020, she appealed her conviction, but the original verdict was upheld by the court. Now 47 years old, she is currently incarcerated at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility in Bedford Hills, New York. She will be eligible for parole in 2031.
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