Kareem Flake has been sentenced for the murder of Destini Smothers. The photo of Smothers was taken from her GofundMe page, while the image of Flake’s mugshot was obtained from NYPD via New York’s WCBS-TV/YouTube. Additionally, the photo of the towed car used in the case was provided by Queens County District Attorney.
According to a news release by the Queens County District Attorney’s Office, Kareem Flake, aged 31, was sentenced on Thursday for his involvement in the killing of Destini Smothers. Flake had pleaded guilty in July to manslaughter in the first degree. The news release also mentioned that he will receive five years of post-release supervision after his release.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz conveyed her deepest sympathies to the family of Destini Smothers, who suffered immensely due to the heinous acts committed by a certain individual. Destini’s disappearance left her family in a state of despair for several months, while her two young children were forced to face the harsh reality of growing up without a mother. In the hopes of providing some solace to Destini’s loved ones, the district attorney expressed her strong condemnation towards the perpetrator’s depravity.
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According to reports, Smothers disappeared a few days after being spotted in a vehicle with Flake, following her birthday celebration in Queens, New York, on November 3rd, 2020.
According to the family’s fundraising page, they are currently collecting donations to hire a private investigator who can help locate Flake, the last known person who saw Destini Smothers before her untimely death. The funds will also be utilized to support the care of her two sons, who were 11 and 4 at the time of the incident.
According to the site, Flake shared with her family members that she had gotten into a heated argument while on a car ride and had jumped out in the middle of the night. Since then, she has not been seen, and her whereabouts are unknown.
According to the New York Daily News, Loretta King, the mother of Smothers, reached out to Flake when her daughter failed to show up at his grandmother’s funeral the following day.
According to the newspaper, King expressed his belief that the late Senator Flake’s wife would not have missed his funeral. He recounted calling Flake’s phone and asking about her whereabouts by saying, “Where your other half at?”
According to King, the individual in question had allegedly jumped out of the car in a fit of anger because she desired to spend time with her friends. However, King expressed disbelief at the notion that the individual had simply disappeared without a trace.
It was roughly four months after her disappearance when Flake’s remains were discovered on March 10, 2021. A tow truck operator stumbled upon Flake’s abandoned Toyota Camry, which had a flat tire, leading to the discovery.
According to the news release from the DA’s office, when he went to search for a spare, he stumbled upon Smothers’ decaying body in the car’s trunk.
According to officials, she sustained a gunshot wound to the head.
On April 9, 2022, Flake was taken into custody in Osceola County, Florida, and later transported to New York following his arrest.
According to the GoFundMe page set up for Smothers, she was a caring and affectionate mother who deeply loved her children.
According to the page, Destini Smothers had an immense love for her children that surpassed everything else. In photographs, she can be seen with a bright smile on her face, often holding or kissing one of her kids. Videos of Destini reveal a vibrant, cheerful woman, who relished life with her family. She was always dancing, singing, and laughing. This is who Destini was. The tragedy that befell her was undeserved, just like it would be for anyone. Her children should not have to grow up in a world without their beloved mother.
