Boyfriend of Troy woman found dead indicted on murder charges

The boyfriend of a Troy woman found dead in Queens last year has been indicted and arraigned on murder charges.

The district attorney in Queens says 30-year-old Kareem Flake is charged with murder, kidnapping, weapons possession and tampering with evidence.

As NewsChannel 13 has reported, 26-year-old Destini Smothers, a mother of two from Troy, went missing in November 2020. She was in the city to attend a gathering with Flake.

Flake told police at the time they had an argument, and she got out of the car and walked away.

Smothers’ remains were found four months later in the trunk of that same car, allegedly belonging to Flake. It had been abandoned in Queens.

Flake fled town during the investigation. He was arrested a few months ago in Florida, and extradited back to New York.

Flake is due back in court on August 11. He faces up to 25 years-to-life in prison if convicted.