Kareem Flake sentenced to 22 years for 2020 killing of Destini Smothers
NEW YORK - Kareem Flake, the man who admitted to killing his girlfriend Destini Smothers and hiding her body in the truck of a car in Queens, was sentenced Thursday.
Smothers' family and friends searched for months before her remains were discovered.
We were the only camera in the courtroom as they addressed Flake. CBS New York's Alice Gainer was there.
Flake, 31, barely looked at Smothers' family, who filled several rows.
"What was her last words? Did she beg you to stop?" relative Dominique Fowler Washington asked.
Affectionately known as "Bubbles" for her personality, the 26-year-old was last seen in a car with Flake, the father of her two children, after celebrating her birthday at a Woodside bowling alley in November, 2020.
She was reported missing days later.
"We searched in the cold, all over highways, trash dumps, beaches, parks, you name it. We drove to different states," Washington said. "You had the audacity to ride along with my family, searching for Destini and lying to us."
Four months later, in March 2021, an abandoned car was found in Springfield Gardens. A tow truck operator found Smothers' remains in the trunk. An autopsy determined she had been shot in the head.
"When I received that call, I fainted in the street," Washington said.
Flake was arrested the following month in Florida.
He took a plea deal, sparing her family a trial, and was sentenced to 22 years in prison, followed by five years post-release supervision.
"It will never return the daughter. It will never return the mother of these two children, and it will never be real closure for the family. So we can only hope for that," Queens DA Melinda Katz said.
Despite their pain and anguish, the family offered him the gift of forgiveness."
"I will not hate you because it will only kill me. So the only right thing to do is forgive you so that I can have peace," mother Simone Loretta King said.
"The forgiveness is not for you killing my cousin. It's for my own salvation," a relative said.
As for Flake, his attorney said he was remorseful, but Flake declined to speak. He looked back and muttered something as he was led out to shouts from the gallery.
"I'm shocked and appalled that he couldn't even apologize," relative Maurice Williams said.
Smothers' family wore her photo printed on their shirts, some in green - her favorite color - others in purple, for domestic violence awareness.
"To women who's going through it, you know, you're not alone. Reach out. Speak up, and get the help that you need," cousin Johann Daily said.
The judge told Flake in killing Destini, he also ruined the lives of others around her.
Her family said they're rallying around their two young children.
