TRUE CRIMEBody Found In Truck Suspected To Be New York Mom Who Went Missing In November
A woman found dead in the trunk of a car in Queens, N.Y., on Wednesday, March 10, is believed to be 26-year-old missing mother Destini Smothers.
Smothers went missing after she attended her birthday party in November. While the body has not been officially identified as Smothers, the clothing on the body matched what she was wearing when she went missing and her ID was found at the scene, according to officials.
The body was found in a Toyota Camry with no licence plates on 134th Avenue, but forensic tests need to be carried out to confirm the identity. The body was uncovered in the fetal position as the vehicle was being towed. The car had reportedly been parked for "awhile" before sanitation tow trucks arrived earlier this week to pick it up.
The tow truck crew stopped when they noticed a problem with a tire and then found the body in the trunk when they opened it.
AMERICAN MURDER STORY: 11 TRUE CRIME SCANDALS THAT SHOCKED THE NATION
Smothers travelled to Queens for a funeral in early November, but went out two nights before to a bowling alley to celebrate her birthday and never made it to the funeral. Her car was also marked as missing on her missing persons’ report.
She reportedly left the bowling alley with her boyfriend, but the two are said to have gotten into an argument in her car and she got out and left her purse, wallet, keys and ID behind.
Her family started to worry when she didn’t arrive at her mother’s house in the Bronx to get her clothes for the funeral.
"She would have never walked away without her things," her aunt, Shareen King, previously told NBC Dateline.
"And in the middle of the night. It's not like her," King continued. "She loves those children and would do anything for them. She wouldn't just leave them.
"And there's no way in hell she's not calling her mama. My sister is just devastated."
REMEMBERING INFLUENCER ALEXIS SHARKEY: 6 OF HER BEST INSTAGRAM MOMENTS
"He actually got in my car and took me to where he said she jumped out in Astoria. Took me and my family," according to Smothers' cousin Tima Fowler, as reported by NBC New York. "I don't understand how he did that. But he did it and we found the car, the car is found now, she's found."
Smothers boyfriend has reportedly gone missing, according to her family.
The cause of death has not been determined, but the body did not show signs of trauma and was fully clothed.
Her children have been staying with their grandmother since November.
CHILLING SECRETS: INSIDE CHARLES MANSON'S PLANS FOR FUTURE KILLINGS
Smothers owned a 2011 Toyota Camry Hybrid, but it is not yet clear if the abandoned black Toyota Camry the body was found in was hers.
The investigation is still ongoing.
