Body Of Missing Alpharetta Teen Found In Middle Georgia; 2 Charged With Murder

ALPHARETTA, GA -- Detectives with the Alpharetta Department of Public Safety have charged two people with the murder of missing teenager whose body was found in middle Georgia.

Deri Bonaventura-Flores, 19, of Norcross, and 20-year-old Hali Karlan of Roswell are charged in connection to the death of 16-year-old Elijah Smith, who was reported missing June 14 from an extended stay hotel.

According to Alpharetta police, Karlan and Flores met with Smith at the Extended Stay Hotel at 3331 Old Milton Parkway in Alpharetta on Tuesday, June 13. The trio left the hotel in a vehicle and shortly after their departure, Smith was allegedly shot and killed inside the car on Old Milton Parkway near the hotel.

"Detectives are still determining the exact motive for the shooting," said Alpharetta Department of Public Safety spokesperson George Gordon.

Smith's body was driven to Twiggs County, located in middle Georgia and dumped in a rural, wooded area off Glover Road near Interstate 16, the spokesperson added.

Smith's mother reported him missing the following morning.

Alpharetta detectives received a tip on Thursday, June 15 about Smith's whereabouts, and Twiggs County Sheriff's Office deputies and Georgia Bureau of Investigation agents assisted in the search and recovery of Smith's body, Gordon said.

The victim's body was transported to the Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office. Gordon added the vehicle police believe where the fatal shooting took place was found in Sandy Springs and has been returned to Alpharetta for processing.

Karlan is in custody at the Fulton County Jail while Flores is at the Polk County Jail on unrelated charges. Alpharetta police have placed a hold on Flores while he is in the northwest Georgia institution.

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Image via Alpharetta Department of Public Safety