In June of 2017, the life of 16-year-old Elijah Smith was tragically cut short in what appears to have been a dispute that escalated to violence. The young man, who worked at a Waffle House, was last seen by his mother on the evening of June 13th at an Extended Stay Hotel on Old Milton Parkway in Alpharetta, Georgia. It was from this location that he reportedly left with two acquaintances.
Two days later, after his family had initiated a search and distributed flyers, a tip led
investigators to a grim discovery. On June 15th, Elijah's body was found in a wooded area in Twiggs County, a considerable distance from where he was last seen. An investigation determined that he had been shot and killed inside a vehicle shortly after leaving the hotel in Alpharetta. His body was then transported to the remote location in Twiggs County.
Authorities moved swiftly, and two individuals were arrested in connection with the death of the teenager. Hali Karlan, 20, of Roswell, and Deri Bonaventura-Flores, 19, of Norcross, were charged with his murder. According to police reports, the fatal altercation may have stemmed from an argument that erupted while the three were in the vehicle together.
Karlan was taken into custody and held at the Fulton County Jail. Bonaventura-Flores was located at the Polk County Jail, where he was being held on unrelated charges. The vehicle believed to have been the scene of the crime was recovered in Sandy Springs and was processed for evidence by law enforcement. While a clear motive was not immediately established, investigators suggested that the conflict may have been fueled by jealousy.
