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Charges upgraded to murder in beating death of woman in Boston
Prosecutors say the suspect was seen on surveillance video swinging a hammer down on the 21-year-old woman in the backseat of an SUV on May 19.
A Boston man is facing murder charges after a woman was found dead in a parking lot in Boston’s Mission Hill neighborhood.
Kevin Boyette, 36, was arraigned Friday in Roxbury District Court, where he pleaded not guilty to killing 21-year-old Tatyiana Flood, of Boston. Boyette was already in custody on assault charges related to Flood’s death, but those charges were elevated to murder following a comprehensive investigation, according to Boston Police.
Officers responded to 20 Annunciation Road around 6 a.m. on May 20, where they found Flood’s beaten body outside a Boston Housing Authority apartment complex.
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At Boyette’s arraignment, prosecutors said that surveillance video shows Boyette and Flood entering an SUV around 7 p.m. on May 19, according to a WCVB report.
“The male suspect is observed swinging what in the video appears to be a hammer in a downward motion in the back seat of the vehicle,” Assistant District Attorney Ben Sabol said in court.
The victim’s mother, Lilly Flood, spoke to WCVB outside court, saying, “It’s really sad. I mean, we initially thought it was an overdose because we know she had been taking drugs, but then to find this out it makes it even worse.”
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A defense attorney for Boyette said his client maintains his innocence. Boyette is being held without bail in connection to the murder case. However, he also has at least one open court case involving assault with a knife, which was set to go to trial in April. Boyette did not appear for that proceeding, prosecutors said.
Anyone with information about the case should contact the BPD Homicide Unit at 617-343-4470. Tips can be sent anonymously by calling 800-494-TIPS or texting the word “TIP” to CRIME (27463). Anonymous tipsters can also send an email to Boston Police CrimeStoppers website.
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