Arrest Made in Killing of Detroit Neurosurgeon Who Was Shot, Then Dragged Naked to Attic Crawlspace
Beloved Detroit neurosurgeon Dr. Devon Hoover was found dead on April 23, 2023 in the stately home he loved so much
Authorities in Michigan have arrested a suspect in the murder of a beloved neurosurgeon who was found dead in his historic Detroit home last April.
On Wednesday, Aug. 7, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy announced at a press conference that Desmond Burks has been charged with first-degree premeditated murder, possession of a firearm by a felon, larceny of over $20,000 and other related criminal offenses. It's unclear if he has entered a plea or retained an attorney to speak on his behalf.
The charges are related to the murder of Dr. Devon Hoover, 53, whose body was found in the attic crawlspace of his $1.2 million home on April 23, 2023. Hoover was shot twice in the head and was then dragged facedown to the attic, according to an autopsy report previously obtained by the Detroit Free Press and 7 Action News. He was found only wearing socks and wrapped in a blood-soaked carpet, Worthy said.
Related: Person of Interest Arrested After Neurosurgeon Is Found Shot to Death, Wrapped in Sheet in Attic
Officers found his body after his family asked police to perform a welfare check when he failed to show up to see his dying mother in Indiana, according to Worthy. An autopsy completed by the Wayne County Medical Examiner's office determined that Hoover's death was caused by the gunshot wounds and ruled his death a homicide.
According to Worthy, an analysis of Hoover's cell phone showed about 4,000 text messages with a number attributed to Burks, who also lived in Detroit. The messages showed that the two were in an “intimate relationship” with one another and on occasion, Burks would “charge” Hoover for “sexual services," Worthy said.
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Dr. Devon Hoover's home.Detroit Police Chief James White previously said police believed Hoover knew his assailant but did not provide additional details about the nature of their relationship.
On the day of Hoover's murder, Hoover's cell phone traveled from his address to the area of Desmond’s home, Worthy claimed. The cell phone appears to return to Hoover's home for a short period of time and then travels back to the area of Desmond’s home, before pinging at Fairlane Mall in Dearborn, Mich., she added. Worthy claimed Hoover's phone never returns back to his home.
In addition to his cell phone, Hoover's wallet, money, credit cards, and two designer watches worth thousands of dollars were missing from his home, according to Worthy. In the days following Hoover's murder, Worthy said that there were multiple fraudulent financial transactions from his bank accounts.
During separate searches of properties connected to Burks, authorities recovered Hoover's two watches, one of which he bought the day before he was killed, Worthy said.
Worthy also said that Hoover's white Range Rover, which was found with blood inside and blocking his driveway the day before his body was discovered, was allegedly linked to Burks. According to Worthy, a man believed to be Burks -- who walked with a limp --- was seen on surveillance footage parking Hoover's car and carrying a backpack on the day Hoover was killed. Burks' fingerprint was also allegedly found inside the car, she added.
According to Worthy, Burks is currently being held in the Wayne County Jail on $1 million bond and is expected to be arraigned on Thursday, Aug. 8.
Burks is also awaiting a competency hearing in a separate murder case, Worthy said. Burks, then 33, was charged with second-degree murder in connection with a deadly road-rage incident in May.
Burks is accused of punching Reda Saleh, 67, and leaving him in the street after Saleh allegedly bumped the back of Burks' vehicle, according to a statement from the prosecutor's office. It's unclear if he has entered a plea in this case.
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