Potential evidence revealed in preliminary hearing for suspect in Ashley Elkins' case
The hearing started with obscure sounds coming from the suspect, DeAndre Booker, who was in court virtually. Booker is charged with first-degree premeditated murder, tampering with evidence, disinterment or mutilation of a dead body and concealing the death of an individual. He is also charged with lying to police in a related case.
Booker had the option to appear in person, but chose not to for the second time.
Elkins's family reported the 30-year-old missing on Jan. 3. Investigators allege that Booker, who they say is Elkins's ex-boyfriend, killed the mother of two in his Roseville apartment before disposing of her body. Despite searches, including in a landfill, her body has not been found.
On Friday, two people took the stand, including Payne Barksdale, who says she is Booker's adopted niece and a forensic scientist.
"Whenever I needed anything, I could call him and he's there, " Barksdale said in court.
Barksdale testified that the two had not spoken for around a decade until last year. She says Booker asked her to move his co-worker's car to a different apartment; it's unclear whose car it was. Barksdale said that this happened in January, the same month Elkins went missing.
"He said the cops were hot in that area, so with me having a license, if I were to be pulled over, he said I wouldn't have any trouble," she said.
After the two dropped off the car, Barksdale said Booker showed her around his apartment. She told the courtroom that when returning to the apartment, she had to use the restroom, to which Booker told her to wait until he finished cleaning it.
That same bathroom was the focus of Michigan State Police forensic scientist Toni Grusser's findings.
Grusser showed prosecutors pictures of multiple locations within Booker's apartment that tested positive for blood. He testified that the lab was unable to confirm who the blood belongs to and how long it's been there.
The next preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 22.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 minutes ago
- Yahoo
60 drivers caught during three-day police sting on M6 and M42
Officers using a police 'supercab' caught 60 drivers committing road offences during a three-day operation on major motorways in the Midlands. The supercab, which provides officers with an elevated position to see what drivers are doing inside their vehicles, was used on the M6, M42, M40, A46 and M69 in July. In just three days, police intercepted 60 drivers and dealt with 66 offences. READ MORE: New cameras going up at Midlands M5 motorway junction as drivers face fines Nine drivers were pulled over for speeding, 25 drivers for using their mobile phone behind the wheel and 16 drivers or passengers for not wearing a seatbelt. Eight drivers were stopped for not being in proper control of their vehicle and two drivers for driving without due care and attention. Six drivers were stopped for criminal offences including driving without insurance and for driving a cloned vehicle. As a result, Warwickshire Police seized three cars. A force spokesperson said: "We gave words of advice to 29 drivers as we will always choose to educate first with the aim of improving driving behaviour to make our roads safer. "For the more serious offences we are unable to do this and 34 drivers received Traffic Offence Reports." Inspector Wayne Boulton added: "We all have a part to play in making our roads safer by choosing to make good decisions and encouraging our friends and family to do the same. 'Working collaboratively with National Highways in this way helps us to maximise our enforcement capability and educate people on the risks. "One individual's actions can have a huge impact." National Highways assistant regional road safety co-ordinator, Marie Biddulph, said: "These results show just how valuable our HGV cabs continue to be in helping to spot unsafe driving behaviours such as not wearing a seatbelt or using a mobile phone behind the wheel which we know can have serious consequences. 'Road safety is a shared responsibility – it can't be achieved in isolation."
Yahoo
4 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Mother appeals to find son's killers after ‘three painful and traumatic years'
A woman said she had suffered 'three painful and traumatic years' as she made an appeal to find her son's murderers on the anniversary of his death. Sam Rimmer was with a group of friends in Lavrock Bank, Dingle, Liverpool, on August 16 2022 when riders on two electric bikes drove into the cul-de-sac and fired a number of shots towards them at around 11.40pm, Merseyside Police said. Mr Rimmer, 22, was injured and despite the efforts of police officers and ambulance staff he was pronounced dead a short while later in hospital. Ten people have been arrested in relation to the murder but no one has been charged. On the third anniversary of his death, Mr Rimmer's mother Joanne said: 'It is three painful and traumatic years since Sam was murdered. The passing of time has not eased the pain. 'People say to cherish the memories, but when I think of Sam, the memory I have is of his body in the morgue, staring at his chest, willing him to breathe. No parent should ever have to identify their child's body. 'Unless you have experienced the murder of your child, you cannot begin to understand the agonising, torturous mental and emotional horror we endure daily. The ache of my heart just to see my son again. 'My appeal is to the people who know who killed Sam. If you know something and you are reading this, please, please speak up. No one will ever know as it will be completely anonymous. 'Sam was shot in his back. He was turned away from his killers. This image haunts me. In his final moments, was he scared? Was he in pain? 'I died the day Sam did. I function but I do not live. I know the pain of losing Sam will never go but if I see justice for his murder, maybe the family and I can begin to move forward and remember the happy memories of Sam.' Detective Chief Inspector Steve McGrath said: 'Sam's death has had a devastating impact on his family, and in particular his mum, and they deserve to get justice. 'It has now been three years since Sam was tragically killed, but we are still determined as ever to find the person or people responsible. 'As part of our investigation we have made a number of arrests and received a lot of information from the public. We just need the final piece of the puzzle. 'We know that there are people out there who live in the Dingle/Toxteth area who know who is responsible and my appeal is for those people to come forward and tell us what they know. 'Do you know who was riding on the bikes that arrived in Lavrock Bank that night? Do you know where they went afterwards or where they are being stored? 'Any information passed on to us will be handled with care and sensitivity, and we can put extensive measures in place to protect those brave enough to come forward.' Anyone who witnessed the incident, was in the area at the time or has any information is urged to contact Merseyside Police through their public portal. The force said it can also be contacted through its social media desk @MerPolCC on X, or information can be left anonymously with Crimestoppers on 0800 555111, with reference number 22000603397.
Yahoo
4 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Dealers 'selling hard drugs during Mass' in pews and grounds of Westminster Cathedral
Dealers are selling hard drugs during Mass in the pews of Britain's biggest Roman Catholic church, it has been alleged. Situated next to Victoria Station in the heart of the London's Heritage Quarter, Westminster Cathedral is one of the most recognisable places of worship in the country. It was the site where former prime minister Boris Johnson and his partner Carrie married in 2021. Two schools — St Vincent's Primary and Westminster Cathedral Choir School —are also located within the church's grounds. But the 130-year-old building has reportedly been overrun with criminals pushing a range of Class A drugs — including cocaine, heroin and spice — to vagrants for as little as £5 a hit. Reports of deals have taken place inside the cathedral itself, with one regular worshipper reporting a 'brazen' exchange that occurred during a service last week. 'There are deals going on inside the cathedral, in the pews and in the quiet side-chapels too,' a private security guard patrolling the area told the Daily Mail. 'That's simply because we have a presence on the streets now — along with Police Community Support Officers — which makes it more difficult to deal outside.' Recent data from Parliament's public accounts committee found Westminster to have the second highest homelessness rate of all the London boroughs, with more than 7,500 people of no fixed abode. Approximately 500 of those are thought to be rough sleepers a predicament often associated with drug consumption. The Diocese of Westminster has been forced to beef up security due to cases of drug-taking and anti-social behaviour, with four guards now patrolling the entrance and the surrounding area during opening hours. Parishioner Ethal Bram, 79, who attends Mass weekly, said: 'I've seen people walk in the church just aimlessly wandering. Not sure what they're doing but again I wouldn't be surprised if it was drug-related.' Clare Rewcastle, 66, who lives in a mansion block that overlooks the cathedral on Morpeth Terrace, said the drugs problem in the area 'has hit like a truck', adding that 'relevant services and authorities need to wake up'. An employee of the neighbouring St Paul's bookshop said she feels intimidated, adding: 'The quantity of homeless people around the church this year is the most I have ever seen. I often see weird behaviour and it scares me.' Rachel Blake, MP for Cities of London and Westminster, chaired a meeting of residents on July 23 and followed up with an email to constituents, in which she admitted: 'It is quite wrong that residents are having to live like this and that you should have to continue raising the matter with public bodies.' The Labour backbencher also promised to formulate an 'action plan' in consultation with Westminster City Council, the Metropolitan Police and 'local partners'. A spokesman for Westminster Cathedral said it 'takes seriously any allegation of drug dealing within its premises and urges anyone who witnesses such activity to report it immediately to our security team or the police:'. However, the cathedral remains adamant that 'our team has received no direct reports of drug-dealing inside the cathedral'.
