Missing Hairstylist's Ex Believed to Be on Video Lifting Heavy Object — With Possible Arm Sticking Out — Into Dumpster
NEED TO KNOW
Ashley Elkins, 30, disappeared from her Michigan home after running out for errands on Jan. 2
Her ex-boyfriend Deandre Booker has been charged with murder, among other offenses, in connection with her death
Elkins' body was never found
The ex-boyfriend of Michigan mom Ashley Elkins, who disappeared in January, is believed to be the man seen in security camera footage pushing a cart that appeared to have an arm hanging from it, per local police.
Deandre Booker, 33, was charged with first-degree murder in connection with Elkins' disappearance from her Warren, Mich., home where she was last seen on Jan. 2, PEOPLE previously reported.
Her disappearance came to light after her family carried out an extensive campaign to have police investigate it.
Authorities initially arrested Booker in nearby Roseville, Mich., on charge of lying to an officer, before he was charged with murder in late January, the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office previously confirmed to PEOPLE.
While searching Booker's home during their investigation, Roseville police claim to have recovered items from the residence indicating Elkins was the victim of a "crime of violence," Warren Police Department Lt. John Gajewski told PEOPLE at the time.
Her disappearance led to an extensive search, but no trace of Elkins was never found.
During a preliminary examination that began last week, Roseville Detective Chris Moran testified in court that they recovered security footage showing a man, believed to be Booker, pushing a cart towards a dumpster, WDIV Local 4 and The Detroit News reported.
Moran testified the cart contained something covered in a white sheet, which the man appeared to be struggling to lift into the dumpster.
He further testified that he saw what seemed to be an arm hanging off from the cart, per The Detroit News.
When questioned by Booker's lawyer, Roseville Police Detective Patrick Taylor testified that while it was not clear in the video who the man was, he appeared to have similarities with Booker's clothing from earlier that day: a dark coat with a fur hood, black pants with holes in them, a black hat and black shoes with white bottoms, the outlet reported.
Taylor also testified, according to The Detroit News, that during their search of Booker's home, they found clothes similar to those worn by the man in the video. The dark fur coat in the home including a faded area that appeared to show dried blood.
Authorities began investigating Booker in January after Elkins' family tracked her phone to Booker's home, her family previously told PEOPLE. Days before Elkins disappeared, on New Years Eve, Booker allegedly showed up to Elkins' home salon under a fake name, her sister said at the time. Elkins hid from Booker until he left.
Two days later, she disappeared, leaving behind two young sons.Booker was charged with first-degree murder, tampering with evidence, disinterment and mutilation and concealing a death. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
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