Latest news with #DesmondBurks


CBS News
2 days ago
- CBS News
Trial date set for Detroit man charged in murder of prominent neurosurgeon
A trial date has been set for a Detroit man charged in the murder of prominent Detroit neurosurgeon Dr. Devon Hoover. Desmond Burks, 34, appeared in court Thursday for a formal arraignment after being bound over for trial last week. Burks will head to trial on Jan. 5, 2026. Burks is charged with first-degree premeditated murder, felony murder, larceny of over $20,000, using a computer to commit a crime, possession of a firearm by a felon, and three counts of felony firearm second offense. Hoover was found shot in the head and wrapped in a blanket in the attic of his Boston-Edison neighborhood home on April 23, 2023, after police conducted a wellness check at the residence. An autopsy in May 2023 revealed Hoover was shot twice in the back of the head. Burks was identified as a person of interest early in the investigation and was charged in August 2024. Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said the investigation was complicated because many witnesses were reluctant to come forward with sensitive and personal information. Following Hoover's murder, Wayne County prosecutors say fraudulent transactions were reportedly made using the doctor's various bank accounts, and more than $30,000 was stolen from his accounts, as well as a Range Rover and two watches valued at $13,500. Authorities say Burks was seen on surveillance footage driving Hoover's Range Rover in the days following the doctor's murder. Prosecutors allege that text messages between Burks and Hoover established that the two were in an intimate relationship. Brian Douglas, a longtime friend of Hoover's, has attended nearly every one of Burks' court appearances, including Thursday's arraignment. He says Hoover's family and friends are finally one step closer to getting justice. "I was devastated when I heard. I was devastated because we almost reconnected, and we didn't," Douglas said. "When I saw who was victimized, and I heard who that person was, and I realized that person didn't deserve that, there was nothing else I could do but show up." Douglas says that after more than two years since his friend's murder, he still questions why such a good human being was taken away. "The point of it is, he should still be here," Douglas said. "He was murdered. He shouldn't have been murdered."


CBS News
26-06-2025
- CBS News
Detroit man charged in murder of prominent neurosurgeon headed to trial
Cellphone data revealed on Day 3 of preliminary hearing in murder of Detroit doctor Cellphone data revealed on Day 3 of preliminary hearing in murder of Detroit doctor Cellphone data revealed on Day 3 of preliminary hearing in murder of Detroit doctor A Detroit man charged with the murder of prominent Detroit neurosurgeon Dr. Devon Hoover will stand trial. Desmond Burks, 34, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder, felony murder, larceny of over $20,000, using a computer to commit a crime, possession of a firearm by a felon and three counts of felony firearm second offense. Wayne County prosecutors spent four days presenting evidence during a preliminary hearing before 36th District Court Judge Shawn Jacque. The judge ruled early Thursday afternoon that Burks would be bound over for trial. Hoover was found dead in the attic of his home in the 100 block of West Boston Boulevard in Detroit's Boston-Edison neighborhood on April 23, 2023, after police were called for a wellness check. A May 2023 autopsy revealed Hoover was shot twice in the back of the head. Prosecutors say the text messages between Burks and Hoover established that the two were in an intimate relationship. After Hoover's murder, prosecutors say fraudulent transactions were reportedly made using his various bank accounts, and more than $30,000 was stolen from Hoover's accounts, as well as a Range Rover and two watches valued at $13,500. Burks was charged in August 2024. At the time, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said the investigation was complicated because many witnesses were reluctant to come forward with sensitive and personal information. Prosecutors said investigators collected 300 pieces of evidence, 134 search warrants were served and 40 cellphones were examined. The investigation involved five states and three countries.


CBS News
23-06-2025
- CBS News
Hearing for suspect accused of killing Detroit Dr. Devon Hoover begins
It's been more than two years since neurosurgeon Dr. Devon Hoover was found dead in the attic of his home in Detroit's Boston-Edison neighborhood. Now, we're learning more about the evidence gathered in the case against the suspect, Desmond Burks. Pictured is Desmond Burks, the man accused of shooting Detroit Doctor Devon Hoover twice in the head and killing him at his home in April 2023. CBS Detroit On Monday, Burks was in court for Day 1 of his preliminary exam. It was a packed courtroom with Hoover's family in the crowd sitting across a cuffed Desmond Bur, who is accused of shooting Hoover twice in the head, killing him at his home in April 2023. Prosecutors believe he and Hoover had an intimate relationship, with Burks occasionally charging Hoover for sexual services. The preliminary exam is expected to take several days as prosecutors present massive amounts of evidence in the case. On Monday, we heard from two witnesses. Pictured is Dr. Devon Hoover. CBS Detroit The first witness was a Detroit police officer who testified that on April 22, 2023, he was sent to check on a vehicle after a woman placed a 911 call. He says that the vehicle was a white Range Rover. "I walked up to the vehicle, observed blood on the driver's seat, back seat, on the steering wheel of the vehicle," said the officer. When asked what he did after seeing the blood, the officer said, "I scouted from the third precinct to do a welfare check of the location of the registered owner." The officer was then questioned by Burks's defense team. "You are not able to tell us if that blood, for example, was dry or wet. Would that be accurate?" asked the defense attorney. "That's accurate," the officer said. Body camera footage was shown in court of that welfare check when Hoover's body was found in the attic of his home with two gunshot wounds to his head. An image of a video show to a family member of the defendant who was asked to identify the man shown walking away from a white SUV. CBS Detroit The second witness to take the stand was a family member of Burks who was asked to identify the man shown in a video. "What was unusual about the way he walked?" asked the prosecutor. "He had a limp because he got shot," the family member said. "After looking at the video, were you able to determine or recognize the way the subject was walking in the video?" asked the prosecutor. "Yes," said the family member. More witnesses are expected to take the stand all week. CBS News Detroit will not be allowed to livestream the proceedings.