Murder Suspect Desmond Burks Arraigned in Devon Hoover Case

Famed Detroit neurosurgeon murdered in 2023

Published: August 8, 2024 | Last Updated: August 8, 2024

After months of meticulous investigation, a man has been charged with the murder of Dr. Devon Hoover, a renowned neurosurgeon from Detroit. The arrest marks a significant development in a case that has spanned multiple states and countries, drawing widespread attention.

Dr. Hoover, 53, was found dead in his Boston Edison home on April 23, 2023. His body was discovered in the attic, wrapped in a bloody carpet, with two gunshot wounds to the head. The grim discovery was made a day after his Range Rover was found parked outside another home in Detroit. Police initially visited Hoover’s residence when the vehicle was found but left when no one answered the door. They returned the following day, after his family requested a welfare check, concerned that he had missed a planned trip to visit his dying mother in Indiana.

The murder of Dr. Hoover sent shockwaves through the community and led to an extensive investigation. After more than a year of painstaking work, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy announced charges against 34-year-old Desmond Burks, a Detroit resident, and Burks was arraigned in Wayne County on Aug. 8.

Worthy said in a press conference on Aug. 7 that Burks faces multiple serious charges, including first-degree premeditated murder, felony murder, larceny over $20,000, possession of a firearm by a felon, and three counts of felony firearm. The investigation into Dr. Hoover's murder was massive, covering five states — Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Texas and California — and even extending to three countries: the United States, France and England. However, the exact connections to these other locations remain undisclosed.

Worthy revealed that Dr. Hoover had engaged in approximately 4,000 communications with a phone number linked to Burks. These text messages provided critical evidence, establishing that Hoover and Burks were involved in an intimate relationship. According to Worthy, Burks occasionally charged Dr. Hoover for sexual services. The nature of their relationship made some witnesses hesitant to come forward, she added, complicating the investigation.

Despite the challenges, the investigation eventually uncovered substantial evidence linking Burks to the crime. Worthy highlighted that the case involved interviews with nearly 90 witnesses, the collection of over 300 pieces of evidence, 134 search warrants and hours of video footage from security cameras and police body cameras. More than 70 law enforcement officers were involved in cracking the case, demonstrating the scale and complexity of the investigation.

Interestingly, Burks is also facing separate murder charges for an unrelated incident in April 2024, involving the death of a 67-year-old Dearborn man, Reda Saleh, during a road rage altercation. Worthy emphasized that this second case is not connected to Dr. Hoover's murder.

Although the prosecutor did not delve deeply into the motive behind Dr. Hoover's murder, she did note that Hoover’s designer watches and credit cards were missing after the crime. The stolen credit cards were later used for fraudulent purchases.

Burks, who has a prior criminal record including convictions for arson and felony firearm possession, is currently being held in the Wayne County Jail on a $1 million bond.

In the wake of these developments, Dr. Hoover’s family expressed relief at the progress in the case, thanking the Detroit Police Department for their dedication and teamwork. In a statement, the family reflected on their loss, describing Dr. Hoover as an exceptional man who touched many lives with his kindness and generosity. They acknowledged that while the charges bring some measure of relief, nothing can reverse the tragic loss they have suffered.