Michigan Man Admits Killing Renowned Neurosurgeon, Hiding His Body in Attic After Shooting Him Twice
DETROIT, MICHIGAN — A Michigan man has pleaded guilty to murdering a well-known Detroit neurosurgeon, wrapping his body in a blood-soaked carpet, and hiding it inside an attic crawl space, before going on to kill another man roughly a year later, according to court proceedings.
Guilty Plea Details in Neurosurgeon’s Killing
Desmond Burks, 35, entered guilty pleas this week to multiple felony charges tied to the April 2023 killing of Dr. Devon Hoover, a 53-year-old neurosurgeon found dead inside his Detroit mansion. Burks pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, larceny of more than $20,000, using a computer to commit a crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to reporting from WDIV.
As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors dropped the original first-degree murder charge.
Intimate Relationship and Financial Exploitation
Kym Worthy said investigators uncovered extensive communication between Burks and Hoover prior to the killing. Authorities recovered roughly 4,000 text messages, establishing that the two men were in an intimate relationship and that Burks at times charged Hoover for sexual services.
Prosecutors said the digital evidence helped establish motive and a financial component tied to the killing.
Body Hidden in Attic of Detroit Mansion
Hoover was reported missing after he failed to return to Indiana to visit his dying mother, Lauretta Hoover, who passed away four days after his murder. A family member requested a welfare check, leading police to Hoover’s mansion in Detroit’s historic Boston-Edison neighborhood.
On April 23, 2023, officers discovered Hoover’s body face-down in an attic crawl space, wrapped in a blood-soaked carpet and wearing only socks. The medical examiner later determined Hoover had been shot twice in the head.
Stolen Property and Fraud After the Murder
Investigators said Hoover’s Range Rover was found the day before his body was discovered, abandoned several miles from his home and blocking a driveway, with blood inside the vehicle.
Authorities also determined that valuable items belonging to Hoover — including luxury watches, his wallet, and phone — were stolen. Evidence showed fraudulent bank account activity in the days following the killing.
Suspect Initially Released Before Case Progressed
Burks, a convicted arsonist released from prison in the summer of 2022, was initially detained as a person of interest in May 2023. He was later released after a prosecutorial review, according to then–Detroit Police Chief James White.
The case continued to develop as investigators analyzed digital and financial records.
Second Killing Linked to Road Rage Incident
About a year after Hoover’s death, Burks became involved in another fatal encounter. On April 17, 2024, Burks confronted 67-year-old Reda Saleh after Saleh allegedly bumped Burks’ car on a Detroit roadway.
According to WJBK, Burks punched Saleh in the head during an argument and fled the scene. Saleh was hospitalized and later pronounced dead on May 11, 2024.
Burks pleaded guilty to manslaughter in connection with Saleh’s death, after initially being charged with second-degree murder.
Life Sentence Expected at Sentencing
Burks is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 20, and prosecutors have indicated he is expected to spend the remainder of his life in prison.
Remembering Dr. Devon Hoover
An obituary for Hoover describes him as a deeply involved member of Detroit’s cultural community. He purchased his mansion in 2008, served as a board member of the Detroit Opera, and was known for hosting an annual Christmas party that became a neighborhood tradition.
“He was essentially the curator of his own museum,” the obituary reads, noting Hoover’s love for his home — the same place where his life was tragically taken.
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