On Wednesday, authorities in Detroit announced an arrest in the homicide of Devon Hoover, a 57-year-old neurosurgeon who was shot in April 2023.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy stated that Desmond Burks, 34, has been charged with first-degree premeditated murder, felony murder, theft exceeding $20,000, using a computer to commit a crime, and possession of a firearm during a felony related to Hoover’s death.
“This extensive investigation took over a year and involved collaboration between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies across five states and three countries, yielding significant documents and evidence,” Worthy noted.
According to Worthy, Burks and Hoover were involved in an intimate relationship, with Burks occasionally charging Hoover for their encounters.
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According to Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, Desmond Burks, 34, is facing charges including first-degree premeditated murder and felony murder. (Michigan State Police)
Cellphone records reportedly indicate that Hoover’s phone was moving between his upscale mansion in Detroit’s historic Boston-Edison neighborhood and Burks’ residence in Grandale, located about 15 minutes away, on the day before his death.
The investigation encompassed multiple states including Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Texas, and California, and spanned international borders involving the U.S., England, and France, according to Worthy.
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On April 22, a Sunday, police received a report of a white Range Rover obstructing a driveway on Coyle Street in Detroit’s Grandale neighborhood, which was found to contain blood. The vehicle was seized as evidence.
Detroit Police reported an arrest in the tragic shooting incident involving Dr. Devon Hoover. (Sheryl Gibbs Leaver/ WJBK)
Subsequently, authorities confirmed that Hoover owned the Range Rover and traveled to his West Boston Boulevard residence, located approximately 15 minutes from Grandale. Police observed that both the front and rear gates of Hoover’s driveway were “wide open,” yet no one was inside.
On April 23, Hoover’s family contacted 911 to request a welfare check as he had missed a visit to his ailing mother in Indiana. Additional evidence uncovered what looked to be blood at the rear entrance of Hoover’s home, prompting police to force their way inside, where Hoover was found deceased.
DETROIT NEUROSURGEON DISCOVERED DEAD IN HIS HOME, DESCRIBED AS AN ‘EXCEPTIONAL DOCTOR’ BY FORMER PATIENTS
The Detroit Police Department is looking into the homicide of Hoover, which appears to involve a domestic situation. (WJBK)
“Dr. Devon Hoover was located deceased in the attic’s crawlspace. He was found face down, wearing only socks and wrapped in a bloodstained carpet. It appeared he had suffered gunshots to the head,” Worthy said, noting that the medical examiner confirmed he died from two gunshot wounds to the head.
“He was found with only socks on, wrapped in a bloodstained carpet.”
Shortly after his death, investigators noted that numerous personal items belonging to the doctor were missing, including his cellphone, wallet, cash, credit cards, and luxury watches. Fraudulent transactions were recorded on his accounts in the days following his death.
Dr. Devon Hoover, 53, was discovered deceased within his residence. (WJBK)
Burks’ fingerprint was later identified on Hoover’s Range Rover, and some of the neurosurgeon’s Cartier watches were recovered from Burks’ home.
Prior to the murder of Hoover, Burks faced charges related to a road rage incident that resulted in the death of a 67-year-old Dearborn man on April 17. However, Worthy indicated that these cases are not connected.
DETROIT NEUROSURGEON MURDERED IN HIS HOME: REPORT
In April 2023, police apprehended a person of interest regarding Hoover’s death on an unrelated matter; Detroit Police Chief James White expressed confidence that this individual may have critical information related to the doctor’s murder.
DETROIT NEUROSURGEON MURDERED IN HIS HOME: REPORT
“I’m optimistic that this person, currently in custody on an unrelated charge, will be able to provide us with valuable insights regarding what transpired,” White stated.
Hoover’s beginnings on the family dairy farm involved tasks such as milking cows and crop cultivation, and he decided early on to pursue a career in medicine. According to his obituary, he had practiced for 27 years as a board-certified neurosurgeon, focusing on neck and back disorders.
