MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. – Evidence presented in court on Friday revealed the ex-boyfriend of Ashley Elkins searched online for a silencer for a handgun, and “murder out of rage” days before she disappeared.
Deandre Booker was charged with premeditated murder, tampering with evidence, disinterment of a body and concealing the death of an individual in connection with the murder of Elkins.
The Macomb County mother of two was last seen Jan. 2, 2025, when officials said her cellphone placed her at an apartment in Roseville belonging to Booker, her ex-boyfriend.
Booker, 32, was taken into custody days later in Flint.
He was initially charged with lying to police on Jan. 9, 2025. Prosecutors pointed to his recent search history as evidence that he planned to run.
Previous evidence revealed he reportedly searched for the fastest routes from Flint to Ohio, what to do on the run, if blood is traceable, how to beat a polygraph, and how to delete Google search history.
He was later charged with murder on Jan. 31 after investigators analyzed the DNA tests from the dumpster at the apartment.
Booker appeared in court for his preliminary hearing on Aug. 1. During a preliminary hearing, a judge will determine if there is enough evidence presented in court by the prosecutor’s office to send the case to trial.
The hearing continued for days, including Aug. 8, 2025.
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Google searches
Detective Chris Moran testified on Friday, saying he found Google searches on Booker’s phone that appear connected to the murder case.
Here are the Google searches Moran found and the prosecutor revealed in court on Aug. 8:
- Searched on Dec. 22, 2024: “telling god i want to kill someone [sic]”
- Searched on Dec. 29, 2024: “9mm silencer roseville [sic]”
- Searched on Dec. 29, 2024: “9mm silencer roseville mi [sic]”
- Searched on Dec. 29, 2024: “9mm silencer roseville michigan [sic]”
- Searched on Dec. 29, 2024: “murder out of rage ex [sic]”
- Searched on Jan. 2, 2025: “shoot gun threw pillow [sic]”
- Searched on Jan. 2, 2025: “shotgun throw pillow [sic]”
- Searched on Jan. 2, 2025: “Can you track location when phone is off [sic]”
- Searched on Jan. 5, 2025: “What happened to trash after its picked up [sic]”
The prosecutor asked Moran why he gathered these particular searches for evidence. Moran replied, “Based on the information we had on what could’ve happened at the time, these appeared the most relevant.”
The detective said he found blood in the dumpster at Booker’s apartment, leading him to believe the last Google search presented is relevant to the case because “if he had placed the victim in the dumpster, he would definitely be very concerned as to where the trash would go with the body.”
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