DETROIT – Jury selection began Tuesday in the case against Desmond Burks, the man accused of killing prominent Detroit neurosurgeon Dr. Devon Hoover.
Desmond Burks, 35, seen wearing a navy sweater and glasses Tuesday, is accused of murdering Hoover, 53, in April 2023 -- a case prosecutors said was carefully planned and driven by jealousy and money.
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Before about 120 potential jurors filled Judge Paul J. Cusick’s Wayne County Third Circuit Courtroom, two potential jurors were almost immediately dismissed.
“I was exiting courtroom 306 heading to the elevator… and one of the jurors pulled me aside,” said a court clerk.
The clerk said they were alerted that another juror identified themselves, allegedly telling another juror that, “He just filled out a questionnaire in which a doctor had been murdered.”
“I said I was on a high-profile case,” the juror later told the judge. “I didn’t say that anybody was … murdered.”
Judge: “You’re going to be released, OK?”
Juror: “Yes, your honor. I’m sorry.”
Judge: “Don’t discuss anything that’s been said, don’t disclose in any way your short service as a potential juror, and all my instructions still apply.
A police officer believed to be familiar with the defense, which includes attorneys Gabi Silver and Sarah Krause, was also abruptly dismissed.
While addressing the packed courtroom, Cusick again reminded the more than 100 potential jurors, who had each been given a questionnaire to expedite the juror selection process, to not review anything in the media, to not discuss the case with each other or anyone else, and to “not read anything about the case.”
“This is … what we would call a high-profile case where there has been some media attention,” Cusick said. “Both the prosecution and the defense have agreed on a questionnaire.
“These are not suggestions. These are court orders that apply to everyone here.”
The potential jurors will receive a call if they are not scheduled to return. The trial and selection are set to continue at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.
To get caught up on the case, you can read the full timeline below.
Disappearance and discovery
April 22, 2023: A white Range Rover registered to Hoover was found blocking a driveway on Coyle Street in Detroit. Officers noted blood inside the vehicle. Hoover’s family also requested a welfare check after he never showed up in Indiana to visit his dying mother.
April 23, 2023: Police returned to Hoover’s Boston-Edison neighborhood home and discovered his nude body face-down in an attic crawl space, wrapped in a blood-soaked carpet. Hoover, a neurosurgeon at Ascension in Detroit, had been shot twice in the back of the head, according to an autopsy.
Hoover’s cellphone, wallet, cash, credit cards and at least one watch were missing from the home. Investigators later identified numerous fraudulent transactions beginning almost immediately after his death.
Person of interest questioned, released
April 28, 2023: Less than a week after Hoover was killed, a person of interest was questioned by police. The prosecutor didn’t identify the person at the time but later confirmed that the person being questioned was Burks.
He was released from police custody on May 2, 2023. Burks still hadn’t been identified or charged at this point in the case, but the prosecutor later said their investigation had focused on him.
While Burks was being held, a break-in happened at Hoover’s home overnight from April 29 to April 30. Police did not reveal if items were taken during this break-in and haven’t released any other information about it.
Hoover’s funeral
April 30, 2023: Hoover’s funeral was held at 1 p.m. – just hours after the break-in at his home happened.
Separate road rage case
April 17, 2024: Nearly a year after Hoover was found dead in his Detroit home, Burks was allegedly involved in an unrelated road rage attack.
The attack happened around 6:45 p.m. on April 17, 2024, at the intersection of West Chicago Street and Greenfield Road in Detroit. Police said Reda Saleh, 67, of Dearborn, bumped into the back of Burks’ car. After that, the two men got out of their cars and started to argue.
Burks then allegedly punched Saleh and left him lying in the street. Police found Saleh unresponsive with a serious head injury. He was taken to a local hospital but died from his injuries on May 11, 2024.
Desmond Burks charged with Hoover’s murder
Aug. 8, 2024: Following an investigation by the Detroit Police Department, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office charged Desmond Burks with First-Degree Premeditated Murder, Felony Murder, Larceny of $20,000+, Using a Computer to Commit a Crime, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and three counts of Felony Firearm.
Burks deemed competent
March 2025: Burks was found competent to stand trial. Prosecutor Kym Worthy said the investigation into Hoover’s murder spanned five U.S. states and three countries and involved more than 300 pieces of evidence.
Preliminary exam: Days before and after the killing
June 21-26 2025: During the preliminary exam in June of 2025, the judge informed the media not to identify witnesses because “lives are at stake,” and threats had been made on both sides.
Prosecutors said Hoover and Burks had been in an intimate relationship and said the motive appeared to have been jealousy over a third person along with Hoover’s wealth. Witnesses described Burks as struggling financially, testifying that Burks sold drugs and “sold himself” to make money.
Witness: “[Burks] was a hustler.”
Prosecutor: “Did you previously indicate that he was broke as sh*t?”
Witness: “Yes.”
One witness testified: “I observed them having intercourse.”
Evidence tied to Hoover’s belongings
Two witnesses identified Burks on video parking Hoover’s SUV and walking away from it. One testified the vehicle was left just around the block from where Burks had been living.
Prosecutors argued that cellphone records placed Hoover’s phone near Burks’ home and later at Fairlane Mall on the day of the murder. They showed surveillance footage of who they say was Burks parking Hoover’s Range Rover where it was later discovered. A fingerprint allegedly linked Burks to the interior of Hoover’s SUV.
Witnesses testified Burks was seen wearing Hoover’s watch after the murder and bragging about it:
Prosecutor: “What did he say about that watch?
Witness: “He said that’s big money.”
Prosecutor: “Big money? And was he showing it off?
Witness: “Yeah.”
Prosecutors said two Cartier watches belonging to Hoover — one purchased just two days before he was killed — were later found in homes connected to Burks, with serial numbers matching Hoover’s purchases. Burks was also allegedly seen wearing one of them while in police custody.
Attempts to conceal evidence?
Prosecutor: “Did you ever hear him speak of a gun?
Witness: “Yes, he said he needed to get rid of one.”
One witness testified that Burks discarded a firearm into a river right in front of them.
“He takes the gun that’s wrapped in the plastic bag, finds the deepest part of the rouge river and tosses it in,” the witness said.
A witness also testified that Burks asked them to dispose of a backpack after his arrest. Inside, they said they found toothpaste, clothes, a gun, a box with Dr. Hoover’s name and “surgical goggles.”
Other testimony included accusations that Burks had been looking for a “chop shop” after Hoover’s murder.
Motive and spending
Prosecutors said eight minutes after Hoover’s murder, Burks began spending the doctor’s money, ultimately at least $21,000. Days after the killing, witnesses said Burks suddenly had a second cellphone, was buying jewelry at Fairlane Mall, sending others money, and flashing expensive items.
Prosecutor: “So, he told you that the deceased person sent you money as well?
Witness: “Yes.”
Another witness testified Burks admitted knowing Hoover, used a homophobic slur to describe him, and used Hoover’s stolen credit card:
Prosecutor: “And what did he want you to do with it?”
Witness: “Buy myself something nice.”
Court ruling
June 2025: Following the four-day preliminary examination, 36th District Court Judge Shawn K. Jacque determined there was enough evidence to send Burks to trial on all counts. Burks was also bound over in his other second-degree murder road rage case.
During the preliminary exam involving Hoover, Judge Jacque rejected defense arguments that there was no direct evidence tying Burks to Hoover’s murder.
“We are just supposed to assume that he is able to pick up a deceased body and put it --shove it into a crawlspace, wrap it in a carpet, all while this man is walking with a limp,” the defense said at one point.
“This was not accidental or anything to that effect,” said Judge Jacque. “This had been plotted.”
The trial is expected to last six weeks.