DETROIT – Desmond Burks is the man accused of murdering well-known Detroit neurosurgeon Devon Hoover.
His trial is set to begin on Tuesday, (Jan. 20), with jury selection.
For the loved ones of Hoover, the wait has been long—about six weeks since the last delay, but years since the tragedy.
After several postponements, jury selection is now scheduled to start on Tuesday morning.
Burks, 35, was seen waving and throwing up a peace sign after learning he would be heading to trial for Hoover’s murder.
“This was not accidental or anything to that effect. This had been plotted,” said the judge.
In April 2023, Hoover’s SUV was found abandoned.
His nude body was later discovered wrapped in carpet in the attic of his Boston Edison home.
Hoover had been shot in the head.
Prosecutors say Burks and Hoover had been in a relationship; however, the defense argues that, despite their relationship, there is no direct evidence linking Burks to Hoover’s murder.
“We are just supposed to assume that he is able to pick up a deceased body and put it and shove it into a crawlspace, wrap it in a carpet, all while this man is walking with a limp,” said the defense attorney.
The prosecution alleges motives including jealousy over a third partner and Hoover’s money.
“Did you previously indicate that he was broke as s@#$?” asked a prosecutor during testimony.
“Yes,” responded the unidentified person on the stand.
Burks was questioned as a person of interest in late April 2023 but was released in early May.
He was not arrested and charged until August 2024, over a year later.
Prosecutors say that only eight minutes after Hoover’s murder, Burks began spending the doctor’s money.
Days later, witnesses say Burks had a second cellphone, began buying jewelry, sending money to others, and showing off expensive items.
“What did he say about that watch?” asked the prosecutor.
“He said that’s big money,” the witness testified.
“Big money?” asked the prosecutor. “And was he showing it off?”
“Yeah.
“And then he said, ‘ Big money, Dez?’”
“Yeah,” a witness testified.
Before Burks was arrested and charged with Hoover’s murder, he was allegedly involved in another murder in April 2024 involving road rage.
He is scheduled to face trial for that case as well.