DETROIT, MI — A trial date has been set for Desmond Burks, the 34-year-old Detroit man accused in the murder of renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Devon Hoover. Burks will stand trial on January 5, 2026, following a formal arraignment held Thursday.
Burks faces several serious charges, including:
First-degree premeditated murder
Felony murder
Larceny over $20,000
Using a computer to commit a crime
Felon in possession of a firearm
Three counts of felony firearm – second offense
Dr. Hoover, 53, was found shot twice in the back of the head and wrapped in a blanket in the attic of his Boston-Edison neighborhood home on April 23, 2023. His body was discovered after a wellness check prompted concern from family and friends.
Investigators identified Burks early in the investigation. He was officially charged in August 2024. According to Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, the case was especially challenging due to the reluctance of several witnesses to share “sensitive and personal” details.
Following the murder, more than $30,000 was stolen from Hoover’s bank accounts. Prosecutors also say a Range Rover and two watches worth $13,500 were taken. Surveillance footage later showed Burks allegedly driving Hoover’s vehicle.
Authorities also cited text messages between Burks and Hoover that suggest the two had an intimate relationship.
Brian Douglas, a longtime friend of Dr. Hoover, has been attending nearly all of Burks’ court appearances. “He was murdered. He shouldn’t have been murdered,” Douglas said after Thursday’s arraignment. “He should still be here.”
Douglas said he was devastated by the news of Hoover’s death and still struggles to understand why someone so kind and accomplished was taken so violently.
“I was devastated because we almost reconnected, and we didn’t,” he said. “There was nothing else I could do but show up.”
While the murder trial is still months away, Hoover’s family and friends hope it will bring them closer to justice and closure.
