Desmond Burks — the man prosecutors say shot prominent Detroit neurosurgeon Devon Hoover twice in the head in the doctor’s Boston-Edison Historic District mansion in April 2023 before stealing over $95,000 in cash and valuables — pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the killing, halting what was projected to be a six-week, high-profile trial.
He had previously been charged with first-degree murder. Before entering his guilty plea on Wednesday, Jan. 21, Burks sat in court for the second day of jury selection, slouching in his seat. He avoided prosecutors rehashing — and diving deeper — into the evidence against him in what authorities alleged was a killing driven by jealousy:
First, he envied Hoover’s wealth. Burks had no money, no job — aside from selling pills and charging people for sex — and leeched off of several lovers, including Hoover, whom he would also charge for sex, authorities said. Hoover lived in a mansion and had two Cartier watches, among other luxuries.
Second, Burks was jealous that the doctor invited another man he had picked up at Palmer Park to watch him and Burks have sex, Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor Mike Glynne previously argued during Burks’ preliminary examination in June, where a judge ruled there was enough evidence to proceed to trial.
Gabi Silver, Burks’ attorney, did not respond to requests for comment.
Wayne County prosecutors had painted a picture of Burks’ life before and after the 2023 killing.
Burks had several lovers, prosecutors said, including Hoover, many of whom Burks met online where people look for sexual encounters. And because Burks didn’t have a job or even a credit card, they’d give him money and they bought him food, clothes, phones and paid his bills. They’d give him rides, and provide him with rental cars and hotel rooms. One of the lovers did his taxes. That same lover helped Burks hide a 9mm gun and surgical glasses with Hoover’s name inscribed on them.
After Hoover’s body was found on April 23, 2023 — facedown, wearing only socks, wrapped in a blood-soaked carpet in the crawl space of his Detroit mansion, and his phone, credit cards, two Cartier watches and his white Range Rover all missing — Burks’ suddenly looked polished, according to one of his lovers. He had Cartier eyewear widely known in Detroit as “buffs,” witnesses testified, and called himself “Big Money Des” after another lover pointed out a fancy silver watch on his wrist, which prosecutors alleged was one of Hoover’s stolen Cartier watches later found in Burks’ home.
This was all according to testimony in court from those lovers, who the Free Press can’t name per a judge’s ruling. The lovers were granted immunity for their testimony.
Only eight minutes after Hoover was killed, Burks was seen in video footage parking Hoover’s Range Rover near his own and began transferring money to himself from the neurosurgeon’s bank account, Glynne said. About an hour after the killing, footage shows him spreading a wad of cash at a jewelry store at Fairlane Mall in Dearborn, where he bought diamond earrings and a pendant, Glynne added.
And before Hoover’s body was even discovered, Burks deleted all texts between himself and Hoover, Glynne had said. He had one of his lovers buy him a hotel room in Dearborn, and another lover help him change his phone number, according to testimony. Phone records show Hoover’s phone was in the same area as Burks during that same time.
Burks faces up to life in prison for Hoover’s death.
Burks was previously charged with second-degree murder in an unrelated case after he allegedly punched Reda Saleh, 67, of Dearborn, during a road range incident on April 17, 2025, at West Chicago Street and Greenfield Road in Detroit and left him lying on the ground, unresponsive.
In court on Jan. 21, Burks also pleaded guilty to manslaughter in that case.
Burks will be back in court for sentencing on Feb. 20.
Andrea Sahouri covers criminal justice for the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at asahouri@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Desmond Burks pleads guilty in Detroit neurosurgeon Devon Hoover’s death
Reporting by Andrea May Sahouri, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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