Wayne County prosecutors over three days this week painted a picture of Desmond Burks’ life before the 2023 killing of Detroit neurosurgeon Devon Hoover, the man they say Burks shot twice in the head in the doctor’s Boston-Edison Historic District mansion, then stole over $95,000 in cash and valuables.
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 — aside from selling pills and charging people for sex — 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 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.
This is all according to testimony in 36th District Court from those lovers during Burks’ preliminary examination, which began June 23. Things changed for Burks after Hoover was murdered, though, prosecutors allege…