DETROIT (WWJ) -- The man charged in the slaying of prominent Detroit neurosurgeon Dr. Devon Hoover has entered a guilty plea, ending his murder trial before it really began.
The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office announced that Desmond Burks, on the second day of jury selection on Wednesday, decided to accept a plea deal, pleading guilty to a charge of Second-Degree Murder.
He also pleaded guilty to Larceny of $20,000 or more, Using a Computer to Commit a Crime, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and Felony Firearm.
The prosecutor's office said Burks has a sentence agreement stating that he will serve 35 to 60 years in the Michigan Department of Corrections, with a five-year consecutive sentence for the weapons charge.
Burks' attorney, Gabby Silver, spoke with reporters about Burks' decision to plead.
"So, Mr. Burks was facing a mandatory 25 years, because he was charged as violent habitual fourth offender," Silver said. "This was a mid-guideline range sentence on Murder Two. So, given that he would have had to do 25 years under any circumstance, you know, we thought that this was a good offer."
Hoover, who worked at Ascension Healthcare at St. John Hospital, was discovered dead in the attic of his home — a historic mansion in the city's Boston-Edison District — on April 23, 2023. Officials said the deceased 53-year-old was "facedown, wearing only socks, wrapped in a blood-soaked carpet."
An autopsy concluded that Dr. Hoover had been shot twice in the back of the head.
Further investigation found that Hoover's cell phone, wallet, cash, credit cards, and designer watches were missing.
According to witnesses in the case, Burks and Hoover were lovers, and Hoover paid Burks for sex.
As for what evidence prosecutors had against Burks, WWJ Legal Analyst Charlie Langton said a large number of text messages between the two were expected be a major piece of the case.
Silver said this was a "circumstantial case," and that there was "no direct evidence" that her client killed the doctor.
"And we were prepared to do our job (if the trial had moved forward)," Silver said. "But ultimately today, Mr. Burks decided to take the plea, and that's where we ended up."
Burks also pleaded guilty to separate charge of manslaughter, for fatally punching a man during a road rage incident in April of 2024, a year after Hoover's murder.
In that case, Burks was charged with second degree murder, after he allegedly hit a Dearborn man who rear-ended his car on April 17. at Greenfield and West Chicago in Detroit.
Authorities said both men got out of their vehicle after the crash and argued before Burks punched 67-year old Reda Saleh, who fell and hit his head. Saleh was taken to a hospital where he died,
In total, Burks stands to server a minimum of 40 years behind bars.