DETROIT (WWJ) -- A competency evaluation has been ordered for a man accused of killing a well-known Detroit neurosurgeon and stuffing his body in an attic crawl-space.
Desmond Burks, 34, is facing first-degree murder, larceny and firearms charges in the death of the Dr. Devon Hoover, whose body was discovered in his mansion in the upscale Boston-Edison district, in April of last year.
During a brief virtual hearing in 36th District Court, Judge Kenneth King asked Burks' attorney, Gabi Silver, why a second psychiatric evaluation was needed, when he recently underwent one for a separate case.
"Because there's still an issue, as I believe, as to competency," Silver said. "And I don't think I we can legally use the original competency report in this case."
Burks is also facing charges related to a road rage incident in which he allegedly punched and killed the other driver.
Hoover, who worked at Ascension Healthcare at St. John Hospital, found dead in the attic of his home — one of the city's most beautiful mansions — 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 Hoover had been shot twice in the back of the head.
Further investigation found that Hoover's cell phone, wallet, money, credit cards and designer watches were missing from the home, according to prosecutors.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy's office said Hoover’s cell phone records revealed that he had thousands or communications with Burks. Worthy said it's clear that the two men were involved in an intimate relationship, and that Burks would at times charge Hoover for sexual services.
Following Thursday morning's hearing, WWJ asked our legal analyst, Charlie Langton about the amount of evidence prosecutors have against Burks.
"We haven't seen the evidence; we don't really know," Langton said. "Remember, this incident happened, the murder, a year-and-a-half ago. And it was just maybe a week or two ago that Burks was actually arrested. So, a lot of time has passed. But, as Kym Worthy said, there's just so much evidence that they went through, that the police went through, to bring the case to the prosecutor's office."
"So, we have to wait and see what kind of evidence there is, how it's going to be presented," Langton said. "But, my sense though is there's going to be a lot of forensic evidence — blood evidence, etc., maybe video evidence. But it will not be so much witness evidence, but that's the case in many, many trials."
Langton there is also a lot of circumstantial evidence, but Worthy has said she is certain they have the right suspect.
Burks is next scheduled to return to court in mid-November.