(WWJ) — Deandre Booker, the ex-boyfriend of missing Warren mother Ashley Elkins, is facing more charges, including first-degree murder and mutilation of a dead body.
Booker, 32, was arraigned Friday in Roseville District Court and denied bond. A not guilty plea was entered on his behalf. He was ordered to return to court virtually next week for a preliminary hearing.
Elkins, a mother of two young boys, was last seen on Thursday, Jan. 2 when she left her home to run errands. While her body has not been found, Booker was arrested and charged with lying to police during the investigation.
Nearly a month after her disappearance, he now faces four additional charges: first-degree premeditated murder, tampering with evidence, disinterment and mutilation of a dead body and concealing the death of an individual.
In testimony during Friday’s arraignment, Roseville police detective Sgt. Anthony Carasi said investigators believe they found the crime scene of the murder at Booker’s apartment.
“We conducted a search warrant and ultimately found what we believe to be a large crime scene with a substantial amount of blood in the bathroom,” he said.
Carasi said DNA tests confirmed the blood in the bathroom matched that of Elkins.
Maurice Morton, Elkins' uncle and the family's attorney, said the family is happy charges have finally been filed.
"This does not bring complete closure, but we know that this is the journey to justice. So this is where it starts. And that's what the family wants. We want justice in this case," Morton said.
Roseville police and about a dozen other local police agencies searched the Pine Tree Acres Landfill the week of Jan. 13-19. After a third day of searching, Roseville Police Chief Mitch Berlin told reporters that crews had found some items of interest within a 6.5-acre parcel of the landfill they were focused on, but her body was not found.
Authorities called off the search efforts after a full week of combing through the landfill.
Police officials previously said the investigation revealed that Elkins' phone last pinged near the Hampton Court Apartments in Roseville, where Booker lives, leading to a search of Booker's home a week prior to the landfill search.
That same day police recovered Elkins' car in the area of 13 Mile and Little Mack. Authorities also seized a trash dumpster from Booker’s apartment complex.
While Elkins' family members say she was in a relationship with Booker that ended last September, an exact motive in the case remains unclear.
Speaking at a press conference following Friday's arraignment, Morton said cases such as Elkins' should be taken more seriously by society.
"Just as there's an AMBER Alert, we're saying there should be an 'Ashley Alert' -- when a young woman goes missing and there's reason to believe she's in harm's way, there should be more done," Morton said. :But as it relates to what's been done by Roseville police and what's been done since that point, nothing but accolades."
Dozens of community members gathered last weekend for a vigil to honor Elkins.
An online fundraiser has since been launched to help Elkins' two young sons.
The message on the GoFundMe page reads: "Ashley LaShay Elkins had big dreams for herself and her two young sons. Tragically, those dreams were cut short on January 2, 2025. Now, at just 10 and 7, her boys face not only the loss of their beloved mother, but also uncertainty about their care and their future. We are committed to ensuring they are well cared for and have the support and resources they need to keep dreaming and achieve the future their mother envisioned for them."
Those who wish to help can make a donation at this link.