Prominent Detroit Neurosurgeon Murdered, Killer Pleads Guilty in Rare Mid-Trial Deal
The investigation into the murder of Dr. Devon Hoover, a prominent neurosurgeon from Detroit, has reached its conclusion with the guilty plea of 35-year-old Desmond Burks. The unexpected move came just two days into jury selection, cutting short proceedings that were expected to last several weeks.
Dr. Hoover's body was found on April 23, 2023, inside his home after a police welfare check revealed an open rear driveway gate and blood on the back door. The Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office determined he had been shot twice in the back of the head. An extensive investigation spanning multiple states and countries eventually led to Burks' arrest and charges.
Burks initially faced first-degree murder charges, but agreed to a plea deal that dropped the count as part of his guilty plea. Under the agreement, he faces 35-60 years in prison for the murder conviction, plus an additional five years on a weapons charge. Sentencing is scheduled for February 20.
The decision to plead guilty came as a surprise to Burks' defense attorney and lawyers involved in the case, who had expected the trial to proceed. However, prosecutors have stated that the plea deal was made with the goal of sparing Hoover's family the trauma and emotional toll associated with a lengthy trial.
"It was a bit of a surprise to all of us, but at the end of the day, it was his decision," said defense attorney Gabi Silver. "I've been in murder trials too many to count, and the victim's family – it's trauma. It's peeling back wounds."
The guilty plea brings closure to Hoover's family after a nearly three-year wait for justice. While the plea cannot undo Dr. Hoover's death, it guarantees a lengthy prison sentence and spares his loved ones from weeks of testimony about the circumstances surrounding his murder.
"This case has been very anxiety-producing," said close friend Carol Gove, who was overcome with emotion upon learning of the guilty plea. "Nothing can bring Devon back – the people that are still suffering are his would-be patients."
The investigation into the murder of Dr. Devon Hoover, a prominent neurosurgeon from Detroit, has reached its conclusion with the guilty plea of 35-year-old Desmond Burks. The unexpected move came just two days into jury selection, cutting short proceedings that were expected to last several weeks.
Dr. Hoover's body was found on April 23, 2023, inside his home after a police welfare check revealed an open rear driveway gate and blood on the back door. The Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office determined he had been shot twice in the back of the head. An extensive investigation spanning multiple states and countries eventually led to Burks' arrest and charges.
Burks initially faced first-degree murder charges, but agreed to a plea deal that dropped the count as part of his guilty plea. Under the agreement, he faces 35-60 years in prison for the murder conviction, plus an additional five years on a weapons charge. Sentencing is scheduled for February 20.
The decision to plead guilty came as a surprise to Burks' defense attorney and lawyers involved in the case, who had expected the trial to proceed. However, prosecutors have stated that the plea deal was made with the goal of sparing Hoover's family the trauma and emotional toll associated with a lengthy trial.
"It was a bit of a surprise to all of us, but at the end of the day, it was his decision," said defense attorney Gabi Silver. "I've been in murder trials too many to count, and the victim's family – it's trauma. It's peeling back wounds."
The guilty plea brings closure to Hoover's family after a nearly three-year wait for justice. While the plea cannot undo Dr. Hoover's death, it guarantees a lengthy prison sentence and spares his loved ones from weeks of testimony about the circumstances surrounding his murder.
"This case has been very anxiety-producing," said close friend Carol Gove, who was overcome with emotion upon learning of the guilty plea. "Nothing can bring Devon back – the people that are still suffering are his would-be patients."
i cant even right now my heart goes out to dr devon hoovers fam 
they deserve justice and closure after almost 3 yrs of waiting 
the killer pledd guilty tho so at least we dont have to watch him get judged in court anymore 
i feel bad for gabrielle silvers defense attorney tho she must be heartbroken 
but glad its all over now can we talk about dr devon hoovers amazing work as a neurosurgeon lol he was literally changing lives 
anyway lets just take a sec to vibe out and respect dr devons memory 
. and can you imagine being Devon's patients, hearing all this drama unfold? 
just awful. anyway, glad it's finally over for them 
.
I gotta say, this whole thing just feels a bit...convenient, ya know? Like, Burks pleads guilty after two days into jury selection and everything's just...taken care of. It's like, what was the rush? 
Was it really worth sparing Hoover's family from a few more weeks of drama? I mean, don't get me wrong, I feel for 'em and all, but isn't this kinda like letting the system handle things too neatly? 
35 years to life... that's like an eternity 
. I mean, you'd think someone who's got a good chance of being a model citizen behind bars (45 year sentence for weapons charge lol) would want to wait for the maximum. Guess it's all about sparing the family the "trauma"... aka, watching their loved one suffer through a trial 
. Anyway, glad it's over... I guess? 
... a life cut short by senseless violence. my heart goes out to dr. hoover's family & loved ones, who've had to go through so much already 
35 yrs old Desmond Burks got a deal that's almost too good to be true 
he pleads guilty 2 murder & gets 35-60 yrs in 
why did he do it? 
was it love gone wrong or money issues? 
but his patients are still suffering 
this case is a reminder that justice can be served quickly sometimes 
even if it feels like an unfair trade 
35 years in prison is a lot 
hope it helps the family find some peace 
not sure how they coped all those months waiting for trial 
anyway glad it's over now 
. I'm sure it was super traumatic for the family to have their big man's case drag on for another 2 weeks... meanwhile, Dr. Hoover can finally rest in peace 
just so sad about this Dr. Devon Hoover 
plus thinkin bout all the patients who never got to have him operate on them 
for Dr. Hoover's family! I'm so sorry they had to go through this traumatic experience 
. I feel like in movies like "The Sixth Sense" or "Memento" when the mystery is solved and everyone gets justice - it's such a weight off their shoulders 
, and that Dr. Hoover's patients can finally get the care they deserve 
