Roseville police have taken a suspect into custody related to the disappearance of Ashley Elkins, a 30-year-old mother of two from Warren, who was last seen last Thursday. The arrest was confirmed yesterday and came after Elkins' vehicle was located and significant forensic evidence was gathered at her ex-boyfriend's residence. The ex-boyfriend, identified as 32-year-old DeAndre Howard Booker, was arrested in Flint and is scheduled for arraignment this morning, as reported by CBS News Detroit.
Details surrounding the disappearance indicate that Elkins was believed to be at her ex-boyfriend's apartment before she vanished. With the family stating that her cellphone had last pinged at Booker's apartment complex, authorities intensified their search efforts there. Acting upon this information, the Roseville and Warren police, alongside the MSP Forensic Team, executed a search warrant at the Hampton Court Apartments where Booker resides. While disclosing their progress to The Detroit News, authorities seized "significant evidence," including a trash dumpster from the complex.
Although Elkins' body has yet to be located, Roseville police are now investigating the case as a homicide. Police Chief Mitchell Berlin expressed, according to a Macomb Daily interview, "Our information is this was a homicide as all the evidence is indicating there was a violent end." False reports had circulated on social media claiming that Elkins’ body was found near Interstate 96 in Detroit. However, authorities quickly refuted these claims.
Authorities are urging those with any additional information to step forward. Tips can be directed to Roseville Police Department Detective Matthew Lesperance at (586) 447-4505 or [email protected].
