The ongoing investigation into the disappearance of Ashley Elkins, the missing 30-year-old Warren mother, has uncovered new evidence against her ex-boyfriend DeAndre Booker, who is charged with her murder. According to WWJ Newsradio, Roseville Police Detective Chris Moran testified in court about surveillance video from outside Booker's apartment complex that showed a figure struggling to move something covered with a white sheet from a shopping cart into a dumpster.
In a statement obtained by FOX 2 Detroit, evidence technician Officer Salvatore Munafo contributed further to the case by uncovering a clump of hair in the bathtub drain, a bullet fragment, and an earring from Booker's residence, while Moran discussed digital evidence including Booker's internet searches on firearms, silencing a gunshot with a pillow, and whether one could track a phone that is turned off.
Additional testimony, as per The Detroit News, detailed that Booker's clothing matched what was seen on the individual in the surveillance video. Roseville Police Detective Patrick Taylor identified the clothing similarities during his testimony. Moreover, blood discovered in a dumpster and a series of incriminating Google searches made by Booker prior to Elkins' disappearance add to the weight of evidence against him.
Booker has been described as uncooperative during the court proceedings; he has been watching hearings virtually due to disruptive outbursts and has refused to appear in person. According to a WWJ Newsradio report, the judge was informed of Booker's behavior which included declinations to get dressed for court, and thus, ordered the testimony to commence without him present. Booker is facing multiple charges, including first-degree murder and tampering with evidence, among other offenses related to Elkins' disappearance and presumed death.
Despite searches, including those at the Pine Trees Acres Landfill in Lenox Township, Elkins' body has not been found. Her car, however, was located abandoned near Roseville as an additional piece to the perplexing puzzle. Detective Shane Nabozny of the Roseville Police found suspicious bleach bottles and blood droplets in Booker's apartment which were later determined to match Elkins, as noted by FOX 2 Detroit. The case against Booker continues to mount as the investigation progresses and further testimonies reveal the dark circumstances surrounding Elkins' disappearance.
