DeAndre Booker, 32, from Roseville, Michigan, is on trial for the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Ashley Elkins, 30, a hairstylist and mother of two. Elkins was last seen leaving her home in Warren, Michigan, on January 2 to run errands, and her body has not been found despite an extensive search by authorities.
Booker was arrested on January 8 and charged with first-degree murder, tampering with evidence, disinterment and mutilation, and concealing a death, according to the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office. During a court appearance on August 8, Detective Chris Moran of the Roseville Police Department testified that Booker’s phone contained disturbing Google searches made around the time of Elkins’ disappearance.
Among the searches were phrases such as “[T]elling god i want to kill someone,” “9mm silencer roseville,” “shoot gun through pillow,” “Can you track location when phone is off,” and “What happened to trash after its picked up.” These searches seemed to connect Booker to the crime, leading Moran to believe they were highly relevant to the investigation.
The detective also found blood in the dumpster at Booker’s apartment, which led him to suspect that Elkins’ body might have been placed there. Moran noted that the search about trash pickup was particularly concerning, suggesting that Booker would be worried about where the trash — and potentially the body — would end up.
Booker’s defense attorney, Robbie Lang, declined to comment on the search history, stating that he didn’t see how internet searches could prove guilt. He emphasized that internet searches alone didn’t demonstrate any crime.
As the trial continues, the investigation into Elkins’ disappearance and the evidence linking Booker to her death remains a central focus, with many questions still unanswered.
