WARREN, Michigan — It’s been more than seven months since 30‑year‑old hairstylist and devoted mother of two, Ashley Elkins, vanished on the morning of January 2, 2025. What began as a routine day of running errands became a family’s worst nightmare when she never returned home — and her disappearance has now unfolded into one of the most closely watched criminal cases in the Detroit area.
Ashley’s loved ones last heard from her early that morning after she left her Warren home to run errands. She was reported missing the next day when she failed to check in with family — something entirely out of character for a woman deeply involved in her children’s lives. Her cellphone data placed her at her ex‑boyfriend’s apartment complex in Roseville, a clue that would quickly shift the investigation from a missing persons case to a possible violent crime.
Investigators soon discovered Ashley’s silver Chevrolet Malibu abandoned near that same Roseville location. Police began executing search warrants, collecting digital evidence and canvassing surrounding businesses — all pointing toward foul play. The Warren and Roseville police departments teamed with state forensic experts in what became an intense search effort.
Just days after Ashley disappeared, authorities arrested her ex‑boyfriend, De’Andre Booker, in Flint. Initially charged with lying to police during their investigation, prosecutors later added much more serious charges. Booker, now 33, is accused of first‑degree premeditated murder, tampering with evidence, concealing the death of an individual, and disinterment and mutilation of a body.
In recent proceedings in the 39th District Court, prosecutors presented disturbing details from their investigation. They revealed Ashley’s blood was found inside Booker’s Roseville apartment, including in the bathroom and hallway, and noted suspicious items like bleach and gloves recovered from the scene. Officers also testified about traces of blood in nearby trash and a search of a dumpster tied to the apartment complex.
Court testimony has also highlighted troubling digital footprints from Booker’s phone. Prosecutors say he made a series of unsettling internet searches before and after Ashley’s disappearance, including queries about silencers, how to evade law enforcement and what happens to trash after pickup — a line of inquiry that raised alarm among investigators.
Despite these intense efforts and mounting evidence, Ashley’s body has still not been found. Searches at the Pine Tree Acres landfill in Lenox Township, prompted by tracking of garbage routes from Roseville, ended without success earlier in the year. Her family hasn’t given up hope, holding vigils, sharing her story and pushing for answers in their ongoing quest for justice.
Throughout the community, friends and neighbors remember Ashley as a caring mother and beloved friend. Her two young sons continue to live surrounded by love and support, even as the legal process moves forward without closure. Prosecutors and law enforcement say they believe the evidence will stand up in court — even without a body — and the upcoming trial will be watched closely by many who have followed this tragic case.
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