A male prostitute, Desmond Burks, smiled and waved in court as he was sentenced to up to 60 years in prison for the murder of Dr. Devon Huber, a well-regarded Detroit neurosurgeon.
Burks, 35, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder after Dr. Huber was found naked, except for socks, wrapped in a carpet in his Denver mansion, having been shot twice in the back of the head.
Additionally, Burks confessed to manslaughter for another death, that of his 67-year-old grandfather during a road rage incident. He reportedly stole over $95,000 from Dr. Huber and was seen shopping, calling himself “Big Money Death” just an hour post-murder, as reported by the Detroit Free Press.
As one of Huber’s sisters, Laila Graeber, expressed the profound impact of her brother’s death during the sentencing, Burks responded with eye-rolling. He then proceeded to grin, wave, and display a peace sign. He claimed to be a “common man” while denying his sexual orientation, despite evidence from numerous men who testified to paying for his services.
“Just because I entered the plea doesn’t mean I did it,” he remarked, referring to the plea deal that prevented a mandatory life sentence for first-degree murder.
Firmly, he declared, “I’m not a murderer. I’m not a murderer… I’m not the homosexual that prosecutors want me to be.”
Burks, who described himself as a sports lover, seemed perplexed by the labels attached to him, expressing frustration over being called a “gay murderer” or a “gay gang member.”
In a separate case, he apologized for the manslaughter of Reda Saleh, 67, in a street altercation, saying it was unintentional but dismissively adding, “you can’t take it back.”
Judge Paul Cusick, however, showed no signs of leniency, giving him 35 to 60 years for murdering the neurosurgeon and 10 to 15 years for the street assault. “Frankly, you are a murderer,” the judge told him.
It emerged during the trial that Burks had an ongoing “intimate relationship” with Dr. Huber, where he often received payment for sex.
Following the crime, Burks immediately transferred money and splurged on diamond jewelry at a mall, using funds stolen from the doctor.
Huber’s sisters presented a Bible to Burks during the court proceedings, which drew a grin from him as they shared impactful statements about their loss.
Laila Graeber emphasized how their 85-year-old father was suffering from his son’s violent and senseless death, describing the lengthy sentence as “a fitting outcome.” Saleh’s stepdaughter also confronted Burks, saying the man who meant everything to them should have lived to see his grandson grow.
