Detroit doctor's body entombed in blanket, hidden in upstairs crawlspace: source

Detroit — Homicide investigators are interviewing acquaintances of a 53-year-old neurosurgeon to determine why someone would fatally shoot him, cocoon his body in a blanket and cram it in the upstairs crawlspace of the large house where he lived alone in the city's historic Boston-Edison district, a police source told The Detroit News Wednesday.

Detectives have not yet established a motive in the shooting death of Dr. Devon Hoover, a source involved in the investigation told The News. After police were called Sunday to conduct a wellness check at the neurosurgeon's home in the 100 block of West Boston Boulevard, the source said officers found Hoover's body in the upstairs crawlspace, wrapped in a blanket.

Hoover, a neurosurgeon at Ascension Healthcare, which operates St. John Hospital in Detroit, lived alone in the sizeable house he'd purchased for $750,000 in 2008, neighbors told The News. But neighbors said he often had visitors because he'd open his home for parties and other functions.

More:Neighbors of neurosurgeon found fatally shot in Boston-Edison say he was 'anchor' of block

Detroit Police Cpl. Dan Donakowski said Wednesday that the investigation is ongoing but had no further comment.

In a statement, St. John Hospital called Hoover "a dedicated and well-respected member of the Ascension Michigan family" who "will be greatly missed by our community."

"Our sincerest condolences and heartfelt prayers are with his family, friends, and fellow associates during this incredibly difficult time," the hospital said.

Prior to working for Ascension, Hoover was a resident in Henry Ford’s neurosurgery program from 1997-2002.

Hoover graduated from the Indiana University School of Medicine, and has practiced neurosurgery for more than 20 years, according to U.S. News and World Report.

Services for Hoover are this weekend, according to the Chas. Verheyden Funeral Homes website.

Visitation is scheduled for noon to 8 p.m. Saturday at the Grosse Pointe Park location.

A funeral is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit.

ghunter@detroitnews.com

(313) 222-2134

Twitter: @GeorgeHunter_DN