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Investigators continue digging through landfill for Ashley Elkins' remains
Almost two weeks since a 30-year-old mom of two disappeared, police are still searching for the remains of Ashley Elkins.
LENOX TWP, Mich. (FOX 2) - For the third straight day, police in Macomb County dug through a landfill as they search for the remains of Ashley Elkins, a 30-year-old mom who disappeared in early January.
Roseville police returned to Lenox Township to sift through trash an debris at the Pine Tree Acres landfill on the third day of searching.
Elkins, 30, hasn't been heard from since Jan. 2.
Problems in the search for Ashley Elkins
Law enforcement have blocked off a 6.5 acre section of the landfill to search for Elkins' remains.
Steve Dolunt, Retired Detroit Police Department Assistant Chief, has been following the investigation closely, despite not being involved. He said the longer the search takes, the harder it will be for everyone involved.
"(They're) trying to be thorough. Not only are they looking for the body or possible body looking for evidence," Dolunt said. "It’s going to be tough and the longer it takes, the harder it is both mentally on the officers and the family and on the investigation. It’s hard because the body will start to deteriorate."
Despite the challenge, Roseville Police Chief Mitch Berlin said on Tuesday that he believed officers were in the right spot.
"I’m confident we got a good area the waste management coordinated a good area that we’re looking," Berlin said.
What happened to Ashley Elkins?
The backstory:
Elkins' family last heard from her on Jan. 2 when she sent a text saying she was headed home from running errands. However, she never made it home.
According to her family, it is unusual for Elkins, a mother of two, to not have contact with her loved ones, especially her sons.
"She loves her family, her kids. She would never just disappear for this many days," her sister Alexis Elkins said.
Her family believes that Elkins is dead.
Why police are searching a landfill
What they're saying:
When police searched Booker's apartment on Jan. 7, they took away a dumpster as evidence.
Elkins' family has been suspicious of Booker since she disappeared, and have said they believe he threw her away.
"Her mother has said numerous times, ‘He threw her out with the trash,’" her uncle, Maurice Morton, said. "That's disheartening."
Ashley Elkins search: Authorities continue to focus on Macomb County landfill
Police are expected to return to a Macomb County landfill Wednesday as they continue to search for any evidence that leads them to Ashley Elkins. They have been digging at Pine Tree Acres since Monday.
Elkins' phone last pinged at Booker's apartment.
Police have not disclused any evidence that was recovered from the dumpster.
Ashley Elkins' ex-boyfriend charged
What we know:
A week ago, Elkins' ex was arrested in connection to the case.
He has not been charged with murder but is being held on charges of lying to police.
According to authorities, Elkins' vehicle was found a few miles away from Booker's apartment. He allegedly lied about his whereabouts.
The prosecutor who appeared in court for Booker's arraignment said Booker's internet searches after Elkins disappeared suggest that he was planning to flee Michigan.
While in Flint, Booker is accused of planning to leave Michigan by looking up routes out of state.
His research also included what to do while on the run, as well as how to beat a polygraph test, and if blood is traceable, the prosecution said.
Additionally, he allegedly looked up how to delete his Google search history.
The prosecution argued that these searches suggest that Booker would flee if released on bond. His bond was set at $250,000 cash/surety.
What we don't know:
Police have not disclosed what evidence they have against Booker and if he will be charged in Elkins' murder.
Who is De'Andre Booker?
Booker is 32 and lives near Gratiot and Frazho in Roseville.
According to information presented in court, Booker is currently unemployed.
Booker previously served in the United States Army but was removed from the military with a less than honorable discharge after going AWOL in 2017. This happened after he was charged the year before with several crimes while serving, including larceny and possessing fake identification documents.
The Source: Information for this story was gathered from law enforcement and the family of Ashley Elkins.