Ashley Elkins search: Police digging through Macomb County landfill
LENOX TWP, Mich. (FOX 2) - Police sources in Macomb County say they are searching through a landfill in hopes of finding evidence linked to the case of Ashley Elkins, a 30-year-old mom of two who was last heard from on Jan. 2.
FOX 2 learned through sources in Macomb County that the search for Elkins turned to the Lenox Township landfill on Monday, more than ten days after she was last heard from.
The sources said police spent the weekend preparing to search the landfill on Monday in hopes of finding her body.
Roseville police have not confirmed on the record that they are searching for Elkins' body at the landfill. However, police seized a dumpster at her ex-boyfriend's apartment during their evidence search last week.
What happened to Ashley Elkins?
What we know:
Ashley Elkins was last heard from on Jan. 2 as she ran errands. She messaged her family members that she was heading back from a beauty supply store. No one has heard from her in more than a week, something that is out of character for her.
"She loves her family, her kids. She would never just disappear for this many days," her sister Alexis Elkins said.
Her family then started searching for her before police got involved last week.
Those family members have been suspicious of her ex-boyfriend since she disappeared. According to her family, her phone last pinged near her ex's Roseville apartment.
On Tuesday, police found her car in the area of 13 Mile and Little Mack in Roseville, less than four miles away from the apartment. That same night, her ex's apartment was searched. He was arrested the next day.
What evidence has been found in the Ashley Elkins case?
Police have canvassed several area businesses for video and utilized digital forensics to help determine where Elkins could be.
Police also said they seized a trash dumpster from the apartments as part of the investigation.
A suspect is charged in Ashley Elkins' case
Last week, De'Andre Booker was arrested and charged with lying to police in the case.
Booker, 32, allegedly fled to Flint, where he searched for the fastest routes to Ohio. He's accused of planning to leave the state and the prosecutor said last week that 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.
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 on Thursday.
Who is De'Andre Booker?
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.
Why was De'Andre Booker arrested?
Elkins' family had been suspicious of Booker since she disappeared a week ago.
Police were in contact with Booker after Elkins was reported. His apartment near Gratiot and Frazho was searched on Tuesday after Elkins' vehicle was found abandoned about two miles away. Her phone last pinged at the apartment.
During that search, police took a dumpster away as evidence.
Ashley Elkins' vehicle found in Roseville; police check ex's apartment as search for missing mother continues
Ashley Elkins' vehicle was found Tuesday in Roseville. The mother of two has been missing since Jan. 2.
"There is substantial evidence collected at the ex-boyfriend's home, which leads us to believe that Ashley was murdered," Elkins' family said in a statement.
On Wednesday, Booker was arrested in Flint.
He allegedly lied to police about his location and about Elkins' vehicle. Authorities said video evidence confirmed that he lied.
What's next:
Booker is due back in court for a probable cause conference on Jan. 22 before a preliminary exam on Jan. 29.
In the meantime, police continue to search for Elkins.
According to her family, they believe she is dead.
"Although her body has not been found, investigators have strong leads on its location," the statement they released Wednesday said.
The Source: FOX 2 sources confirmed the new details of the case. Information for this article was pulled from previous stories.