Troopers Arrest Dover Woman For Abusing A Corpse

Location:

Unit block of Squire Circle, Royal Grant Development, Dover, DE

Date of Occurrence:

August 2011

Victim:

Justice Hooks, 2 year old male

Defendant, Charges and Bail Information:

Karen N. Hooks, 33, Dover, DE (Photo Attached)
Abusing a Corpse

Arraigned at JP2 and committed to Delores J. Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution on $1,000.00 cash bail.

Resume:
Dover, DE- The Delaware State Police Homicide Unit has arrested a Dover woman in connection with abusing her son’s corpse.

Detectives began an investigation into a missing child complaint on July 9, 2012 after receiving information from Division of Family Services (DFS) that a pregnant woman was no longer pregnant and her two year old child was missing. Detectives made contact with a relative of the homeowner living in the unit block of Squire Circle in Royal Grant Development after she had growing concerns that a Karen N. Hooks, who was living at the residence, was due to give birth in June but the baby was nowhere to be found. The female was also concerned about Hooks’ two year old son because she had not seen him since August of 2011.

On July 13, 2012, Detectives made contact with Karen Hooks who informed them her son, Justice, was currently in the care of a female friend in Smyrna. Karen also denied the fact that she was ever pregnant.

Through the investigation, detectives were unable to verify Hooks’ story and due to the concerns for the welfare of the child, obtained a search warrant on July 25th for the house on Squire Circle. During the search, a suspiciously wrapped package was located in a storage area shared by Hooks and another female roommate. The contents, which appeared to be human remains, were removed by the Medical Examiner’s Office and transported to Georgetown where they were examined. A post-mortem was performed and it was determined that the remains were of a male child at least one year of age.

Karen N. Hooks was arrested and taken back to Troop 3 where she was arraigned at JP2 on the charge of Abusing a Corpse. She is currently committed to WCI on $1,000.00 cash bail.

Homicide Detectives and the Medical Examiner’s Office are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of the child. Additional charges are possible based on the results of the investigation.