Man Charged in Deaths of 7 Detroit Prostitutes, Suspected of Killing 7 Others

DETROIT – A man suspected of killing seven prostitutes over the past five years was charged with murder Tuesday, and police said he is a suspect in as many as 14 deaths in the city.

Shelly Andre Brooks is charged with seven counts of premeditated murder and seven counts of felony murder. The 37-year-old Detroit resident could face life in prison if convicted.

The seven victims ranged in age from 30 to 53 and were drug users, police said. All were raped, beaten to death, and their bodies were left on the city's east side, some in buildings and others in vacant lots.

Brooks, in custody since July 30 in connection with the sexual assault of a prostitute, was to be arraigned later Tuesday on the murder charges.

Detroit Police Chief Ella Bully-Cummings said he also remains a suspect in the deaths of seven other prostitutes, killings that she described as "very similar." She declined to comment further.