Editors note: This story has been updated with new details.
After two years of being the presumed trusted nanny, a woman with no known criminal record has been charged with stabbing to death an 83-year-old man who had gone to check on the well-being of his grandchild: a 2-year-old who police say witnessed her grandpa’s murder inside her Royal Oak home.
According to authorities, the family had known and used the nanny for two years, presumably without any problems.
But on the night of Oct. 24, inside the charming white house on an idyllic suburban street, police say the once-trusted caregiver turned on the family and murdered a grandfather in cold blood.
It happened while the child’s mom and aunt were out of town together. According to prosecutors, the mother tried to check in with the nanny that night but got no response. So, the mother called her dad, who went over to the house to make sure everything was all right.
But when the mom called her dad for an update, authorities said, he didn’t answer. So, an uncle went over to the house, where he found the grandfather, 83-year-old David Ong, of Bloomfield Hills, lying on the ground and covered in blood.
According to police and Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald, the uncle also was attacked — the nanny allegedly went after him with a screwdriver — but managed to flee to safety with the child and call police.
“We should all be grateful for the brave actions by her uncle to rescue the 2-year-old from this horrific and dangerous situation,” McDonald said in announcing the murder charges on Tuesday, Oct. 28. “David Ong’s murder is a shocking tragedy and the person responsible will be held accountable.”
According to McDonald and police, the nanny, Samantha Booth, 35, was arrested after police received calls about a naked woman seen screaming and “covered in blood” that night. Officers also located suspected psychedelic mushrooms and marijuana in the babysitter’s purse.
According to the prosecutor’s office, the family had allegedly known Booth for two years and she had reportedly seemed normal at the start of the day and into the afternoon. She had previously cared for the child, apparently without incident, and has no known criminal record.
According to the Royal Oak police, these are the series of events that transpired before and after the tragedy on the 4800 block of Sheridan Drive:
At about 7:50 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 24, Ong was contacted by his daughter, and asked to check on the welfare of his granddaughter, who was under the care of the nanny while her mom was out of town. Ong arrived at the home a short time later but failed to update his daughter in a timely manner. When her father failed to respond, the mom called her brother-in-law and asked him to check on both her father and the child.
At approximately 9:25 p.m. that same night, the child’s uncle arrived and entered the home through the open front door. He heard noises coming from the basement and called out to the nanny but got no response. He then encountered the nanny in a manic state, covered in blood, and his father-in-law lying on the floor with severe injuries.
The uncle picked up the child and tried to flee the house, while repeatedly fending off attacks from the nanny. She was armed with a screwdriver, and continued to pursue the man and toddler outside the house, though the uncle found a group of people who took him and his niece inside their home and called 911.
The nanny stopped chasing the man and child, stripped off all her clothing and dropped the screwdriver.
When police arrived at the scene, they encountered the nanny. She had blood on her hands and tried to flee but was captured after a brief foot chase.
Officers also entered the home that night, where they found the child’s grandfather in the basement, unresponsive with multiple stab wounds. Officers and fire department paramedics attempted emergency medical care, but the injuries were too severe. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The child and uncle suffered minor injuries and were transported to Corewell Hospital for medical evaluation. They were treated and released a short time later.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the victim’s family as they cope with this tragic and senseless act of violence. No family should ever have to endure such loss, and we are keeping them in our thoughts,” Royal Oak Police Chief Michael Moore said in a statement. Booth is currently jailed without bond. Her next court appearance is tentatively set for Nov. 7 in 44th District Court. She is charged with first-degree murder, second-degree child abuse, felony assault and three counts of resisting and obstructing. If convicted of murder, she faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.
An attorney for Booth has not yet been named, though court records show she will be represented by a court-appointed lawyer.
Contact Tresa Baldas: tbaldas@freepress.com
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Nanny charged with killing toddler’s grandfather in ‘horrific’ Royal Oak tragedy
Reporting by Tresa Baldas, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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