Oakland County Prosecutor Charges Samantha Booth with First Degree Murder in Royal Oak Slaying

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2025

PONTIAC, Mich. - Oakland County Prosecutor KAREN D. McDONALD charged Samantha Booth, age 35, with First Degree Murder, Second Degree Child Abuse, Felony Assault, and three counts of Resisting And Obstructing.

On October 24, Booth was reportedly babysitting a two-year-old in Royal Oak while the child's mother and aunt were out-of-town together. When the child's mother was allegedly unable to reach Booth that evening, she contacted her father (the child's grandfather), David Ong, to check on Booth and the child. When they were subsequently unable to reach Ong, the aunt asked her husband, the child's uncle, to go to the home. The uncle reported discovering Ong lying on the ground and covered in blood, and said he was subsequently attacked by Booth. He was able to take the child and flee to safety.

Police later arrested Booth nearby after receiving calls about naked woman screaming and "covered in blood." The family had allegedly known Booth for two years, and Booth had previously cared for the child, apparently without incident. Booth had reportedly seemed normal at the start of the day and into the afternoon. Officers also located suspected psychedelic mushrooms and marijuana in the suspect's purse.

"We should all be grateful for the brave actions by her uncle to rescue the two-year-old from this horrific and dangerous situation," said Prosecutor McDonald. "David Ong's murder is a shocking tragedy and the person responsible will be held accountable."

First Degree Murder is punishable by life in prison without parole.

Charges are accusations and individuals are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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