A Royal Oak neighborhood is reeling from a violent incident last week after a babysitter was charged with the first-degree murder of an 83-year-old man. According to CBS News Detroit, 35-year-old Samantha Booth, also facing charges of second-degree child abuse, felony assault, and three counts of resisting and obstructing, was denied bond during a Tuesday arraignment via Zoom, with the judge citing her as a "clearly a present danger to society."
The attack occurred last Friday around 9:30 p.m. in the 4300 block of Sheridan Drive where Booth was babysitting a 2-year-old; when the child’s mother and aunt couldn't contact Booth, they requested the child's grandfather, David Ong, to check on them he too could not be reached prompting the child's uncle to go to the home where he, according to CBS News Detroit, found Ong "lying on the ground and covered in blood" before being attacked by Booth himself though he was able to flee with the child.
Neighbors shared with ClickOnDetroit how they heard screams that night, speaking to the chaos that unfolded as the suspect allegedly stripped her clothes and fled through yards. The suspect was apprehended after a short chase with officers responding to a man calling for help. Ong was found unresponsive with multiple stab wounds in the basement and pronounced dead at the scene, his family in an obituary highlighting his final selfless act, stating "[His] last selfless act to save his granddaughter tells you all you need to know about him” and describing him as a devoted family man deeply passionate about education and his family.
This tragic event has left the suburban community in shock, some describing the incident as "horrible from start to finish," and echoing their disbelief that such violence could visit their neighborhood; a woman with bloodied hands was found nearby, described as incoherent and speaking gibberish by residents, later identified as Booth as reported by Hoodline, the scene has driven a deep unsettling chord through the heart of Royal Oak, a place unaccustomed to such brutal disruptions.
Booth, who had previously cared for the child without incident, was found by police with suspected psychedelic mushrooms and marijuana in her purse, as per statements from Oakland County prosecutors.
