It started like any other quiet evening on Friday, October 24, 2025 in Royal Oak, Michigan — but by night’s end, an 83-year-old grandfather would be dead, a beloved nanny would be under arrest, and a small child’s world forever shattered.
Authorities say Samantha Rae Booth, a 35-year-old nanny who had cared for psychotherapist Katie Ong’s 3-year-old daughter for two years, is accused of brutally stabbing Katie’s father, David Ong, to death with a screwdriver in what investigators describe as a “frenzied and psychotic attack.”
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Timeline of the Crime (with Dates & Times)
Friday, October 24, 2025 — 7:45 p.m.
Psychotherapist Katie Ong tries calling her nanny, Samantha Booth, while she’s out of town. Booth doesn’t answer. Concerned for her child’s safety, Katie calls her father, David Ong, to check on them.
Friday, October 24, 2025 — 8:05 p.m.
David Ong arrives at Katie’s Royal Oak home to check on his granddaughter. He goes inside the home and all contact with him stops.
Friday, October 24, 2025 — 8:45 p.m.
Unable to reach either Booth or her father, Katie calls her brother-in-law Douglas Smith, explaining her growing concern.
Friday, October 24, 2025 — 9:25 p.m.
Douglas Smith arrives at the house and finds the front door wide open. Hearing noises from the basement, he calls out to Booth, then descends the stairs and discovers Booth covered in blood and David Ong on the floor with severe head injuries.
Friday, October 24, 2025 — 9:30 p.m.
Smith rushes the 3-year-old child to safety while first responders arrive. Paramedics attempt life-saving measures on David Ong, but he is pronounced dead at the scene.
Friday, October 24, 2025 — 10:00 p.m.
Police take Booth into custody without incident. They recover the blood-covered screwdriver believed to be the murder weapon.
The Evidence
Weapon:
A standard household screwdriver found next to the victim, consistent with the puncture wounds and blunt-force trauma documented in the autopsy.
Scene:
Detectives say there were no signs of forced entry or robbery. The scene suggested a sudden act of violence rather than a planned crime.
Digital Trail:
Minutes before the murder, Booth allegedly made a FaceTime call to a friend, appearing “naked, agitated, and rambling.” Investigators say the call could prove crucial in establishing motive or mental state.
Toxicology:
Authorities are awaiting full toxicology results, but early reports suggest the presence of psychoactive substances.
Fact vs. Rumor vs. Speculation
FACT:
- David Ong died at the scene from multiple stab wounds and blunt-force trauma.
- Samantha Booth was arrested inside the home.
- The 3-year-old child survived unharmed.
- A FaceTime call was made minutes before the killing.
RUMOR:
- Claims of an affair between Booth and any family member are unsubstantiated.
- Online chatter about “ritual behavior” or “possession” has no supporting evidence.
SPECULATION:
- Experts believe Booth may have experienced a psychotic break, possibly drug-induced or related to severe stress.
- A FaceTime video could show signs of mental deterioration leading up to the attack.
The Human Impact
The tragedy has left the Ong family devastated. Friends describe David Ong as “a gentle giant” — a devoted grandfather who stepped in to protect his granddaughter in his final moments.
Neighbor Allison Moore told reporters, “He was the kind of man who’d fix your fence or shovel your driveway without being asked. To die that way, trying to save a child, is heartbreaking.”
Counselors are now working with the surviving child, who authorities say is “safe but deeply traumatized.”
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Reader Invitation
Was this a sudden psychotic break or a hidden darkness waiting to erupt? What do you think happened inside that house?
Share your thoughts, theories, and questions in the comments below — Real Crime Network wants to hear from you.
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