The brother of a nanny accused of killing a grandfather has shared remarkable details about her life.
Last Friday, Samantha Rae Booth, aged 35, was taken into custody for allegedly murdering 83-year-old David Ong at the home of his daughter, Katie Ong, in the scenic locale of Royal Oak, Michigan.
Reports suggest Ong was attempting to protect his granddaughter during the incident.
On Tuesday, Samantha’s brother, Danny Booth, expressed to the Daily Mail his disbelief, stating he does not recognize the individual the police describe as having fatally stabbed Ong before reportedly disrobing and attempting to escape.
“My sister is the bright star of our family, always joyful, smiling, and compassionate. She genuinely cares for the Ong family,” Danny remarked.
“She had been caring for their child for some time, and we’re trying to understand what truly happened,” he added.
‘I do think it’s important that people know the good side of her, she had no history of drug abuse or mental health issues.’
Booth was found with marijuana and magic mushrooms in her purse after the killing, police said. No motive for Ong’s murder has been disclosed.
Samantha Booth’s family have been left distraught and confused after she was arrested last week with the murder of 83-year-old David Ong
Danny insists his sister was a clean-living woman who thrived on eating well, going to the gym – and who adored being outdoors.
The family of Ong, a successful realtor, have been left utterly grief-stricken by his sudden murder.
Danny says he and his parents have been left utterly bereft by their loved one’s arrest too.
‘My father has been having panic attacks, but he is trying to hold everything together for everyone. It has been especially hard because we have been unable to speak to Samantha.’
Ong was killed after his daughter Katie, a psychotherapist, asked him to go and check on her daughter, who was being cared for by Ong at Katie’s $513,000 home.
When Ong went quiet, Katie asked her unnamed brother-in-law to go and check on the house.
He arrived to find Ong fatally wounded with Booth allegedly ‘manic and covered in blood’.
Booth is said to have flown at the brother-in-law with a screwdriver as he went to rescue Ong’s granddaughter.
David Ong, right, was killed at his daughter Katie’s home. His other daughter Kelly said he had been trying to shield his youngster granddaughter (pictured being held by Ong’s wife Jacqueline) from harm
The horrific murder unfolded inside Katie Ong’s $513,000 home in Royal Oak. Michigan (pictured)
The brother-in-law managed to flee to a neighbor’s house where he dialed 911.
When police arrived, Booth is said to have taken her clothes off and tried to flee.
She was arrested shortly after and has been charged with six felonies including murder.
On Tuesday, Booth was due to appear before a court.
The hearing was forced to continue in her absence over claims she stripped naked and refused to leave her holding cell.
She has pleaded not guilty to charges including murder and was denied bond after prosecutors claimed she was too dangerous to release.
The highly-disturbing details have left Danny and his parents aghast.
He told the Daily Mail that he just cannot square the sibling he knows and loves with the woman now charged with a shocking crime.
Booth, pictured after her arrest, was found to have drugs in her purse. Her brother Danny told the Daily Mail that the allegations against her have come as a huge shock to her family
Ong is pictured with 10 of his 11 grandchildren. He was a father of four who enjoyed a long and successful career in real estate
‘We are all really trying to process everything.’ Danny said.
‘This outcome would not come from her, we don’t know everything and it seems like there is a lot of confusion.’
‘The woman we know is a bright light. She is caring. She is always smiling.’
Ong’s family have yet to comment further on the woman who was trusted to care for the family’s youngest member for two years.
The late realtor is survived by his wife Jacqueline, three daughters, a son and 11 grandchildren.
