Royal Oak, MI — The next key stages in the murder case against Samantha Rae Booth were scheduled during a court hearing on March 6, as the case continues to move forward in Oakland County.
RELATED: Samantha Booth Found Competent To Stand Trial In Royal Oak Homicide Case
Booth appeared via Zoom for the hearing, where the court scheduled a probable cause conference for May 8 and set a two-day preliminary examination for June 25 and June 26.
During the hearing, prosecutors told the court they are still awaiting the final autopsy results, which are expected to be delivered to the prosecutor’s office soon.
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Prosecutors also indicated they expect to call nine or ten witnesses during the preliminary examination. Because of the number of witnesses expected to testify, the court scheduled the preliminary exam across two days in June.
The March 6 hearing came after Booth was previously ruled competent to stand trial, a decision made during a February 20 competency hearing in Oakland County Circuit Court. As New Media Detroit previously reported, Booth’s attorney consented to the finding after reviewing a report from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Center for Forensic Psychiatry, and the judge formally ruled that Booth was competent to proceed.
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Booth, 35, of Royal Oak, is charged with:
- First-Degree Murder – punishable by life without parole
- Second-Degree Child Abuse
- Felony Assault
- Three counts of Resisting and Obstructing
Prosecutors allege Booth was babysitting a 2-year-old child on October 24, 2025, while the child’s mother and aunt were out of town. Authorities say 83-year-old David Graham Ong went to check on the child after the mother was unable to reach Booth.
Family members later found Ong inside the Sheridan Drive home covered in blood.
Investigators allege Booth also assaulted the child’s uncle when he arrived at the home, before fleeing the area. Police later arrested her after responding to reports of a naked woman covered in blood.
Authorities also reported that psychedelic mushrooms and marijuana were found in Booth’s purse at the time of her arrest.
Ong, known by many as “Downriver Dave,” was the founder of Acquest Realty Advisors and a well-known figure in the business community.
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