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‘Like a horror movie’: Bloody selfies, witness testimony sends Royal Oak nanny to trial in grandfather’s murder
By Lauren Kostiuk, Jason Wilger at WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News
· June 26, 2026
· 5 min read
A Royal Oak nanny accused of killing the grandfather of the child she cared for has been ordered to stand trial following two days of graphic testimony from witnesses, law enforcement and a medical examiner.District Court Judge Andrew Kowalkowski of Royal Oak’s 44th District Court sent Samantha B...
Key takeaway District Court Judge Andrew Kowalkowski of Royal Oak’s 44th District Court sent Samantha Booth, 35, to trial on all charges Friday.
Why this matters in The Detroit
The Royal Oak community is likely to be shaken by the disturbing details of this case, which raises questions about the vetting process for caregivers in the area. As the trial moves forward, residents may be wondering how someone accused of such a heinous crime was able to gain the trust of a local family. The fact that Booth had been caring for the 2-year-old girl since she was just 6 weeks old, and had met the victim on multiple occasions, adds to the sense of unease. The case also highlights the importance of neighborhood vigilance, as evidenced by the quick thinking of the neighbor who helped the family member and toddler escape to safety. As the community awaits the outcome of the trial, they will be watching to see how the justice system responds to this shocking crime.
About this story
Original reporting by WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News . The Detroit surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: June 26, 2026 ·
Source: WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News ·
Reading time: 5 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? A Royal Oak nanny accused of killing the grandfather of the child she cared for has been ordered to stand trial following two days of graphic testimony from witnesses, law enforcement and a medical examiner.District Court Judge Andrew Kowalkowski of Royal Oak’s 44th District Court sent Samantha B...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 26, 2026 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News and curated for The Detroit readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Lauren Kostiuk, Jason Wilger at WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News. To learn more about how The Detroit selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Detroit, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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