CARMEL, Ind. — Carmel police arrested a man Monday for his alleged involvement in the murder of his ex-wife in Georgia.
Police in Marietta, Georgia, received a call in the morning of June 16 about a woman who had been stabbed at the Lakeside at Town Center Apartments, near Williams Drive and Bells Ferry Road.
A police spokesperson said co-workers found 42-year-old Samantha Woolery in her apartment after she didn't show up for her shift. Her apartment door was closed but unlocked, and police said Samantha had wounds all over her body. However, the coroner's office has not confirmed her cause of death.
Police believe the suspect, 49-year-old Mickey Woolery, of Carmel, Indiana, fled Georgia and returned to his Indiana home after the crime.
Carmel SWAT teams, as well as detectives with the Marietta Police Department, searched multiple homes to find the Mickey, who is Samantha's ex-husband.
When officers found Mickey, police said he tried to run away, but Mickey was eventually taken into custody and transported to the Hamilton County Jail while awaiting extradition back to Georgia.
Prosecutors filed the following charges against Mickey: murder, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, possession of a weapon during a crime and malice murder.
According to the Morehouse School of Medicine, Samantha was an incoming surgical resident. A statement was released Monday afternoon, saying her loss is felt in the school community:
“Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) is deeply saddened to announce the sudden passing of Dr. Samantha Woolery, an incoming surgical resident and our 2023 Surgery Intern of the Year. Dr. Woolery, known for her kind spirit and exceptional ability to connect with others, was set to begin her categorical residency.
Her loss is profoundly felt within our Morehouse School of Medicine community. Our thoughts and condolences are with Dr. Woolery’s family and friends during this time."
Mfoniso Ekpo called Samantha her best friend, saying her death has left her heartbroken.
"How am I breathing, and she's not breathing?" Ekpo said. "It made no sense. I talked to her, just last week."
The family described Mickey as Samantha's husband, though the pair was legally divorced.
Samantha's sister, Tamika Jones, told NBC affiliate 11Alive the couple had no history of domestic violence.
"We're just in total shock," Jones said. "We just couldn't believe that this...that he would have done this. Like, no way."
Jones told 11Alive her family is in mourning and described Samantha as a beautiful person.
Jones added that Samantha was born in Jamaica and moved to America with a dream of becoming a doctor. She began her career as a nurse but decided to go back and get her master's and doctorate degrees in Michigan. That's where she met Ekpo.
"She is love and light and generosity," Ekpo said. "I just gravitated towards her."
According to Jones, Samantha is survived by an 18-year-old daughter and 14-year-old son, both of whom she shares with Mickey.