'Deeply Cherished' Surgical Resident Was Killed with Machete. Here's Why Police Believe Ex-Husband Did It

A surgical resident at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Ga., Samantha Woolery, 42, was found stabbed to death in her home on Sunday, June 16

A Georgia surgical resident’s ex-husband has been charged with murder after she was found stabbed to death in her apartment after she didn't show up for work.

On Monday, June 17, Mickey Anthony Woolery, 49, was arrested in Carmel, Ind., in connection with the death of his ex-wife Samantha Woolery, 42, the Marietta Police Department said in a set of press releases obtained by PEOPLE.

Mickey, who investigators believe fled Georgia back to his Indiana home more than 500 miles away after the killing, is charged with murder, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime, and malice murder. He was being held on no bond, his online court docket shows.

It's not immediately clear if he has entered a plea or retained an attorney to speak on his behalf.

Police said they were notified by Cobb County’s 911 dispatch on the morning of Sunday, June 16 about a caller who reported that a woman living in an apartment complex on Williams Drive in Marietta, Ga., had been stabbed.

When officers arrived, they found the victim — later identified as Samantha — on the floor inside her apartment. Police reported that she had “visible cuts, was unresponsive and appeared deceased.”

Police said the grim discovery was made by Samantha’s coworkers, who became concerned after she didn’t show up for work. They claimed her front door was closed but unlocked when they arrived to check on her, according to police.

Samantha was a surgical resident at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Ga., and was previously named the school's 2023 intern of the year, according to a Facebook post from the school confirming her death.

“Dr. Woolery was deeply cherished for her kind and engaging spirit, as well as her remarkable ability to connect with everyone around her,” the statement read. “Dr. Woolery's dedication to advancing health equity and her compassionate care for patients made a significant impact on our community. Her legacy will continue to inspire us all.”

The homicide investigation led police to believe Samantha had been attacked overnight by someone who knew her. According to a criminal warrant filed in the Cobb County's Magistrate Court and reviewed by PEOPLE, investigators obtained Ring surveillance footage from a neighbor that showed a man, alleged to be Mickey, leaving Samantha’s apartment with blood on his hand, feet and pants on the night of Saturday, June 15.

Investigators also alleged they matched Mickey’s right thumb to a bloody fingerprint found on the wall near a light switch in Samantha’s apartment, according to the warrant. The warrant further states that authorities saw bloody footprints leading from the bedroom to the front door of the home. Investigators also reported finding a blood-stained machete on the floor beside the bed.

“Evidence led detectives to believe that Mickey had fled Georgia and returned to his primary residence in Carmel, Indiana,” one of the police press releases reads. “Detectives from both agencies coordinated efforts including the use of the Carmel SWAT team, to search multiple addresses and ultimately arrange for Mickey’s capture.”

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Authorities said they are now working to extradite Mickey from Indiana to Georgia to face the charges against him.

Naeema Woolery, who identified herself as Samantha’s daughter on a GoFundMe campaign created to help offset funeral expenses, states she and her family want to give Samantha the “beautiful and dignified farewell she deserves.”

“[Samantha] was a wonderful person who touched the lives of everyone she met with her kindness, generosity, and unwavering love,” she wrote.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

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