The Final Separation: Dr. Samantha Woolery

In this episode of Hunting 4 Answers: She was a rising star in medicine, a mother, and a woman on the verge of achieving her lifelong dream. But just weeks before she could step into her future, Dr. Samantha Woolery’s life was stolen in a crime so brutal, it shocked even seasoned investigators. A promising surgeon, cut down in the most violent way imaginable. A bloodied machete. A killer with a connection too close for comfort. And a family left shattered. What really happened behind closed doors? 

This is the story of Dr. Samantha Woolery. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Speaks to the planning.

Speaker 2 (00:01):
I'll go by the name of Charlamagne of God and
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(00:22):
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more to be announced. And of course it's bigger than podcasts.
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Speaker 1 (00:45):
Hunting for Answers is a production of the Black Effect
Podcast Network and iHeartRadio. Welcome to Hunting for Answers, a
true crime podcast. I'm your host, Hunter and today we
get into the tragic story of a promising doctor, a
woman on the verge of achieving everything she had ever
worked for. But just weeks before stepping into the future

(01:10):
she had fought so hard to build, her life was
stolen in a brutal act of violence. This is the
story of doctor Samantha Woolery, forty two year old. Doctor
Woolery was more than just a rising star in medicine.
She was a beacon of resilience and dedication in her community.

(01:32):
Born in Jamaica on June twenty ninth, nineteen eighty two,
she moved to the United States with one purpose to
become a doctor in changed lives, and she did just that.
Her talent was undeniable, her drive unstoppable. In twenty twenty three,

(01:53):
she was named Morehouse School of Medicines Surgery Intern of
the Year. By June sixteenth, twenty twenty four, she was
preparing to begin her surgical residency at Grady Memorial Hospital
on the cusp of stepping into her lifelong dream. But
instead of saving lives, hers would be violently taken. That morning,

(02:16):
doctor Woolery's colleagues expected to see her at work, ready
as always to take on the day, but she never arrived.
Calls went unanswered, messages ignored, and concern grew into panic.
When her colleagues went to her Mary at a Georgia apartment,

(02:37):
they were met by a scene straight out of a nightmare.
Samantha lay lifeless on the floor, deep stab wings across
her back, neck, and shoulder. The weapon used in the
attack a bloodied machete, and it was found nearby the
level of violence was staggering, and the man responded a

(03:01):
face from her past. Surveillance footage would soon reveal a
horrifying truth. That night, a mysterious figure left Samantha's apartment,
his clothes stained with blood. That figure her ex husband,
Mickey Woolery, also known as Derek Woolery. A bloody fingerprint

(03:22):
at the crime scene sealed the forty nine year old's fate.
This wasn't a random act of violence, it was something
way more personal. Less than twenty four hours later, police
tracked Mickey Woolery to Indiana, hiding in his family home.
When officers arrived, he tried to run, but there was

(03:45):
nowhere left for him to hide. He was swiftly taken
into custody and charged with felony, murder, malice, murder, aggravated assault,
aggravated battery, and possession of a weapon during the commission
of a crime. Doctor Woolery wasn't just a surgeon in training.
She was a mother. She left behind two teenage children.

(04:06):
Her eldest, eighteen year old Naima, said it felt like
her heart had been ripped out in her gut. She
had feared this outcome, but accepting the reality that her
own father was responsible for such horror was something that
she just wasn't ready to face. The Morehou School of
Medicine said doctor Woolery's compassionate care for patients made a

(04:30):
significant impact on their community. Her legacy will continue to
inspire everyone. But what happens to her children now they
have lost their mother and their father. He may spend
the rest of his life behind bars. My thoughts and
prayers are with her children and the rest of doctor

(04:52):
Woolery's family and friends. Although her story is one that
ends with unfortunately a tragedy, she's a woman whose impact
was far reaching. As we wrap up this episode, don't
forget to subscribe to Hunting for Answers on YouTube and
be sure to follow us on Instagram and TikTok to
stay updated on this case and others like it. Thank

(05:16):
you so much for joining us on another episode until
next time. Hunting for Answers is a production of the
Black Effect Podcast Network. For more podcasts from the Black
Effect Podcast Network, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or

(05:38):
wherever you listen to your favorite shows.