Singapore – Thursday, November 30, 2023, was Samantha Jean Bogan’s first court appearance at the Singapore High Court in the drug and sexual assault killings of four young women whom she met at a lesbian nightclub in Tampines, Singapore. Samantha brought the four women back to the Blue Sea Hotel where she drugged them with fentanyl gummies that she thought were ecstasy. The women overdosed on the fentanyl drugs and died, and Samantha then had sex with the women afterward. At the time, Samantha was highly intoxicated from alcohol, leaving the hotel around 7:15 AM on Sunday, October 29, 2023 (according to electronic hotel door records of the Blue Sea Hotel). She then returned to her dorm room at the Singapore Nursing University, where, according to her roommate, she came into her dorm room and collapsed on her bed into a deep sleep. Homicide detectives came to Samantha’s dorm room around 2 PM, Sunday, October 29, 2023. Samantha was awakened; she put up a struggle with arresting officers and was arrested. Samanatha, at the time of arrest, still intoxicated, stated: “I just drugged the women, and they will wake up.” This evidence was released by the prosecutor, Ivy Ullrich, to bring formal charges of capital murder against Samantha Jean Bogan.
At 11:50 AM, November 30, 2023, Singapore High Court Judge Hong Zi Rui charged Samatha Jean Bogan with the following 17-count charge indictment:
- Four counts of capital murder
- Four counts of sexual assault after a murder was committed
- Four counts of drug-induced murder
- Four counts of distribution of a lethal drug with intent to distribute
- Resisting arrest
In the deaths of 19-year-old Crystal Yundt, 19-year-old Noemi Zemlak, 20-year-old Malika Kahn, and 20-year-old Darianna Verdie on October 29, 2023, at the Blue Sea Hotel in Tampines, Singapore. The Judge remanded her to the Changi Prison Women’s Death Row Wing.
Judge Hong Zi Rui stated to Smantha that she is not under United States jurisdiction and, in her best interest, she is to be housed with fourteen other death row female inmates at the Changi Prison until her trial set to begin on Monday. January 29, 2024.
The prosecutor motioned the Judge to issue an order to see what charges and punishment(s) Samantha Bodan could face if she were to be extradited to the U.S. for these same charges in a United States Courtroom in Samantha’s home State of North Carolina. The Judge agreed to the exploration order that would be fulfilled by Samantha’s trial date.
The Judge told Samantha not to get her hopes up, she still could be convicted of capital murder, sent to prison, and on some random Friday morning at dawn be executed by the long drop hanging method in the same prison she will be spending time in. Telling Samantha that the gallows are just down the hall from her death row wing, from where she will be brought to later today after court.
Samantha, dressed in stripped prison uniform, her hands and legs shackled, connected by chains to a waist chain, cried in court today and pleaded not guilty to the charges posted against her. Samantha made no further statements, and after the court was adjourned, she was led out of the courtroom by women correctional officers sobbing and crying. Samnatha was then driven by police motorcade across the city to the Changi Prison, where she underwent admission to the Women’s Death Row Wing Unit.
Samantha’s attorney stated after court, “The motion to see what charges and punishment(s) Samantha could face if she were to be extradited to the United States in the State of North Carolina is hopeful because the State of North Carolina does not carry the death penalty currently. The most punishment Samantha could receive on State Charges is life in prison, and she will die as an old lady in prison. I am hopeful!” her attorney stated.
Samatha’s twin younger sisters, Magdalen and Rosetta Bogan, flew into Singapore on November 28, 2023, for Samantha’s first court date. They were seen crying in the courtroom when the charges were handed down, during the judge's statements to Samantha, and when Samantha was led out of the courtroom to prison. Samantha’s sisters made a brief statement, saying, “We love our older sister Samantha!” Samantha’s sisters will be staying in Singapore for the conclusion of her trial.