Police release call for welfare check that led to murder investigation in Middletown

Police release call for welfare check that led to murder investigation in Middletown Advertisement Updated: 9:13 PM EST Nov 12, 2026 Editorial Standards ⓘ Matthew Dietz Digital Editor Police release call for welfare check that led to murder investigation in Middletown Updated: 9:13 PM EST Nov 12, 2026 Editorial Standards ⓘ Matthew Dietz Digital Editor MIDDLETOWN, Ohio — A murder investigation surrounding a Middletown woman who was found dead in her car last week began with a call for a welfare check from concerned co-workers. Police responded to the Tytus Suites, in the 4000 block of Tytus Avenue, last Thursday to conduct the welfare check. Advertisement Investigators said Samantha Kelly’s boyfriend, Darwin Malcom, shot her, moved her body to a car and then gave the gun to a neighbor. He’s been charged with murder, tampering with evidence and abuse of a corpse . On Thursday, the call for a welfare check request was released to WLWT, which gave more insight into what led to the discovery. “I have a co-worker that we have not talked to since yesterday after she left work,” the caller said. “We came over here to check on her. The boyfriend said that she left with a person that we called, and the person said that they have not seen her. So, now I'm over here and he is in her car putting something in the car. I don't know what's going on.” Malcom is scheduled to appear in court on Monday. Make WLWT a preferred source on Google Add Preferred Source Share Infinite Scroll Enabled Top Picks Anthony Clark, a comedian and actor who starred on 'Yes, Dear,' dies WATCH: Baby bear captured on Ring camera 'ding-dong ditching' home at 2 a.m. Teen who has autism found alive after missing for nearly a week in the Australian woodlands Microsoft confirms Outlook outage affecting users worldwide