The city of Baltimore, Maryland was about to celebrate Christmas when Samuel Nathaniel Booth was found stabbed to death on December 24, 1994. Samuel was a pastor at a popular local church and his acquaintances had no idea why anyone would choose to hurt a man. of God. Investigation Discovery’s “Shattered: False Prophet” chronicles the murder and shows how the ensuing investigation ultimately brought the killer to justice. Let’s dive into the details of the crime and find out where the perpetrator is currently, shall we?
How did Samuel Nathaniel Booth die?
At the time of his murder, Samuel Nathaniel Booth was 55 years old and residing in a mobile home in Baltimore, Maryland. He had moved from Bel Air to Baltimore a few months ago and was working as a pastor at a local church. Although people described him as a generous and dedicated minister, the show mentioned that Bel Air police suspected him of being a drug addict and dealer.
When Samuel Booth failed to show up for the Christmas Eve service at his church on December 24, 1994, congregants became concerned for his safety. They wasted no time in informing the police of the situation, and officers were quickly dispatched to the minister’s home. Although there was no response from Samuel when the officers knocked on his door, a shocking sight awaited them once they broke in. Inside, authorities found Booth stabbed to death in what looked like a frenzied attack. There were multiple stab wounds to the victim’s body, suggesting a hate crime, and detectives were confident the perpetrator and victim knew each other. An autopsy later determined stab wounds to be the cause of death and, surprisingly, the show mentioned that a small amount of cocaine was found in the victim’s system.
Who Killed Samuel Nathaniel Booth?
When news of Samuel’s murder began to spread, authorities learned of his alleged drug involvement from Bel Air police. However, even after searching his trailer, police found nothing related to drugs or his murder, other than two smoking pipes and some drug paraphernalia. Meanwhile, acquaintances and church regulars strongly refuted the drug angle and claimed that Samuel could never have used drugs at any cost. Instead, they insisted that Samuel was helping some young people overcome their addiction.
The police immediately began their investigation and began to investigate Samuel’s acquaintances. Yet on December 25, the day after the murder, 24-year-old James Thomas Wood approached authorities and turned himself in. James claimed he was the one who killed Samuel Booth and confessed to stealing $77 in cash and about $40 in crack from the Minister. The show mentioned that once police questioned James further, he claimed that he and Samuel abused substances for a few days. Yet once the minister refused to provide more medicine, James flew into a rage and stomped on the victim’s head and ribs. He then took a six-inch kitchen knife and stabbed Samuel several times before slitting his throat and leaving him to bleed to death. Moreover, the show even mentioned that James’ mother believed the Minister was supplying her son with drugs.
Where is James Thomas Wood now?
When shown in court, James Wood pleaded not guilty but was ultimately found guilty of first degree premeditated murder and robbery with a deadly weapon. Subsequently, in 1995, he was sentenced to life in prison without parole for murder, while the robbery charge earned him an additional 20 years. So, with no parole in sight, James still spends his days behind bars at Jessup Correctional Facility in Jessup, Maryland. Furthermore, according to reports, James also became an ordained minister.
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