Police: Middletown man accused of killing girlfriend, moving body inside vehicle

Police: Middletown man accused of killing girlfriend, moving body inside vehicle Advertisement Updated: 8:39 PM EST Nov 12, 2026 Editorial Standards ⓘ Fletcher Keel Digital Editor Police: Middletown man accused of killing girlfriend, moving body inside vehicle Updated: 8:39 PM EST Nov 12, 2026 Editorial Standards ⓘ Fletcher Keel Digital Editor MIDDLETOWN, Ohio — A man has been arrested and charged with murdering his girlfriend who was later found dead inside a vehicle in Middletown, according to police. The Middletown Division of Police says they responded to the Tytus Suites, in the 4000 block of Tytus Avenue, around 4:30 p.m. Thursday to conduct a welfare check. Advertisement Arriving officers say they found a female victim inside a vehicle who had "sustained fatal injuries." The Butler County Coroner has identified the victim as Samantha Kelly, 43, of Middletown. According to the coroner, Kelly died as a result of a gunshot wound. Police say Darwin Malcom, 51, has been arrested and charged with murder, tampering with evidence, and gross abuse of a corpse. According to complaint documents, Malcom is accused of shooting and killing Kelly, his girlfriend, inside their apartment. Documents then state Malcom dragged her body outside and put her in the back of a Chevrolet Tahoe and covering her with a blanket. He's then accused of giving items to a neighbor, including a bag with a gun wrapped in a towel and throwing away the shell casing, a bloody towel and other items into the apartment complex dumpster. A woman who lives next door to the couple told WLWT that Malcom brought her what he called “housewarming gifts.” “It was like a red grill, a little small deep fryer, a little small Christmas tree and some Christmas lights,” she said. “And in the midst of all that, there was the gun wrapped up.” She remembered Kelly, whom she knew as “Sammy,” as a friendly neighbor who offered advice and helped her get food when she needed it. “She’d give you literally the best life advice ever,” she said. “She was literally the sweetest person,” the neighbor added. “She deserves her justice, for sure.” This content is imported from facebook. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Officers remained on the scene until after 2 a.m. on Friday. Police say their investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact (513) 425-7741, (513) 425-7701 or email [email protected]. 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