Samatha was last seen in the early morning hours leaving in a Willard's cab from the club where she worked as an exotic dancer, the Sugar Bares VIP Club. Her family reported her as missing on April 8 after learning she had not been at work for a few days and that no one had seen her.

According to Samatha's live-in boyfriend, they argued on the morning of the 6th, with Samatha leaving and stating she was going to get a newspaper and find a new place to live. He said she had left before and usually returned within a few days, so he was not concerned until her family became so. According to a Winston-Salem Journal article, he says he has given a blood sample and passed a lie detector test. Additionally, the article stated that he offered a substantial reward for anyone providing information that leads to Samatha.