Sometimes, acts of kindness come with unexpected and heartbreaking consequences.
Samantha Mickleburgh’s decision to spend a birthday weekend with her ex-fiancé was meant to be a final gesture of goodwill. Instead, it ended in tragedy.
The Crime at a Luxury Hotel in Surrey
James Cartwright, 61, was found guilty of raping and murdering Samantha at the upscale Pennyhill Park Hotel in Bagshot, Surrey.
The jury at Guildford Crown Court delivered a unanimous verdict, convicting him of both charges but clearing him of controlling and coercive behavior.
Samantha, a 54-year-old mother of two from Axminster, Devon, was found dead in a twin room on the morning of April 14 last year.
She had agreed to stay with Cartwright in that hotel room because she didn’t want him to feel lonely on his birthday, the court heard.
The Final Morning and the 999 Call
At around 8:30 a.m. the next day, Cartwright called emergency services, claiming he had found Samantha dead beside him in bed.
However, the story he told soon unraveled under scrutiny.
A Relationship Filled With Complexities
The two had a complicated past.
Cartwright had lent Samantha tens of thousands of pounds to help renovate a property she purchased earlier in 2023.
At the time of her death, he claimed she owed him about £100,000.
They had lived together and gotten engaged the previous year, with Cartwright proposing during a beach holiday.
He described their relationship then as loving and friendly.
But tensions grew when Cartwright discovered intimate messages from Samantha’s former partner on her devices.
One confrontation escalated in October when Cartwright blocked Samantha from leaving their home by standing in front of her car after a disagreement.
Although he apologized afterward, their trust had clearly broken down.
Growing Distrust and Separation
Despite remaining physically close, Cartwright admitted to losing trust.
Two weeks before Samantha moved out, he found more messages between her and her ex but chose not to confront her directly.
After they separated, Cartwright started chatting with women on a dating app, describing a dinner with Samantha as a “final farewell” or “last goodbye.”
He insisted he was only looking for companionship, not starting new relationships.
The Scene Discovered by Hotel Staff and Paramedics
James Pettitt, the guest relations manager at Pennyhill Park Hotel, recalled how he and paramedics found Cartwright naked and screaming loudly in the hotel room.
Samantha was lying face-up on the bed with dried blood around her nose.
Paramedics decided not to attempt CPR, concluding Samantha had been dead for some time.
Pettitt described Cartwright’s behavior as loud and self-focused rather than genuinely grieving.
After her body was placed in a mortuary bag and loaded onto the ambulance, Cartwright followed closely, making noises that seemed like crying but without tears.
Before the ambulance left, Cartwright even waved it goodbye, kissed the bag where Samantha’s head rested, and said “bye-bye.”
Cartwright’s Strange Actions After Samantha’s Death
Returning to the room, Cartwright rummaged through Samantha’s handbag and took a car key and a piece of jewelry — described as a diamond bracelet or necklace.
When questioned, he said he would “take care of that.”
He also told staff a story that Samantha had rolled out of bed, hit her head on a bedside table, and suffered a nosebleed, which he tried to stop by pinching her nose.
Family’s Heartfelt Tribute
Samantha’s family expressed relief at the guilty verdict but grief over their loss.
They remembered her as the kindest and brightest light in their lives — a loving daughter, mother, sister, and friend.
They acknowledged that justice couldn’t bring her back but hoped the conviction offered some closure and assurance that Cartwright would no longer harm anyone else.
They asked for privacy as they adjusted to life without her vibrant presence.
Police and Prosecutors Speak Out
Detective Inspector Debbie Birch highlighted Samantha’s compassionate nature and her wish to be kind even to someone she had ended things with.
Tragically, Cartwright’s possessiveness and refusal to let her move on led to her death.
The Crown Prosecution Service condemned Cartwright’s “vicious and murderous attack,” pointing to forensic evidence showing Samantha had been strangled and suffered a severe head injury.
They emphasized how Cartwright’s version of events clashed with what Samantha’s friends and family knew about their troubled relationship.
Senior Crown Prosecutor Moses Koroma explained that Samantha had spent that weekend trying to be kind to Cartwright, worried he’d be lonely on his 60th birthday.
Instead, Cartwright took advantage of her generosity with a brutal assault.
What Comes Next?
With James Cartwright convicted and justice served, Samantha’s family hopes to heal from this dark chapter.
Her story reminds us how important it is to recognize warning signs and protect those we care about from harm — even when it comes from someone close.