Samantha Melamed
Philly Inquirer
Philadelphia, PA, United States
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Past articles by Samantha:
Four takeaways from the ‘Predator in Blue’ investigation into homicide detective Philip Nordo
Inquirer reporters spent months reviewing thousands of pages of police and court records, listened to dozens of recorded jail phone calls involving Nordo, and conducted dozens of interviews. → Read More
Philip Nordo was an esteemed PPD homicide detective in ‘the perfect place’ to prey on incarcerated men
He sexually assaulted witnesses, misdirected thousands of dollars in city funds, and locked up an unknown number of innocent men in murder cases. How did he get away with it for so long? → Read More
A Philly homicide detective has been charged with sexually assaulting the mother of a murder victim
Donald Suchinsky was charged with aggravated indecent assault and suspended with intent to dismiss from the Philadelphia Police Department. → Read More
Second exoneration in a week tied to misconduct by fired Philly homicide detective
Christopher Goodwin was incarcerated more than a decade for murder, even though the two eyewitnesses at his trial recanted and said they were coerced by Detective James Pitts. → Read More
Philly Police bench detective accused of sexually assaulting a homicide victim’s mother
The woman alleged it was part of a pattern of sexual misconduct in which homicide Detective Donald Suchinsky targeted victims to take advantage of their desire for justice and his position of power. → Read More
Eight more Philly cops were benched amid widening probe into a city antiviolence program
The officers' guns were taken after an Inquirer investigation found they were improperly paid $76,000 in city funds to coach boxing. Children of police also got thousands of dollars to participate. → Read More
Philadelphia Police Department moved to fire a controversial captain. He abruptly resigned.
Nashid Akil was a no-show as captain of Philly's 22nd Police District, and the target of two probes into misuse of city grant funds. His career ended over an unrelated incident. → Read More
Philly police bench a captain under investigation for paying himself with anti-violence grant
Nashid Akil had created Guns Down Gloves Up, a youth boxing program as his signature community engagement initiative. A city grant it received is now the target of two investigations. → Read More
The Pa. Attorney General is probing ABC Capital, a former Philly real estate firm accused of scams
ABC Capital, formerly based in Northern Liberties, solicited foreign investors to fuel well over 1,000 house-flipping projects in Philadelphia, Baltimore and elsewhere over the past decade. → Read More
How a Philadelphia antiviolence grant improperly funneled $76,000 to city police staffers
The Guns Down Gloves Up program was among 31 grantees awarded $13.5 million by the city. It is now the target of a police Internal Affairs investigation, and a probe by the city Inspector General. → Read More
A Philly man is freed, and 2 others win new trials in cases tainted by predator detective
Prosecutors agreed Marvin Hill could not possibly have committed the murder. The case, investigated by ex-homicide detective Philip Nordo, was rife with allegations of coercion and sexual misconduct. → Read More
Jewish tradition of Christmas in Chinatown this year includes protest of 76ers arena plan
The group sang Christmas carols adapted to highlight the feared impacts of the $1.3 billion 76 Place, which would reach from 10th and Market Streets across Filbert to Chinatown's doorstep. → Read More
Christmas bailouts by Meek Mill, bail funds bring Philadelphians home for the holiday
“No one should have to spend the holidays in jail simply because they can’t afford bail,” Meek Mill said in a statement, “and no child should be without their parents during this time." → Read More
Washington won’t cross the Delaware this Christmas: High waters stymy reenactment
Citing dangerously high water levels and icy conditions, Washington Crossing Historic Park canceled this year’s expedition across the river. Other festivities were set to continue → Read More
Abington police are still trying to ID a woman who died after a car hit her Friday
Police are still investigating to determine how fast the car was going, whether the traffic light was green or red, and whether the elderly woman was in the crosswalk when the car hit her. → Read More
A ‘miracle’ in Mount Laurel: A kitten-catcher’s pre-dawn rescue mission
"I was thinking [of naming her] Miracle. We found her before the weather turned really brutally cold. She most likely would not have survived." → Read More
After 25 years on Pennsylvania death row, an exonerated man was fatally shot at a funeral
Christopher Williams left more than 25 years on death row "a champion for justice," friends and family said. His fatal shooting at a funeral Friday remains under investigation. → Read More
He was locked up by a Philly homicide cop now in prison for misconduct. Is his conviction tainted?
Milique Wagner is serving life for murder even though two prosecution witnesses said their statements were fabricated. Now that Detective Philip Nordo is in prison, Wagner is hoping for a second look. → Read More
ABC Capital was one of Philly’s biggest real-estate companies. Critics call it a ‘big fat nasty scam.’
How ABC Capital, an alleged Ponzi scheme fueled by foreign cash, left a legacy of blight across Philly. → Read More
Grand jury finds kids were endangered at Delaware County juvenile detention center
The probe led by the Attorney General's Office found systemic problems and a “dangerous absence of oversight” enabled rampant violence, sexual abuse, and other maltreatment. → Read More