Michael Stirling, 32, stood in the dock at North Staffordshire Magistrates’ Court this morning and was remanded in custody.
He was not required to enter any pleas during the three-minute hearing and spoke to only confirm his name, address and date of birth.
Stirling, from Stoke-on-Trent, was charged with murder between July 26 and August 5. He will appear at Stafford Crown Court on August 8.
Police have been probing claims that Stirling fell out with the midwife, 28, whose body was found near the city.
He was arrested along with his 60-year-old father Stephen, who is being quizzed for possibly assisting an offender.
A body found on wasteland on Saturday was confirmed to be Samantha’s yesterday morning. The 28 year old had been missing eight days.
And according to the Daily Mail, Samantha told a co-worker at Royal Stoke University Hospital she had been threatened before her disappearance.
A source told the paper: “Samantha asked one of her colleagues to report it if she didn’t turn up for work.
“And that is what happened on the Friday night, that is why the police were called so quickly.
“She must have feared something like this would happen – that’s why she set up this raising the alarm thing with her colleague.”
A GoFundMe page set up to raise money for the tragic midwife's funeral has already made more than £3,600.
Sister Gemma Eastwood, 26, shared the page and wrote: "This has been set up so we can give me sister the send off she deserves."
The page was set up by friend Beth Taylor on Sunday and it has already raised a third of the £10,00 target.
A message on the page reads: "Samantha was a lovely young woman who helped to bring so many lives into this world.
"She had a bright future ahead of her and sadly this was taken away far too soon. Samantha's story has been followed by midwives and NHS workers worldwide.
"They have been touched by the kinds words from mothers Samantha had cared for and colleagues who have worked alongside her.
"Samantha has been described as a warm, gentle, kind woman and will be remembered for her amazing efforts as a midwife and will be truly missed by many.
"Samantha's extended NHS family would like to support her mother Carole, and sister Gemma in their time of grief by contributing to Samantha's funeral costs and to ensure one of our shining stars has the send off she deserves."
Michael, a fencing worker, married his wife Katie who is the sister of Samantha’s ex John Peake, 34.
Cops arrested Michael on suspicion of kidnap last week.
He was nicked again following the grim find at Caverswall, near Stoke-on-Trent. Detectives were last night searching his and Katie’s home in the city.
Stephen and an unnamed 28-year-old, thought to be a family friend, were being quizzed over assisting an offender.
Forensic teams were scouring Stephen and 57-year-old wife Carol’s semi less than a mile from their son’s home.
The arrests came amid claims of a fall-out between Michael and Samantha.
A source said: “Everyone is in utter shock, Stephen and his wife are lovely people.
“Michael is a real outdoorsy type of man. He would often go camping with family.”
Samantha went missing after finishing work at Royal Stoke Hospital at 7.45am on July 27.
When she failed to turn up for work at 7pm, a ward colleague called cops within 20 minutes to report her missing.
She and John Peake had been due to marry in June but the wedding was called off in January without explanation.
Just weeks ago she put her dress up for sale for £400.
In a statement released by Staffordshire Police, Ms Eastwood's family thanked supporters for their efforts.
They said: "The family of Samantha would like to ask that their privacy is respected at this terrible time.
"We would like to say 'thank you' to all the people who followed Samantha's story and tried their best to help."
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