Former Bachelor star Sam Wood has been charged with domestic violence offences following an alleged late-night incident at a luxury Noosa holiday villa.
The 46-year-old fitness entrepreneur was arrested by Queensland Police at the beachfront La Mer resort on Hastings Street on Saturday night. Police charged Wood with assault occasioning bodily harm in a domestic setting and strangulation in a domestic setting early on October 4.
Police and paramedics were called to the $3,000-per-night villa, where Wood was staying with his wife Snezana Markoski, their three young daughters, and his 21-year-old stepdaughter Eve Markoski-Wood. A police spokesperson confirmed the charges, stating, "Police have charged a 46-year-old Victorian man with domestic violence offences early this morning, 4 October. The man has been charged with assault occasioning bodily harm (domestic violence) and strangulation in a domestic setting."
Hours after the arrest, Eve Markoski-Wood raised eyebrows by reposting a video to her TikTok account. The clip showed a group of people gathered inside a home overlaid with the text, "Do you ever leave a social situation and you're just like hmm that was not my best work."
Eve had recently returned from an extended trip through Europe and had been spending a week in Noosa with her family. In the days before the arrest, she regularly posted fashion content, including videos filmed by her mother as she modelled outfits. That stream of content stopped abruptly following the alleged incident, leaving the TikTok repost as her only public social media activity.
Witness accounts at Noosa resort
Guests staying at nearby units at La Mer reported seeing emergency services arrive at the complex late Saturday evening after dinner. One guest noted that she saw a woman let paramedics into the apartment before a woman was taken away by ambulance.
Wood was questioned by police officers at around 9pm before being arrested and taken to the Maroochydore Watchhouse. A male guest said he had seen the family during their stay but did not witness any altercations or arguments, while a female guest recalled that Wood's youngest child had sleepwalked out of the room during their stay. The family packed up and left the apartment later that night.
Wood remains behind bars at the Maroochydore Watchhouse on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, a short-term holding facility for individuals awaiting processing or their first court appearance. He did not appear in person at Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Monday due to mental health concerns.
His lawyer, Mathew Cuskelly, represented him in court and confirmed that a bail application will be heard on Thursday. "He's simply worried about his family. A bail application will be heard on Thursday," Cuskelly said, adding, "The charges will be defended." The full details of the night leading to the arrest are expected to be made public at the bail hearing.
Corporate fallout and business ties
Following the charges, Wood has suffered immediate commercial fallout across his business partnerships. On Tuesday, DBG Health officially terminated his contract, sacking him from the wellness company 28 By Sam Wood. Wood founded the home fitness platform before selling it for $72 million in 2022, though he had remained the face of the business.
Pre-packaged meal company Foxes Den also cut ties with Wood on Monday after working with him for six years. Celebrity trainer Tiffiny Hall, who had strong links to the fitness and nutrition empire, also confirmed she is no longer affiliated with the brand.
Family returns to Melbourne
The Wood family is believed to have returned to Victoria since the arrest, with Snezana bunkering down at one of their Melbourne homes. The couple previously issued a joint statement on Instagram following the alleged domestic violence incident.
Snezana and her two youngest children were seen at a rental property in Brighton, where the children attended school as usual on Tuesday escorted by two women. The family is renting the residence while another property they purchased in Brighton for $7 million in February undergoes renovations.
On Tuesday, neighbours noted that a CCTV camera had been installed overnight at the rented home. Family associates were reportedly seen conducting decoy drives around the block to avoid media vehicles, while close friend Tahlia Jayde visited the property.
Biological father speaks out
In Perth, Eve's biological father, Jason Rapoff, confirmed he has spoken to his daughter via phone since the charges were laid. Rapoff, a paraplegic who broke his back in a dirt bike accident when Eve was an infant and is reportedly estranged from her, said, "Nah, I've spoken to her," when asked if he was concerned.
His mother, Sophia Rapoff, reiterated that her granddaughter is fine following the phone call. "I don't know what was discussed and he will not talk to anybody," Sophia said. "He has been in touch with Eve, she is fine. That's all we're concerned about."
Sophia also addressed false theories circulating on Facebook that suggested her wheelchair-bound son was somehow involved in the incident. "Some people are saying, 'Oh, it might have been him!' He's 5,000km away," she said, emphasizing that he was on the other side of the country.
Expressing her shock over the arrest, Sophia added, "I actually could not believe it. It's the last thing you would ever think. They have got everything. They look happy." She stated she had not seen Eve since Christmas 2019 due to Covid restrictions and Eve moving to New York, where she studies fashion and business at the Parsons School of Design and New York University. "She's doing well for herself, which is good," Sophia said.
Neighbours react to news
A neighbour at the family's rented Brighton home described the Woods as private but friendly, expressing shock at seeing them on the news. "She was a nice woman, they were nice people. Anything you want, anything you need, they'd help," the neighbour said.
The neighbour recounted how Wood once helped her when she was locked out in the cold. "One time, he asked me, 'What are you looking at?' because my gate was closed, it was cold and I couldn't get in, so he helped me. He jumped over the gate and let me in. A very nice man. He said, 'Any time you need anything, just ask.' And then I see him on the news. I was shocked," she said, adding she had not seen Snezana in several days.
Wood first achieved national fame in 2015 as the star of the third season of Channel Ten's dating reality show The Bachelor Australia. He met Snezana Markoski on the series, and the couple married three years later in 2018.
