Samantha Woll (Facebook)
The board president of a synagogue in Detroit was found stabbed to death outside her home, and while police don’t yet have a motive, her death comes amid increased threats across the country during the Israeli-Hamas conflict in the Middle East, officials said.
Samantha Woll, the board president at Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue, was found dead, her friends and colleagues reported.
Detroit police issued a short news release outlining the incident without naming her or providing many details. They said they responded early Saturday morning to a 911 call in the 1300 block of Joliet Place about an unresponsive individual lying on the ground. Once there, authorities said they found the victim with multiple stab wounds and declared her dead at the scene. While there, police said they saw a trail of blood leading to the victim’s residence and think that’s where she was killed, but officials released no other details.
“We are shocked and saddened to learn of the unexpected death of Samantha Woll, our board president,” the synagogue said in a Facebook post. “At this point, we do not have more information but will share more when it becomes available. May her memory be a blessing.”
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said on X, formerly Twitter, that Woll was among the kindest people she knew.
“She was driven by her sincere love of her community, state and country. Sam truly used her faith and activism to create a better place for everyone.”
U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Lansing, said on X that Woll “dedicated her short life to building understanding across faiths, bringing light in the face of darkness.”
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“My heart aches that we have lost someone so dedicated to serving others in such a senseless act,” she wrote. “I’ll miss her relentless desire to serve & her bright smile seemingly everywhere across the Detroit area. Team Slotkin shares in the deep grief of her family & her greater community.”
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said in a statement he was devastated to learn of “one of Detroit’s great young leaders — Samantha Woll.”
“Just weeks ago, I shared a day of joy with Sam at the dedication of the newly renovated Downtown Synagogue,” the statement said. “It was a project she successfully led with great pride and enthusiasm. Sam’s loss has left a huge hole in the Detroit community. This entire city joins with her family and friends in mourning her tragic death.”
The killing comes after U.S. Attorney Merrick Garland said in a news conference on Thursday that he directed all 94 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the FBI to be in close touch with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners in their districts amid bloody violence in the Middle East.
“Yesterday I met with, and today and tomorrow I will continue to meet with, our U.S. Attorneys and federal, state, and local law enforcement officials here in Florida,” he said. “I have also directed our U.S. Attorneys to reach out to religious and other community leaders in their districts to reaffirm our commitment to them and to assess what additional support they may need.”
The Anti-Defamation League reported a spike in antisemitic incidents in 2022 — the third time in five years that the year-end total was the highest number recorded.
Police were asking anyone with information to contact the Homicide Section as soon as possible at 313-596-2260.
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