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Samantha Woll, the 40-year-old president of Isaac Agree Downtown Detroit Synagogue, was found dead outside her home on Saturday morning.No evidence found so far indicates that anti-Semitism motivated the fatal stabbing of a local synagogue leader, law enforcement said on Sunday.
The gruesome incident took place amid increased concerns for the safety of Jewish people in the United States and abroad as Israel fights Hamas after the group launched terrorist attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7 that killed an estimated 1,400-plus people.
“The investigation into the death of Ms. Woll remains ongoing. At this time, however, no evidence has surfaced suggesting that this crime was motivated by antisemitism,” Detroit Police Chief James White said in a statement posted to X.
Detroit police are working with the FBI “to forensically analyze all of the information obtained up to this point in an effort to ascertain the timeline that ultimately led to Ms. Woll’s death,” White said.
“Individuals with information that may further this investigation are being interviewed. I again ask the community to remain patient while our investigators and law enforcement partners continue their work,” White added. “Everything that can be done to bring this matter to closure is being called into service.”
As reported by the Detroit Free Press, police said officers were called over at around 6:30 a.m. when a woman was found lying unresponsive on the ground outside of Woll’s home in the Lafayette Park neighborhood.
Officials said medical personnel later pronounced the woman dead at the scene.
“While at the scene, police officers observed a trail of blood leading officers to the victim’s residence, which is where the crime is believed to have occurred,” said Detroit police Cpl. Dan Donakowski, according to the Associated Press.
The Isaac Agree Downtown Detroit Synagogue confirmed Woll had died in a post to Facebook on Saturday.
“We are shocked and saddened to learn of the unexpected death of Samantha Woll, our Board President,” the post said.
Woll had done work for Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, who is also a Democrat, in the past. Both posted tributes to Woll, as did Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI).
I am shocked, saddened and horrified to learn of Sam’s brutal murder. Sam was as kind a person as I’ve ever known. 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. pic.twitter.com/gIYRP4USaj
— Dana Nessel (@dananessel) October 21, 2023
A funeral service for Woll was held on Sunday.
Woll’s sister, Dr. Monica Woll Rosen, said her late sibling was the “kindest, most generous human I’ve ever met” and “so deeply wanted peace for this world,” according to USA Today.
May she RIP- our thoughts goes out to her family and friends.
