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Detroit police: ‘Several persons of interest’ in murder of synagogue president Samantha Woll

“At this time, no evidence has surfaced suggesting that this crime was motivated by antisemitism,” the police added.

Samantha Woll
JCRC/AJC board member Samantha Woll lighting candles in March 2018. Credit: Courtesy of JCRC/AJC.

The Detroit Police Department announced on Monday that it has identified “several persons of interest” in the murder of Samantha Woll, president of the egalitarian Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue, over the weekend.

“The evening of Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, the victim, Samantha Woll, was at an event. She left that event and returned home at approximately 12:30 a.m. Saturday morning,” stated James E. White, chief of the Detroit police.

“She was discovered deceased outside her home at approximately 6:30 a.m. Saturday morning,” he added. “At this time, no evidence has surfaced suggesting that this crime was motivated by antisemitism.”

The Detroit police, which is working with the Michigan State Police and the FBI, added that it does not believe that there are risks to any groups or individuals.

Speaking at the funeral, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, on whose campaign Woll worked as political director, said that her deceased friend “may have been the nicest person that I have ever met or will ever meet in my lifetime.”

“Her killer will not rob us of the memory of her joy and warmth and kindness that she leaves behind in all of us and in all she’s done,” Nessel added.

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