23 October 2023 , 18:57
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Police have released details into the harrowing murder of a woman who was fatally stabbed at her home.
40-year-old Samantha Woll's body was found at her home Saturday morning after a caller alerted officers to a person lying on the ground unresponsive. Police said in a press conference that Woll attended a wedding on Friday night and returned home shortly after midnight.
She was assaulted sometime between 12:30 and 6:30am, when her body was found, according to the police. Her death has not been linked to a hate crime so far, according to investigators, who said Sunday that no evidence suggesting an antisemitism motive has been found.
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Detroit police officers near the scene where Samantha Woll was found dead (AFP via Getty Images)Deputy Chief Carrie Sloan said that "extensive information" has been gained during the investigation, and that interviews are ongoing as the police is seeking possible motives. Police Chief James E. White also said during the press conference that no signs of forced entry were found at Woll's home and it is believed that the suspect acted alone.
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He added that details have been obtained that are only known to investigators and the suspect, which will not be revealed yet. Woll, or “Sam” as she was known to friends and family, led the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue, and was a campaign staffer for Attorney General Dana Nessel and former aide to Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin.
Samantha Woll, left, poses with Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel (AP)She was born and raised in the Detroit area and was a University of Michigan graduate. She became the president of the board of directors at Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue in 2022.
Mourners gathered to pay respects to the deceased at her funeral Sunday. “You so deeply wanted peace for this world. You fought for everyone regardless of who they were or where they came from,” said Monica Woll Rosen, directly addressing her late sister before mourners at the Jewish funeral home. "You were the definition of a leader. Our world is shattered without you."
Mourners noted the crowd was comprised of people belonging to many different religions, which friends and family said symbolized who Woll was. She was credited for her interfaith work, including by Muslim advocacy groups. Family members said she looked for ways to connect to other movements, including Black Lives Matter.
Samantha Woll had led the Isaac Agree Downtown Detroit Synagogue since 2022 (Linkedin)Colleagues remembered how she loved travel, the arts and had an “infectious smile” that would light up a room. The service included moments of levity about her nature, with jokes about her food allergies and how when she was complimented on something she wore, she would remove it and give it away.
Nessel, who called Woll one of her most enthusiastic supporters, said she had been looking at old photos and marveling at how active she was.
The scene where Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue president, Samantha Woll, was found dead (AFP via Getty Images)“She was at every campaign event, every political protest, every religious service, every ribbon cutting. I think I saw her in a picture of the moon landing,” Nessel joked. "I don’t know how she could be so many places at the same time.” The last text message Woll sent was a heart to a friend, according to her sister.
“You sent hearts to cheer people up and let them know you were thinking of them because you cared,” Monica Woll Rosen said, addressing her late sister. “A light has gone out in Detroit, in our hearts, for our people, for the world."