CRIME
Suspect Arrested In Murder Of Detroit Synagogue Leader Samantha Woll
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The Detroit Police Department on Wednesday announced a suspect was in custody in connection with the murder of local synagogue leader Samantha Woll last month.
While this is an encouraging development in our desire to bring closure for Ms. Wolls family, it does not represent the conclusion of our work in this case, Detroit Police Chief James White said in a statement Wednesday. The suspect has not yet been named.
Woll, 40, was found stabbed to death outside her home on the 1300 block of Joliet Place in the Lafayette Park neighborhood on Oct. 21. Police said officers found a trail of blood leading into the home, where they believe the crime occurred before she stumbled outside.
The political and community activist led the Isaac Agree Downtown Detroit Synagogue, after raising funds for its grand re-opening just two months before her death. She has in the past worked for elected Democrats including U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and state Sen. Stephanie Chang.
At Woll’s packed funeral at the Hebrew Memorial Chapel in Oak Park, Nessel and Chang delivered eulogies.
White previously said that no evidence has surfaced suggesting that this crime was motivated by antisemitism, as was feared by many in the wake of the deadly Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants in Israel.
According to police, Woll attended a wedding Friday night and appeared to be in good spirits when she left at around 12:30 a.m.
The details of the investigation will remain confidential at this time to ensure the integrity of the important steps that remain, white said Wednesday. Investigators will be continuing their work with the Wayne County Prosecutors Office until the conclusion of this investigation.
TMX contributed to this article.
