Samantha Woll, leader of a Detroit synagogue, was found dead outside her home. The local police found the lifeless body on Saturday morning, along with a trail of blood that went from the crime scene to the door of her residence. Authorities are investigating the incident to determine what happened.
Woll, forty years old, had led the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue, located in the center of the city, since 2022. She had previously worked in politics for Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin and on the re-election campaign for Attorney General Dana Nessel, both Democrats.
Indeed, Nessel spoke about the matter in a statement. "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 for her community, state and country. Sam truly used her faith and activism to create a better place for everyone," she said.
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
Mike Duggan, mayor of Detroit, spoke along the same lines, saying he was "devastated" by the loss of "one of Detroit's great young leaders. Just a few weeks ago, I shared a day of joy with Sam at the dedication of the newly renovated Downtown Synagogue. It was a project that she led successfully, with great pride and enthusiasm," he added.
The Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue issued a press release in which it described the murder as something "unexpected" and, at the same time, promised to disseminate more information in the coming hours when the incident begins to become clearer.
