Authorities say that the president of Detroit's synagogue board was found fatally stabbed outside her home early Saturday, and the perp has not been taken in custody yet. The motive isn't clear at the moment. Samantha Woll, 40, who led the Issac Agree Downtown Synagogue, suffered from multiple stab wounds.
The synagogue said in a statement on Facebook, "We are shocked and saddened to learn of the unexpected death of Samantha Woll, our Board President. May her memory be a blessing."
NBC News reports:
Authorities said a 911 call was made to Woll's home early Saturday, reporting an individual lying on the ground unresponsive. Police discovered multiple stab wounds on Woll's body and found a trail of blood leading to her house, where they believe the crime occurred.
An investigation is underway. At this time, the motive for the crime remains unknown.
Woll had ties to state Democrats. She previously worked for Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin and served on the re-election campaign for Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.
The local authorities followed a trail of blood that led to Woll's home, where investigators believe the murder occurred.
Slotkin praised Woll's dedication to serving Detroit communities.
"She did for our team as Deputy District Director what came so naturally to her: helping others & serving constituents," Slotkin wrote in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter. "Separately, in politics & in the Jewish community, she dedicated her short life to building understanding across faiths, bringing light in the face of darkness."
Nessel expressed shock and horror at her death.
"Sam was as kind a person as I've ever known," she said.
"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."
Democratic Michigan State Representative Noah Arbit described Woll on Facebook as "love and light personified."
"Sam was a gift to this world and it is inconceivable that someone could commit such an act of evil against another human being, let alone one so good as Sam Woll," he said.
I hope this isn't part of the pattern of anti-Semitism we've been seeing lately in the U.S., especially since Hamas launched a war on Israel.
