Detroit synagogue president murdered, police seek motive

By Sharon Bernstein

(Reuters) – The president of a Detroit synagogue was found stabbed to death on Saturday outside her home in the Lafayette Park neighborhood, authorities and local media said.

The death of Samantha Woll, 40, an adviser to Democratic politicians and president of Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue, was confirmed by the synagogue on Facebook (NASDAQ:).

“We are shocked and saddened to learn of the unexpected death of Samantha Woll, our Board President,” the synagogue said. “At this point we do not have more information, but will share more when it becomes available.”

The Detroit Police Department said the body of a woman was found in the 1300 block of Joliet Place in Detroit, where a trail of blood led to her home.

There was no information about a possible motive by Saturday afternoon, police said. Police did not confirm that the woman was Woll, but media outlets including the Detroit Free Press and Detroit area politicians said that she was the victim.

Woll’s death sparked an outpouring of grief in Jewish and Democratic circles.

“Sam was as kind a person as I’ve ever known,” Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel wrote on X, formerly called Twitter. “She was driven by her sincere love of her community, state and country.”

Elissa Slotkin, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for whom Woll had worked, said she was “heartbroken” at the news. “Sam worked for me from nearly the moment I became a Congresswoman, helping us set up the office & helping to lead it for my full first term.”

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