Detroit police search for suspect, motive in killing of synagogue president Samantha Woll

Local, state and federal authorities on Monday are searching for a suspect and a motive in the killing of a beloved synagogue president who was found fatally stabbed in Detroit over the weekend – an incident that's prompted an outpouring of mournful messages and celebrations of Samantha Woll's life and public service.

Woll, 40, was found in the city's upscale Lafayette Park neighborhood at 6:30 a.m. Saturday and was pronounced dead at the scene. A trail of blood led back to her nearby home, where investigators said Woll was likely stabbed.

No one has been arrested in connection with the case and authorities have not released any information about a potential suspect or motive as of Monday morning. "At this time, there is no new updated regarding the Samantha Woll incident," Detroit police Cpl. Dan Donakowski said Monday in an email to USA TODAY.

On Sunday, Detroit Police Chief James White said there's no evidence suggesting Woll's killing was motivated by antisemitism. White added that his department "has been leveraging every law enforcement and community resource it has to help further the investigation.” He has previously urged the public to not draw conclusions until "all of the available facts are reviewed."

The police department in a Sunday statement on X, formerly Twitter, said investigators were working with the FBI to "forensically analyze all of the information obtained up to this point in an effort to ascertain the timeline that ultimately led to Ms. Woll's death."

Further, multiple people "with information that may further this investigation" were being interviewed, the statement said.

Woll's life of public service heralded by community

Woll led the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue in Detroit and was heavily involved in local, state and national politics. She previously worked for U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin and Michigan State Sen. Stephanie Chang, and on the reelection campaign of Michigan's Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel. Woll also founded the Muslim-Jewish Forum of Detroit, a grassroots organization aimed at building relationships between young adults of those faiths.

New Jersey Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman in a statement on X said she was "deeply saddened" about Woll's death and praised the organization she founded, adding: "Efforts like hers are needed now more than ever. May her memory be a blessing."

On Sunday, friends, family and synagogue members met at the Hebrew Memorial Chapel in Oak Park, Michigan, and remembered Woll as more than a community leader.

Woll's sister, Dr. Monica Woll Rosen, shared loving memories of her sister and described her as the "kindest, most generous human I've ever met."

"Your soul was beautiful and pure. You loved with all your heart. You never said no but how can I help?" Woll Rosen said, addressing her late sister. "You so deeply wanted peace for this world. You fought for everyone regardless of who they were or where they came from. You were the definition of a leader. Our world is shattered without you."

'She was omnipresent'

Mourners noted that attendees of the service included people belonging to many different religions, which friends and family said symbolized who Woll was. Many, including Nessel, had praised Woll for her sense of justice for all and the interfaith work she had done in the community.

Loved ones, such as family, friends and colleagues, spoke through tears and laughter as they spoke about her nature. They made jokes about her food allergies and how when she was complimented on something she wore, she would take it off and offer it.

Nessel called statements and sentiments about Woll "a fact" and "not an opinion," especially Woll's "passion for equal treatment for all people in every space." Nessel shared that she had been looking at old photos and was amazed at how active Woll was.

"She was omnipresent," Nessel joked. “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. I don’t know how she could be so many places at the same time."

Contributing: John Bacon, Violet Ikonomova, Andrea May Sahouri, Thao Nguyen