Police Seek Charges In Killing Of Detroit Jewish Leader

DETROIT — Police are preparing to charge a person of interest who was arrested in connection with the killing of Samantha Woll, a leader in Detroit’s Jewish community, according to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office.

Prosecutors said Tuesday officials were reviewing the warrant request, but did not provide any additional details.

"While this is a very promising step in this investigation, the process of moving from the warrant submission to prosecution can be very involved. We continue to ask for the community's patience in this matter while we proceed with the important work ahead," Detroit Police said in a statement.

The request for charges comes after Detroit Police arrested a second person in connection with the killing on Sunday. Police did not identify the person of interest, but two sources told The Detroit News that the suspect appears to be a stranger to Woll and is not the same person who was arrested last month.

In November, Detroit Police initially arrested a person of interest in connection with the killing, but later released the man without filing charges.

Officers found Woll, 40, dead from multiple stab wounds early Oct. 21 outside her home in the 1300 block of Joliet Place, a neighborhood just east of downtown, police said.

Police said officers then followed a "trail of blood" that led detectives to Woll’s home, where investigators believe she was attacked before she stumbled outside and collapsed where her body was found.

Police said officers found her body at roughly 6:30 a.m. Oct. 21, hours after she left a wedding around 12:30 a.m. He would not confirm whether Woll left the wedding alone.

Police said there was no sign of forced entry to Woll’s home, or any defensive wounds on Woll. He did not say how many times Woll was stabbed before she died, indicating that releasing some details could harm the investigation.

Police do not believe antisemitism played a role in the killing. Police also said they don't believe any other groups or people are at risk.

Woll was well known in the Detroit community and served as the board president of the Isaac Agree Downtown Detroit Synagogue in Downtown Detroit.

Anyone who knows something about her murder is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP or visit 1800speakup.org. All Crime Stoppers tipsters will remain 100 percent anonymous.