Killing of Samantha Woll explained

Samantha Woll
Birth Date:15 June 1983
Birth Place:Detroit, Michigan
Death Place:Detroit, Michigan
Occupation:President of Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue

Samantha Woll (June 15, 1983[1] – October 21, 2023) was a Jewish community leader, founder of the Muslim-Jewish Forum of Detroit, the president of Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue in Detroit, Michigan. On October 21, 2023, she was found stabbed to death outside her home.[2] Her killing, amid increased tensions during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, drew international attention, but police ruled out antisemitic motivations for her slaying.

Early life

Woll graduated from Hillel Day School (1997), Cranbrook Kingswood Upper School (2001)[3] [4] and attended the University of Michigan.[5]

Career

Woll was the founder of the Muslim-Jewish Forum of Detroit. In 2015, in the wake of the November 2015 Paris attacks, she helped bring high school students of Muslim and Jewish faith together through an essay and art contest in a public event at Wayne State University organized through Greater Detroit Muslim Jewish Solidarity Council.[6] U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib called Woll a friend and an organizing community member.[2]

From c.2017, Woll served as Detroit's Jewish Community Relations Council/AJC board of directors member[7] [8] and was co-chair of the AJC's ACCESS Detroit Young Leadership Program.

In 2017 she was selected by the Detroit Jewish News as one of their "36 under 36".[9]

From 2019 to 2021, she worked as deputy district director on the political campaign of Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin. She also worked on the re-election campaign of Attorney General Dana Nessel.[2]

Woll became president of the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue in 2022.[10]

Death

On October 21, 2023, Woll was found stabbed to death outside her home in Detroit's Lafayette Park neighborhood. She was 40.[2] Her killing, during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, drew international attention, but police ruled out anti-Jewish motivations for her slaying.[11] [12]

In early November, Detroit Police arrested a suspect, whom The Detroit News reported was an acquaintance of Woll, then released that person without charges.[13] [14] [15]

On December 10, a different "person of interest" was arrested for Woll's murder.[16] [17] The suspect, Michael Jackson-Bolanos, 28, of Detroit, was officially charged with murder, home invasion and lying to investigators on December 13. Woll's blood was found on his jacket.[18] He entered a plea of not guilty.[19] Jackson-Bolanos was convicted of lying to police, but was acquitted of first degree murder. The jury was deadlocked on charges of felony murder and home invasion.[20] These deadlocked charges were later dismissed, but he was sentenced to 18 months to 15 years on the charge of lying to police.[21]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Obituary for SAMANTHA WOLL . 2023-10-22 . October 22, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231022165642/https://www.hebrewmemorial.org/obituaries/Samantha-Woll/#!/Obituary . live .
  2. News: Violet . Ikonomova . Detroit synagogue president Samantha Woll found dead outside her home . Detroit Free Press . October 21, 2023 . October 21, 2023 . October 21, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231021191933/https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2023/10/21/samantha-woll-dead-isaac-agree-downtown-detroit-synagogue-president/71271616007/ . live.
  3. News: Hitsky . Alan . Cap & Gown . 23 October 2023 . . 11 May 2001 . djn-2001-capgown . https://web.archive.org/web/20231023130041/https://digital.bentley.umich.edu/djnews/djn.2001.05.11.001/91 . 23 October 2023 . 3,75–91.
  4. News: Mazel tov class of 2001 / Hillel Day School class of 1997 . 22 October 2023 . . 11 May 2001 . djn-2001 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231022201836/https://digital.bentley.umich.edu/djnews/djn.2001.05.11.001/74 . 22 October 2023 . 74.
  5. News: Edmonds . Colbi . October 21, 2023 . Synagogue Leader Is Killed in Detroit, but Motive Is Not Known, Authorities Say . The New York Times . October 22, 2023 . October 22, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231022013925/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/21/us/detroit-synagogue-stabbing-samantha-woll.html . live.
  6. Web site: Muslim and Jewish Communities Come Together: 'We Refuse to be Enemies' . wdet.org . November 19, 2015 . 2023-10-21 . 0307-1235 . October 23, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231023141927/https://wdet.org/2015/11/19/muslim-and-jewish-communities-come-together-we-refuse-to-be-enemies/ . live .
  7. News: JCRC/AJC Election . 23 October 2023 . . 8 June 2017 . djn-08-June-2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231023183814/https://digital.bentley.umich.edu/djnews/djn.2017.06.08.001/22 . 23 October 2023 . 22.
  8. Web site: 2023-2024 Board . JCRC/AJC . 23 October 2023 . jcrcajc-board . https://web.archive.org/web/20231023185231/https://jcrcajc.org/board/ . 23 October 2023.
  9. News: Allweiss Ingber . Esther . Thirty-six under 36 . 23 October 2023 . . 12 January 2017 . djn-36under36 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231023191421/https://digital.bentley.umich.edu/djnews/djn.2017.01.12.001/30 . 23 October 2023 . 30.
  10. News: Sabur . Rozina . 2023-10-21 . Prominent Jewish leader found stabbed to death in Detroit . en-GB . The Telegraph . 2023-10-21 . 0307-1235 . October 21, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231021213534/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/10/21/prominent-jewish-leader-found-stabbed-to-death-in-detroit/ . live .
  11. Web site: Detroit police confident synagogue president's slaying 'not motivated by antisemitism' . 2023-10-25 . . en-US . October 25, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231025030646/https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2023/10/23/detroit-police-samantha-woll-antisemitism-suspect-person-of-interest/71290876007/ . live .
  12. News: October 23, 2023 . 'Persons of Interest' Identified in Killing of Detroit Synagogue Leader, Police Say . . October 26, 2023 . October 25, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231025052619/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/23/us/detroit-synagogue-samantha-woll-killing.html . live .
  13. News: Hunter . George . Snell . Robert . Police release suspect in Samantha Woll homicide as investigation continues . November 11, 2023 . . November 11, 2023.
  14. News: Vargas . Ramon Antonio . Suspect in killing of Samantha Woll released from custody without charges . November 11, 2023 . . November 11, 2023.
  15. Web site: Who Killed Samantha Woll? For 2nd Time, Police Announce Person of Interest Taken into Custody. People.com.
  16. Web site: 'Person of interest' taken into custody amid investigation into Detroit synagogue leader Samantha Woll's killing, police say. CNN. Artemis. Moshtaghian. 10 December 2023.
  17. News: Hutchinson . Derick . Samantha Woll case: Everything we know about the murder, new charges. 28-year-old man facing murder charge . 15 December 2023 . . 14 December 2023.
  18. News: Sahouri . Andrea May . Samantha Woll's blood was found on suspect's jacket – but he claims innocence . 15 December 2023 . . 14 December 2023.
  19. Web site: 13 December 2023 . Man charged with murder of Detroit synagogue leader Samantha Woll . 14 December 2023 . . Associated Press.
  20. News: Baldas . Tresa . Kaufman . Gina . Prestininzi . Jenna . Jury reaches not guilty verdict on first-degree murder charge in Samantha Woll case . 19 August 2024 . Detroit Free Press.
  21. News: Brasch . Ben . Judge dismisses murder charge in Detroit synagogue leader’s killing . 19 August 2024 . The Washington Post . 10 August 2024.

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