Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office issues charges in Samantha Woll murder case

Synagogue president killed in October

DETROIT – The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office announced Wednesday, Dec. 13, that charges will be filed in the murder of Samantha Woll.

Update: Detroit man charged with murder in death of Samantha Woll

The clock continues to tick on the 72-hour rule. The person of interest taken into custody must be charged within 72 hours of the arrest, or they will be released.

Woll, a well-known leader in Detroit’s Jewish community, was found stabbed to death outside her Lafayette Park home Oct. 21. Detroit police wrote up its warrant for the case and submitted it to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office for review, which means investigators are confident they found Woll’s killer and presented its evidence to the prosecutor seeking charges. The warrant request signals major movement in the case.

Police did make an arrest in November, but that suspect was later released.

Detroit police are asking for patience because people who loved Woll and those in the Jewish communities want to know if her death was a hate crime. Chief James White has said from the beginning of the investigation that it is not, but the pressure is on Detroit police to show evidence of why they know it was not a hate crime.

Prior coverage:


About the Authors

Local 4 Defender Shawn Ley is an Emmy award-winning journalist who has been with Local 4 News for more than a decade.

Dane Kelly is a digital producer who has been covering various Michigan news stories since 2017.

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