Samantha Woll murder: Detroit Police Chief tightlipped on investigation, says it wasn't a hate crime

DETROIT (FOX 2) - Detroit Police Chief James White is remaining tightlipped about the investigation into the murder of Samantha Woll, a Detroit synagogue president who was killed outside of her home this weekend.

White spoke during a press conference from DPD headquarters to announce details about the murder and the investigation. As of Sunday, police did not have a suspect in custody and had said that her murder was not believed to have been linked to any kind of antisemitism.

Monday afternoon, White reiterated that point multiple times, saying that there are no suspects in custody but that they don't believe anyone else is being targeted.

"We don't feel, as of this press conference, that we think there is evidence to support anyone evidence of anyone else being at risk," he said.

White called the press conference but did not release many details, citing the sensitivity of the investigation. He said that there are key details that only the suspect would know that they would not release about the murder.

Woll, 40, was found stabbed to death outside of her home around 6:30 on Saturday morning. 

The chief did lay out a timeline of events for Woll's death and said that she got home from a wedding around 12:30 Saturday morning. Six hours later, police were called to a report of someone lying on the sidewalk near her home.

White said it's believed she was attacked inside her home, then stumbled outside where she collapsed and died.

Project Green Light camera footage is being reviewed, as are neighbor's home surveillance equipment nearby. White said they're reviewing Woll's track from the wedding back to her home and see if there were any cars that were spotted near her multiple times, for example.

"When we look at the case, there are certain tracks that these types of cases take when we talk about hate crimes. there are certain tracks that they take," White said. "We are confident with the information that we have that this is not (a hate crime)….with what we have right now."

White also said they are not ruling out anything and will go where the information and evidence takes them.

"Right now, the evidence has not taken us there (to a hate crime)," he said.

White said they are ‘confident’ they are on the right track with the investigation but they could not release more details at this time. He said that they are not ruling out anyone as a suspect at this time.

Chief White urged anyone who lives near Woll's home to check their video cameras and, if they saw anything, to contact police. 

Woll was the board president at Isaac Agree Downtown and also worked as the Deputy District Director for Rep. Elissa Slotkin.

READ MORE: Detroit synagogue president Samantha Woll found fatally stabbed outside her home