On October 21, 2023, a young and beloved Detroit community leader, Samantha Woll was found viciously stabbed to death outside her home. Her murder, exactly two weeks after October 7, made international news. To many, it looked like an obvious hate crime – Samantha was the president of the only remaining synagogue in downtown Detroit. But soon the police apprehended a suspect: a young black man named Michael Jackson-Bolanos, who had served time for burglary. He insisted he was innocent, and his trial – filled with shocking twists – ignited a firestorm of questions about antisemitism, race, bias, doubt, and justice. Hosted by The Free Press’s Frannie Block, “Spiral: Murder in Detroit” features exclusive interviews, recalls Samantha’s extraordinary life, and follows a case that spirals into unexpected places in the search for the truth behind one of Detroit’s most haunting modern crimes.
If you liked this episode of “Spiral: Murder in Detroit,” follow and subscribe to listen to the rest of the six-episode series. Available wherever you get your podcasts.