48 Hours Presents Spiral: Murder in Detroit

Episode 1: “One of 36 Angels”

Date: November 3, 2025
Host: CBS News & the Free Press, narrated by Frannie Block and Poppy Damon

Overview

In this gripping first episode of the investigative series "Spiral: Murder in Detroit," the focus is the life and tragic death of Samantha Woll (“Sam”), president of Detroit’s only remaining downtown synagogue. The episode paints a vivid picture of Sam’s transformative impact on her community while unraveling the mysterious circumstances of her 2023 murder—an event that rattled not only Detroit’s Jewish community but national conversations around crime and antisemitism. The story deftly weaves personal memories, forensic findings, and community perspectives, setting the stage for a complex murder mystery that raises more questions than answers.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Sam Woll and the Revitalized Downtown Synagogue

[00:40 - 03:38]

• Description of the synagogue’s history, decline, and rebirth, spearheaded by Sam Woll.
• Sam's renovation vision brought accessibility, modern art, and dynamism back to the synagogue, now named the Samantha Woll Center for Jewish Detroit.
• Sam is remembered as vibrant—“with her multicolored clothes and life”—and as someone deeply rooted in the city she loved.
  • Notable Quote (Rachel Rudman, synagogue executive director, 03:40):
    "She touched so many people from so many different communities. This was her home. And yet on October 21, 2023, she was found murdered here, just minutes away from the synagogue."

Discovery of the Murder

[05:42 - 08:39]

• On October 21, 2023, local resident Kevin Mull discovers Sam’s body on the sidewalk.
  • He describes finding the body in the fetal position, barefoot, unresponsive, with “blue skin and feet.”
  • His wife, Jessica Robinson, identifies Sam through a familiar hair clip and jacket.
• Police, led by Lieutenant Matthew Bray, determine from blood and evidence that the attack happened inside Sam’s home, which showed no signs of forced entry.

Timeline and Crime Scene Details

[09:10 - 12:26]

• Sam returns from a wedding at 12:30 a.m.; her phone is last active at 1:35 a.m.
• Key evidence:
  • Blood pools found in Sam’s hallway; nothing disturbed in the kitchen aside from a spilled bowl of fruit.
  • Sam’s front window displays a Black Lives Matter poster, Israeli flag, and solidarity messages; her indoor Israeli flag is untouched.
  • Police investigate an uncertain 3-hour window of events, focusing on security cameras and collecting over 150 search warrants.

Family and Community Response

[13:54 - 17:17]

• Sam’s family recounts the shock of learning of her death, the difficult process of kosher notification on Shabbat, and the overwhelming grief.
  • Notable Quote (Monica Wall Rosen, Sam’s sister, 14:57):
    “Call me right away ... I thought someone was sick and in the hospital. No one just dies.”
• Close friends recall Sam’s thoughtfulness—sending birthday texts and flowers, leaving personalized gifts, always showing up in meaningful ways.

Fears of Antisemitism and Community Safety

[17:17 - 21:28]

• Many in the Jewish community, especially in the immediate aftermath of October 7th, fear the murder was an anti-Semitic hate crime.

  • Family and friends share feelings of heightened threat:
    • Notable Quote (Sam’s mom, Margo, 19:04):
      “In my bone of bones, I really feel it's a hate crime … I never used to be afraid before of being Jewish, and now I am afraid.”
  • Sam’s sister remembers her children’s school closing outdoor recess out of fear.

• Detroit Jewish leader Rabbi Yisra'el Pinson explains the acute sense of vulnerability among visible community leaders:

  • Notable Quote (21:28):
    “There are people in the world that want me dead. If you look at the top five Jewish figures in Detroit … Sam was one of them, and I was one of them.”

Inside Sam’s Life: Family, Beliefs, and Art

[22:35 - 25:33]

• Sam’s family, all in medicine, reflects on her passions, her activism, her artistry, and her peacebuilding. Art featured a spiral symbol—her signature, suggestive of growth and continuity.
  • Her art reflected diversity and her desire for reconciliation.
  • The family discovers a trove of Sam’s art after her death—much of it never seen before.
  • Notable Quote (Ben Rosen, brother-in-law, 24:18):
    “It’s like … Palestinian colors with the Israeli flag. So sticking with love and not resorting to hate and violence.”

Was it a Hate Crime?

[25:40 - 27:07]

• Detroit police quickly ruled out antisemitism as the motive, citing lack of evidence like desecrated Jewish symbols.
  • Notable Quote (Captain Matthew Bray, 26:44):
    “There's not one piece of information that demonstrates that this would be any sort of hate crime ... There's not anything in the investigation that has led us to that conclusion.”

Political, Activist, and Personal Legacies

[29:28 - 35:14]

• Sam’s funeral draws thousands, with mourners across all faiths and backgrounds.
• She was central to Michigan political life, worked on progressive campaigns, advocated for Israel and interfaith causes, and was beloved across divides—even by ideological opponents.
  • Congresswoman Alyssa Slotkin and other political figures honor her.
  • Monica and others reflect on Sam’s disappointment in the reactions of some progressive circles after October 7th.
• Sam’s self-doubt around her lack of advanced degrees is contrasted with her posthumous accolades.

Life Cut Short and the Mystery That Remains

[35:14 - 40:59]

• Just before her murder, Sam had secured her dream job.
• Everyone describes her as a bridge-builder—someone who sought common ground, even with those who opposed her most deeply.
  • Notable Quote (Andy Einhorn, friend, 36:39):
    “I think she was an angel that walked among us ... there are people who genuinely only know how to do good.”
• Grieving friends and family struggle to imagine who could want to harm her.
  • Many believe her trusting nature—leaving doors open, giving people the benefit of the doubt—may have made her vulnerable.

Theories and Forensics

[39:06 - 40:59]

• Police consider the possibility of a random intruder; footage from a nearby camera shows a shadowy figure with a backpack near Sam’s house after 4:20 a.m.
• Theories abound, but little is clear: “Nothing in this investigation is quite that simple.”

Memorable Moments & Quotes (with Timestamps)

• On Sam’s legacy:
  • “We are a community and a continuity of learning, of praying, of understanding, and of belonging. Come join us.”
    — Samantha Woll at synagogue grand reopening (Paraphrased, 02:48)
• Discovery of the body:
  • “The skin was blue, the feet were blue. I touched that part of the body to try to get some kind of reaction, and I immediately could tell how cold the body was.”
    — Kevin Mull, neighbor (07:22)
• Police on evidence:
  • “The blood evidence clearly shows that the attack. Violence. Attack occurred inside of the residence ... Blood evidence is what shows where the violence occurred at.”
    — Lt. Matthew Bray (08:59)
• Family’s heartbreak:
  • “The doorbell rang. There were four policemen at the door. And the first thing is, they said, are you the father of Samantha Woll? And I knew … something awful had happened.”
    — Doug, Sam’s father (13:54)
• Sam’s impact:
  • “She was the epitome of goodness.”
    — Friends (17:00)
• On the broader implications:
  • “The way I described it to my friends is there are people in the world that want me dead. If you look at the top five Jewish figures in the city of Detroit at the time, Sam was one of them and I was one of them.”
    — Rabbi Yisra'el Pinson (21:28)
• On ruling out hate crime:
  • “There's not one piece of information that demonstrates that this would be any sort of hate crime. The timing obviously does cause people concern, but there's not anything in the investigation that has led us to that conclusion.”
    — Captain Bray (26:44)
• On Sam’s uniqueness:
  • “She would find a common ground. Even with people that were completely against everything that she stands for, she would find a common ground.”
    — Monica, Sam’s sister (31:47)
• On Sam as an ‘angel’:
  • “There are 36 angels at any given time. And I truly believe she was one of those people.”
    — Ben Rosen, 36:57

Important Timestamps

• [00:40 – 03:38]: Synagogue’s history, Sam’s role in revival
• [05:42 – 08:39]: Discovery of Sam’s body and immediate response
• [09:10 – 12:26]: Crime scene, security camera puzzle, police investigation
• [13:54 – 17:17]: Family learns of Sam’s death, friends’ remembrances
• [17:17 – 21:28]: Community fears, antisemitism, context of October 7
• [22:35 – 25:33]: Sam’s background, art, family, personality
• [25:40 – 27:07]: Police rule out hate crime, explain reasoning
• [29:28 – 35:14]: Funeral, tribute by political and community leaders
• [35:14 – 40:59]: Sam’s final days, the ongoing mystery, forensics and theory

Tone & Style

The episode is deeply intimate and respectful, blending the formality of journalism with the warmth of personal storytelling. The hosts use vivid, sometimes poetic language, but also maintain a factual rigor—constantly questioning and clarifying, emphasizing the ambiguity and pain left in the wake of Sam’s death.

Summary

"One of 36 Angels" introduces a complex murder mystery intertwined with a vivid portrait of its victim, Samantha Woll—a dynamic, peace-driven, beloved figure at the center of Detroit’s Jewish and civic revival. The investigation is hampered by ambiguity, lack of clear motive, and the deep divisions in 21st-century American society. The episode invites listeners to grapple with grief, suspicion, and social divisions alongside Sam’s family and friends, promising more revelations and twists in episodes to come.

Next Episode:
A closer look at suspects, security footage, and the tangled web of Sam’s final hours.