Breaking History - Trailer | Spiral: Murder in Detroit

Episode Date: October 21, 2025

On October 21, 2023, beloved Detroit community leader Samantha Woll was found brutally stabbed to death outside her home—two weeks to the day after the October 7 attacks on Israel. It looks like an open-and-shut case—a hate crime. But swiftly the police rule that out. Instead they eventually find themselves with two unrelated suspects. When they charge one with murder, the case takes a turn that raises questions about antisemitism, race, and justice in America. Hosted by The Free Press’s Frannie Block, this podcast features exclusive interviews and explores the remarkable, too-short life of Samantha, and the impact she had. And Spiral tells the bizarre twists and turns of one of Detroit’s most haunting recent crimes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Samantha Wall, the beloved president of the only remaining synagogue in downtown Detroit, was murdered in October 23, shockwaves ripped through a grieving city in a polarized world. We didn't know how it happened, who did it, we didn't know any of that. And the thing is, no one has ever been convicted of her murder. I can't say for sure who did it, but I can for sure tell you who didn't do it. It doesn't add up. It keeps this lingering doubt. It doesn't put the period on the end of the sentence. We're sitting here with an ellipsis.

It's pretty surreal that she is effectively the subject of a murder mystery saga. It's just heart-wrenching, and all of the details of this are extremely bizarre. And nothing is as it seems. This is a new podcast that investigates Samantha's murder. We sit down for the first time with every person involved in the case and the subsequent trial. Samantha's family, the lawyers, the jury, the ex-boyfriend, and the authorities still searching for the truth. Spiral. Murder in Detroit. Produced by the free press.

Subscribe now, wherever you get your podcasts. Thank you.