48 Hours Post Mortem | Spiral: Murder in Detroit
Nov 4, 2025
Frannie Block, an investigative reporter at the Detroit Free Press and host of the Spiral: Murder in Detroit podcast, delves into the shocking murder of community leader Samantha Woll. The discussion reveals how investigators first dismissed the possibility of an antisemitic hate crime. Frannie outlines the forensic timeline, the troubling trial filled with twists, and the impact of race on public perception. As the saga unfolds, she reflects on the emotional toll on Samantha’s family and the importance of her legacy in the fight for justice.
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Discovering Sam Through A Memorial Service
- Frannie Block attended a Shabbat service at Detroit's downtown synagogue the night they dedicated a renovation to Samantha Wall.
- That service deepened Frannie's understanding of Sam's impact and motivated her reporting on the case.
Early Focus On Evidence Over Motive
- Police quickly said there was no evidence pointing to an antisemitic hate crime despite public concern after October 7th attacks.
- Frannie reports investigators focused on physical and digital evidence rather than motive early on.
Timeline Built From Alarms And Phone Data
- ADT alarm logs and phone activity created a narrow timeline of movement and inactivity around 1:24–1:35 a.m. and 4:20–4:22 a.m.
- Police used those time windows to correlate surveillance footage and build their timeline of the crime.