Category: Retired

Samantha Woll’s ex-boyfriend calls 911 in a panic. He tells the police he thinks he might have killed her. When they bring him in for questioning, he explains he was having a drug-induced temporary break.

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Host: Frannie Block

Producer: Poppy Damon

Executive Editor: Emily Yoffe

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Contact us at: spiral@thefp.com

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A man seen breaking into cars near the crime scene is arrested, and he lies to police about what he’s been up to. But does that make him a killer? As the case builds against him, his defense team uncovers a piece of evidence that could change everything.

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Become a paid subscriber to The Free Press to binge the full series today, and with reduced ads. Click ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ to subscribe.

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Host: Frannie Block

Producer: Poppy Damon

Executive Editor: Emily Yoffe

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Contact us at: spiral@thefp.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Samantha Woll, 40, was a beloved Detroit Jewish community leader with her life ahead of her. Tragically, she is found stabbed to death outside her home exactly two weeks after the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel. Investigators follow a mysterious figure caught on camera: Is this truly a hate crime, or something else?

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Become a paid subscriber to The Free Press to binge the full series today, and with reduced ads. Click ⁠here⁠ to subscribe.

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Host: Frannie Block

Producer: Poppy Damon

Executive Editor: Emily Yoffe

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Contact us at: spiral@thefp.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Natalie Cochran seemed like she had it all: a good job as a pharmacist, a loving husband, and two kids. But then she quit her job to become a government contractor and started raking in dough, or so she claimed. Behind the scenes, Natalie was running a classic Ponzi scheme, scamming friends and family with fake contracts, fake government emails, and even fake cancer. But when the walls start closing in, lies alone won’t be enough to save her… These are the stories of the world’s most insidious Scamfluencers. And we are their prey. Every week on Scamfluencers, join co-hosts Scaachi Koul and Sarah Hagi as they unpack epic stories of deception from the worlds of social media, fashion, finance, health, and wellness. These influencers claim to be everything from charismatic healers to trusted financial insiders to experts in dating. They cast spells over millions. Why do we believe them, and how does our culture allow them to thrive? Listen now: Wondery.fm/SCAM

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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 series will be available October 21st 2025. It 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.

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Email us at Spiral@thefp.com

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If you listen to our podcasts on Apple or Spotify, connect your paid subscription today to binge the full series today, and with reduced ads. Learn more here (link to FAQ).

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