Michael Jackson-Bolanos pleads not guilty to Samantha Woll murder

Michael Jackson-Bolanos is thought to be a total stranger to Woll, the well-known Detroit synagogue leader

SAMANTHA WOLL UPDATE

A suspect has finally been arrested and charged with the murder of well-loved synagogue leader Samantha Woll almost two months after she was brutally stabbed to death at her home.

On Wednesday, 28-year-old Michael Jackson-Bolanos was charged with felony murder, home invasion and lying to police.

Local prosecutor Kym Worthy said at a press conference that the suspect had no prior connection to the victim and that the killing was not believed to be a hate crime.

Jackson-Bolanos maintained his innocence and entered a not-guilty plea on Wednesday.

At his arraignment, new details were revealed about Woll’s murder – and the evidence allegedly linking Mr Jackson-Bolanos to the crime scene.

Woll was stabbed eight times in the attack at her home in Lafayette Park on 21 October, prosecutors said. The attack began inside her home before she stumbled outside and collapsed in the street.

Prosecutors described her murder as a “crime of opportunity” when Mr Jackson-Bolanos was allegedly “prowling” the neighbourhood stealing from cars and came across her open front door.

Woll’s blood has allegedly been found on a jacket that the suspect was wearing on the night of the murder, the court heard.

Key points

• Michael Jackson-Bolanos charged with murder
• Detroit police find no evidence of hate crime in Jewish synagogue leader’s death
• First person of interest released without charge
• What happened to Samantha Woll?

[15 December 2023 11:00 · Andrea Blanco]

Prosecutor pushes back against criticism for previous arrest

Wayne County prosecutor Kym L Worthy pushed back against suggestions that the previous unsuccessful arrest could impact the ongoing criminal process, but did not answer why that person of interest, who has since been exonerated, was arrested in the first place,

“We have to investigate every avenue even though we may think that we have the right person in custody — we know that we do today — we have to investigate any and all suspects or persons of interest that may come forward,” Ms Worthy said. “We don’t want to leave any stone unturned. And that means we may have to look at other people, even if it’s believed at the time that they’re not the right one for this case.”

[15 December 2023 12:00 · Andrea Blanco]

Samantha Woll’s murder suspect’s previous criminal history

According to the Department of Corrections, Jackson-Bolanos was convicted of receiving and concealing a stolen motor vehicle in 2019, according to the Michigan Department of Corrections. He spent two years on probation and went on to serve four years in prison over a similar offence, the Free Press reports.

Jackson-Bolanos was arrested on 10 December after he came on law enforcement’s radar due to several car thefts in Woll’s neighbourhood.

Charges stemming from the Woll case were announced on the evening of 13 December, shortly before that deadline expired. Investigators had a 72-hour time limit to either charge him or let him go.

[15 December 2023 13:00 · Andrea Blanco]

Who is Michael Jackson-Bolanos? Suspect charged in Samantha Woll murder

A major breakthrough in the murder investigation of Detroit synagogue leader Samantha Woll has come, after police announced charges against a new suspect.

Ms Woll, 40, a respected and popular synagogue leader, was found brutally stabbed to death in late October. Authorities believe she was attacked inside her home and then stumbled out before collapsing on the sidewalk.

Here’s what we know so far about the suspect, Michael Miguel Jackson-Bolanos.