Tenth day of trial for alleged murderer of Samantha Woll in Detroit

DETROIT – The trial of the Detroit man accused of attacking and killing prominent Jewish community leader Samantha Woll continued Thursday.

A jury convened Tuesday, June 11, for the murder trial of Michael Jackson-Bolanos, accused of fatally stabbing Woll in his Detroit apartment in October 2023. The trial began that afternoon.

Witness testimony was scheduled to resume on Thursday, June 27 at approximately 9 a.m. You can watch the trial live in the video player above.

Jackson-Bolanos, a Detroit man in his 20s, was charged in December with murder, first-degree home invasion, lying to police and then first-degree murder in connection with the killing of Woll. He is accused of stabbing Woll, 40, to death at his home in Lafayette Park, a neighborhood just east of downtown Detroit, on October 21, 2023.

A neighbor found Woll's body on the ground outside her home hours after her murder.

Police arrested and charged Jackson-Bolanos in December after weeks of investigation and pressure from the community. Police believe Jackson-Bolanos killed Woll during a home invasion and that the two did not know each other.

Jackson-Bolanos was summoned for trial in January. If convicted, he faces life in prison.

A look at what happened

Samantha Woll, also known as Sam, was found stabbed to death on the morning of Saturday, October 21, 2023, outside her Detroit apartment. A witness found Woll lying on the ground unconscious around 6:30 a.m. that day.

First responders arrived on scene and found Woll had been stabbed multiple times. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities later said she was stabbed eight times, including several in the neck.

Police said a “trail of blood” led from where Woll's body was found to his home. Police believe the woman was attacked at her home shortly after 12:30 a.m., as she was returning home from a wedding, and stumbled outside after the attack.

Investigators confirmed there were no signs of a break-in at Woll's home. She was found with her wallet and phone on her. Sources said there were no defensive injuries on Woll, but police have not confirmed that detail.

Throughout the investigation, authorities repeatedly asserted that there was no evidence indicating Woll's murder was a hate crime.

Prosecutors establish timeline of events

At Jackson-Bolanos' preliminary hearing on Jan. 23, prosecutors reviewed video evidence and showed how Detroit police linked Michael Jackson-Bolanos to the Lafayette Park neighborhood of Woll the night of his murder.

A video, released starting at 12:30 a.m. on October 21, showed a person leaving an apartment in Midtown Detroit. Police tracked that person — believed to be Jackson-Bolanos — through dozens of video sources over several hours, placing him near the crime scene and to the Midtown apartment.

The defense says it is not clear whether the individual captured in these videos is indeed Michael Jackson-Bolanos. Prosecutors also presented cellphone evidence showing Jackson-Bolanos' whereabouts.

—> Click here to see a detailed timeline of Jackson-Bolanos' location.

The jacket is a key piece of evidence

Jackson-Bolanos' apartment on West Alexandrine Street in Midtown was searched as part of the homicide investigation, but authorities reportedly found no DNA or fingerprints belonging to Jackson-Bolanos.

Investigators found a black North Face jacket believed to be the same one spotted on surveillance cameras, as well as electronic devices inside the apartment. The jacket was seized and there were stains on the sleeves and front. Experts tested the stains on the jacket alongside samples of Woll's blood and were as sure as possible that the blood on the jacket belonged to Woll.

Jackson-Bolanos arrested

Police arrested Jackson-Bolanos in Utica in December 2023. Law enforcement had been monitoring the man and located him driving his car – a 2007 Dodge Charger – in Macomb County on the day of his arrest.

The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office announced charges against Jackson-Bolanos on December 13, 2023. In addition to being charged with murder and now first-degree murder, the man has also been charged with home invasion and lie to a peace officer.

A felony murder charge occurs when a person accused of committing a violent crime is charged with murder if the commission of that crime results in someone's death.

Brian Brown, Jackson-Bolanos' defense attorney, said his client denies all of the allegations against him. Brown said he believes Jackson-Bolanos “may be a victim of circumstance,” particularly following a previous arrest in November that resulted in no charges.

A man was arrested in West Michigan in November 2023 and was released days later without being charged. The identity of that person has not been released, but the Wayne County Prosecutor confirmed it was not Jackson-Bolanos.

Brown said he believes police once again arrested the wrong person.

About Woll

Woll served as board chair of the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue near Capitol Park in Detroit and was well-known in the community. She also served on Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel’s campaign staff and was a former aide to Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin.

Woll was remembered as someone who supported people and people-centered movements, and was recognized for her interfaith work, including by Muslim advocacy groups.

“Our family is sincerely grateful to the women and men of the DPD Homicide Squad who worked around the clock for weeks to thoroughly investigate this tragic crime. Through their dedication and tireless efforts, we are confident that they were able to solve this senseless crime. We can't thank them enough.

“We also want to thank everyone for their support and prayers. Samantha’s death is an indescribable tragedy that has affected not only her family and friends, but those who knew her as a dedicated community activist, leader and bridge builder. She was deeply loved and her light shined far and wide. We ask that the media respect our privacy during this difficult time.

Statement from the Woll family, December 2023