Twelfth day of trial for Samantha Woll's alleged murderer in Detroit

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

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

Witness testimony is expected to resume on Tuesday, July 2 at approximately 8:45 a.m. You can watch the trial live in the video player above.

—> Click here to see all witness testimonies so far

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

A neighbor found Woll's body on the ground outside his house hours after he was killed.

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

Jackson-Bolanos was scheduled 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 floor, unconscious, around 6:30 a.m. that day.

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

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

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

Throughout the investigation, authorities have repeatedly said there was no evidence to suggest Woll's killing was a hate crime.

Prosecutors present timeline of events

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

A video released at 12:30 a.m. on Oct. 21 shows a person leaving an apartment in Detroit's Midtown neighborhood. Police traced the person — believed to be Jackson-Bolanos — through dozens of video feeds over several hours, placing him near the crime scene and all the way to the Midtown apartment.

The defense says it is unclear whether the individual captured in the videos is Michael Jackson-Bolanos. Prosecutors also presented cellphone evidence showing Jackson-Bolanos' whereabouts.

—> Click here to see a complete timeline of Jackson-Bolanos' whereabouts.

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, which appears to be the same one spotted on surveillance cameras, and electronic devices inside the apartment. The jacket was seized and stains were found on the sleeves and front. Experts analyzed the stains on the jacket as well as samples of Woll's blood, and were as certain 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 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 aggravated murder and now first-degree murder, the man was also charged with home invasion and lying to a peace officer.

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

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

A man was arrested in western Michigan in November 2023 and released a few days later without charge. The identity of that person has not been released, but the Wayne County prosecutor confirmed that 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 was also a campaign staffer for Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and a former aide to Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin.

Woll was remembered as a supporter of people and people-centered movements, and she 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 they were able to solve this senseless crime. We cannot 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 shone far and wide. We ask that the media please respect our privacy during this difficult time.”

Woll Family Statement, December 2023