DETROIT – The murder of a well-known Detroit synagogue president took a major turn last week, as police announced formal charges against the suspected killer.
Here’s everything we know about the case so far:
What happened
Samantha Woll, 40, was a well-known leader in Detroit’s Jewish community and the board president of the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue in Detroit.
Police said Woll returned to her home in Lafayette Park around 12:30 a.m. Oct. 21 after a wedding. They believe she was stabbed during the early morning hours inside her home before stumbling outside.
There were no signs of forced entry at her house, and her wallet and phone were not stolen.
A witness found her outside around 6:30 a.m. and called officials. They pronounced her dead from multiple stab wounds.
Police say murder was not hate crime
Although Woll’s murder happened as tensions rise due to the Israel-Hamas war, Detroit police Chief James White said this is not believed to have been a hate crime.
“We aren’t ruling out anything,” White said in late October. “We’re going where the information and evidence takes us, and right now, the information doesn’t take us there.”
Police said a large Israeli flag in Woll’s home was left untouched and that indicated to them that the attack likely wasn’t driven by antisemitism.
White said law enforcement would exhaust the hate crime theory during their investigation.
Officials interview ‘a lot of people’
Early in the investigation, White said several persons of interest had been identified, and police wanted to interview them before disqualifying anyone as possible suspects in Woll’s murder.
By definition, not all of those people were considered “persons of interest,” but they might have been linked to the investigation in some way.
“You kind of have to picture a spider web where one circumstance and subject takes you to another subject, and you have to disqualify all of them as suspects before you can declare they’re not suspects,” White said. “A person of interest, by declaration, would mean that there are facts, evidence, and circumstances that lead us to believe they have more to bring.”
Despite its complexity, White expressed confidence in the direction of the investigation.
Man taken into custody, later released
A man was taken into custody Nov. 8 in connection with the murder. The arrest was made in Kalamazoo.
“There’s one suspect in custody, and we’re going to continue to work this investigation, and we’re going to go where the evidence takes us,” White said. “We’re not done, and I don’t want to characterize this as a complete investigation, as we’ve got a lot of work to do. We’re going to do it. We’re going to stay focused and continue to investigate this case.”
On Nov. 11, the man’s attorney confirmed that he had been released from custody without charges. He was not identified.
Charges issued
The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office announced charges in the case on Wednesday, Dec. 13.
Prosecutor Kym Worthy said Michael Manuel Jackson-Bolanos, 28, has been charged with homicide felony murder in connection with Woll’s death.
Officials believe Jackson-Bolanos killed Woll during a home invasion. They don’t believe Jackson-Bolanos and Woll knew each other.
He is also charged with home invasion and lying to a peace officer
Jackson-Bolanos is also considered a person of interest in several other nearby burglaries.
“I am relieved -- not as relieved as I thought I would be, because it’s just so painful that anyone would kill someone like Samantha Woll,” said Rabbi Asher Lopatin, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council/AJC. “Hopefully, this will bring some sort of closure, and then we can focus on her amazing legacy.”
Police said the person who was arrested and released in November was not Jackson-Bolanos.
He pleaded not guilty and as retained defense attorney Brian Brown.
“I’ve spoken to my client,” Brown said. “He’s denying all allegations, and I believe he may be a victim of circumstance.”
Brown pointed to the previous arrest made in the case and believes police once again have arrested the wrong person.
If convicted, Jackson-Bolanos faces the possibility of life in prison.
A probable cause conference is scheduled for Dec. 27.
More about Woll
Woll served as president of the board of directors for Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue near Capitol Park, and was well known in the Detroit community.
She was also a campaign staffer for Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, and a former aide to Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin.
Woll is remembered as someone who supported people and people-centered movements, and was credited for her interfaith work, including by Muslim advocacy groups. The community gathered in mourning on Oct. 22, with loved ones describing Woll as a “bright light and leader for her family, the Detroit community, and beyond.”
