DETROIT – A trial for the Detroit man accused of attacking and killing well-known Jewish community leader Samantha Woll is set to resume Thursday, June 20, after taking Wednesday off for the Juneteenth Holiday.
Before the break, testimony from Woll’s ex-boyfriend sent shockwaves through the court.
Michael Jackson-Bolanos, a Detroit man in his late 20s, was charged in December with felony murder, first-degree home invasion, lying to the police, and later first-degree murder in connection with Woll’s killing. He is accused of stabbing 40-year-old Woll to death at her home in Lafayette Park, a neighborhood just east of Downtown Detroit, on Oct. 21, 2023.
Police arrested and charged Jackson-Bolanos in December after weeks of investigating and pressure from the community. Police believe Jackson-Bolanos killed Woll during a home invasion, and that the two did not know each other.
The jury has not heard anything about what evidence prosecutors have to prove Jackson-Bolanos did it. Still, they’ve heard from Woll’s ex-boyfriend Jeffrey Herbstman, who called police in a “frantic state” on Nov. 7 and told them he had convinced himself that he killed her, but couldn’t remember or articulate why he felt that way.
Bodycam footage shown in court reportedly shows Herbstman telling police he had the motive, the opportunity and that he might be trying to outsmart people.
When asked in court what he meant by saying he could be trying to outsmart people, Herbstman said he was having irrational thoughts at the time.
Herbstman was given immunity and has been cleared by police, who said no evidence links him to the murder.
You can watch Shawn Ley’s story in the video player above.
Witness testimony is expected to continue Thursday, June 20 at about 9 a.m. It can be watched live on ClickOnDetroit.