DETROIT – What questions do you have for the month-long trial of Michael Jackson-Bolanos?
The 29-year-old man is facing life in prison after being accused of brutally stabbing to death Detroit Synagogue President Samantha Woll.
A look at the court case
Here is a quick rundown of some of the mountains of evidence presented in this trial.
Why Wayne County prosecutors say Jackson-Bolanos is the killer:
- He was in the area of the time Woll was murdered.
- He was committing crimes, theft from autos at the time of the murder.
- He was in Woll’s parking lot before the murder.
- Video and cell data track him into Lafayette Park and out of that area back into downtown.
- He put on blue gloves on his way into Woll’s area, he came out with just one glove.
- Video shows him checking his sleeve (drops of blood) and then running instead of walking.
- Woll’s blood found on his laundered jacket.
- Defendant himself says Woll’s blood was on his hands because he found her body and touched her.
- He lied more than 40 times to police about just one issue.
- He admits he was in the area, that he lied, that he lies and admits he is a petty thief.
What assistant prosecutor Ryan Elsey could not show the jury:
- He has no evidence about what happened inside Woll’s townhome where the attack took place.
- He told the jury to use common sense that all signs point to Jackson-Bolanos, but presented no evidence about Jackson-Bolanos actually stabbing Woll.
Defense of Jackson-Bolanos presented by defense attorney Brian Brown:
- There is zero evidence Jackson-Bolanos went inside Woll’s townhome.
- Woll’s ex-boyfriend, Jeffery Herbstman, “confessed” to the murder, but was given immunity to testify after being cleared of any crimes.
- Brown says police did not investigate Herbstman or his home, drugs, bike, firepit at all, a massive failure of investigating by MSP, FBI, DPD.
- This was a crime of passion, no reason for a petty thief to slash Woll to death the way she was killed.
How would you vote?
What questions do you have?
---> Full coverage of the Samantha Woll murder trial is available here.