Hearing Delayed For Man Accused Of Killing Detroit Synagogue Leader

DETROIT — A judge delayed a hearing for a Detroit man who was charged in the killing of Samantha Woll, a leader in Detroit’s Jewish community.

The Probable Cause Conference for Michael Jackson-Bolanos was moved to Jan. 2 to allow the defense more time to review the case. Jackson-Bolanos, 28, was charged with felony murder, home invasion and lying to police officers.

He was placed in the Wayne County Jail. If convicted on all charges, Jackson-Bolanos faces life in prison without parole.

Defense attorney Brian Brown said prosecutors haven't turned over all discovery in the case, according to the Detroit News.

"I believe once I get everything and these proceedings start, we'll show that the evidence is all circumstantial, and that my client had no involvement in this crime," Brown said.

Investigators believe Jackson-Bolanos killed Woll as he tried breaking into her home. Investigators also said Jackson-Bolanos lied to police about committing larcenies or attempted larcenies from vehicles the day of Woll's death.

Police reiterated Wednesday evening they do not believe antisemitism played a role in the killing. Police also said they don't believe Jackson-Bolanos knew Woll.

Prosecutors said Woll's body was found by a neighbor who was walking past the apartments at 6:38 a.m. in the 1300 block of Joliet Place, a neighborhood just east of downtown, police said.

Officers arrived moments later and found Woll's body in a pool of blood after she was stabbed multiple times from straight edge cutting, prosecutors said.

Officers found the front door to Woll's home open and unlocked, and a significant amount of blood inside in the home, prosecutors said.

Police said officers then followed a "trail of blood" that led detectives outside the home to where they believed she collapsed and fell.

Woll, 40, was well known in the Detroit community and served as the board president of the Isaac Agree Downtown Detroit Synagogue in Downtown Detroit.