Man charged with synagogue leader’s murder

No evidence of a hate crime is seen in stabbing, officials say.

DETROIT — A stranger accused of breaking into the home of a Detroit synagogue leader was charged with her murder, nearly two months after her body was found outdoors with multiple stab wounds, authorities said.

There was not a “shred of evidence” that Samantha Woll was killed as a result of antisemitism or any hate crime, prosecutor Kym Worthy said.

Michael JacksonBolanos, 28, of Detroit was charged with murder, home invasion and lying to police. A not-guilty plea was entered during his appearance Wednesday in 36th District Court, and he was returned to jail without bond.

Attorney Brian Brown said he would vigorously defend Jackson-Bolanos.

“I don’t necessarily agree with the charges,” Brown told the Associated Press. “We’ll wait for the evidence.”

Woll, 40, was found dead outside her home, east of downtown Detroit, on Oct. 21, hours after returning from a wedding. Investigators believe she was attacked in the residence.

“There are no facts to suggest this defendant knew Ms. Woll,” Worthy said.

The killing immediately stirred speculation that it might have been some type of retaliation amid the Israel-Hamas war. Authorities have repeatedly knocked the theory down, even before Jackson-Bolanos’ arrest.

Police said a person of interest was in custody over the weekend. A different person who was in custody was released in November.

“This was an extraordinarily sad and tragic case,” Worthy said. “This takes time. We never want to rush to judgment.”

Police Chief James White said Jackson-Bolanos “came on our radar a few weeks ago” when investigators were trying to solve larcenies in the area. “This is not a case you can solve like on television,” he said. “Hours and hours of evidence, hours and hours of video, of phone work, seven days a week.”

Woll was president of the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue and had worked for U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.).