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DETROIT - Today, Michael Manual Jackson-Bolanos, 28, of Detroit has been charged by Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy in connection with the homicide of Samantha Woll, 40, of Detroit. Ms. Woll was the Board President of the Isaac Agree Downtown Detroit Synagogue. The defendant and Ms. Woll did not know each other. There are no facts to suggest that the homicide was a hate crime.

On October 21, 2023, at approximately 6:38 a.m., Ms. Woll's lifeless body was found lying outside of a neighbor's apartment located in the 1360 block of Joliet Place in Detroit. She was discovered by another neighbor who was walking past the apartments. This neighbor immediately returned to his home and called 911. Detroit police officers responded to the scene and observed Ms. Woll's deceased body in a pool of blood. They also observed that she had multiple stab wounds on her body. The front door to her home was ajar and unlocked, and a significant amount of blood was inside. Blood from the inside of the home led outside of the home. The medical examiner determined that Ms. Woll's death was caused by multiple sharp force wounds with a straight edge cutting instrument, and the manner of death was homicide. More complete facts and evidence in the case will be placed upon the record in court at the preliminary examination in 36th District Court.

The exhaustive investigation by the Detroit Police Department has included witness interviews, review of hours of security footage, cellular data, and forensic evidence. As a result, Defendant Jackson-Bolanos has been identified as the perpetrator of Ms. Woll's homicide. It is alleged that he committed a home invasion when he entered her house and stabbed her multiple times causing her death. It is further alleged that he lied to the police by making statements he knew were false and misleading relating to the investigation of the case.

Michael Manual Jackson-Bolanos has been charged with committing a Felony Murder during the perpetration or attempted perpetration of a larceny and/or a first-degree home invasion. This charge carries a penalty of life in prison, without parole. He is charged with one Count of Home Invasion which a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and one count of Lying to a Peace Officer during a 4 year or more crime investigation. He was arraigned and remanded to jail today. His Probable Cause Conference is on December 27,2023 and his Preliminary Examination is on January 3, 2024, both before Judge Kenneth King. Please request a photograph of the defendant from the Detroit Police Department.

"This is an extraordinarily sad and tragic case. Since October 21st, the date that Samantha Woll was killed, there has been painstaking, diligent, and tireless work done by the Detroit Police Department and my office. Investigations like this take time and we do our best to never rush to judgment," said Prosecutor Kym Worthy.

*The charges are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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