Jury in Samantha Woll Murder Trial Deadlocked; Judge Orders Further Deliberations
After almost two full days of discussions, a jury in a Wayne County courtroom in Detroit has reported that they are split in making the decision to convict or acquit. The defendant, Michael Jackson-Bolanos, stands accused of the murder of Samantha Woll, the respected synagogue president, within her Lafayette Park home. Despite their deadlock, Wayne Circuit Judge Margaret Van Houten has instructed the jury to persist in their deliberations.
Defendant Accused of Four Charges
Held on the charges of first-degree murder, felony murder, home invasion, and lying to police, 29-year-old Jackson-Bolanos is alleged to be the perpetrator of Woll’s brutal murder. Woll was discovered outside her home in the early hours of October 21, bearing eight stab wounds to her head and neck. The prosecution’s case has heavily relied on GPS phone data and surveillance footage which placed Jackson-Bolanos within the proximity of Woll’s residence during the supposed time of the murder. Furthermore, traces of blood were discovered on his jacket and backpack through DNA testing.
Prosecution’s and Defense’s Views
Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor Ryan Elsey urged the jury in his closing argument to hold Jackson-Bolanos accountable: “(Jackson-Bolanos) is the one who killed her. Make him answer for it.” Conversely, defense attorney Brian Brown contends that his client found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. Brown posed the question during his closing argument of why there weren’t more blood evidence. “Why isn’t there blood everywhere? Why isn’t there blood all in front of him? …The reason is because he did not kill Samantha Woll.”
Arguments Made During Closing Statements
Elsey, during his closing argument, proposed that Jackson-Bolanos planned to rob Woll after noticing her door was open while he was scouting cars in her neighborhood. It was during this alleged robbery that Elsey suggests Woll was fatally stabbed. The only recorded activity through her living room’s motion detector after her phone fell silent at 1:35 a.m. was at 4:20 a.m. This brief activation, coinciding with the time Jackson-Bolanos admits to being near her townhouse, Elsey claimed: “This is a coincidence he cannot overcome.”
Jackson-Bolanos Maintains Innocence
Jackson-Bolanos, who decided to testify in his own defense, insists he did not kill Woll. He admitted to lying to police during two post-murder interrogations out of fear of being wrongfully accused. He swore under oath that he happened upon Woll’s body when he returned to retrieve a stolen bag. He explained, “Once I realized I just touched a dead person, I grabbed the bag and I left. … I’m a Black guy out in the middle of the night breaking into cars, and I found myself standing in front of a dead White woman. That doesn’t look good at all.” Later, police discovered Woll’s blood on a black jacket and backpack in Jackson-Bolanos’ girlfriend’s apartment, invisible to the naked eye.
Author: STAFF HERE MYRTLE BEACH
The HERE Myrtle Beach Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Myrtle Beach community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background Local Roots in Myrtle Beach Our team includes lifelong Myrtle Beach residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent developments along the Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach’s tourism and hospitality industry, and growth in local education sectors (e.g., Coastal Carolina University programs). Collective Experience With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.
