Samantha Woll case update: ‘Stranger’ charged with murder of Detroit synagogue leader
Police have charged a suspect in the murder of a Detroit synagogue leader, claiming she was killed by a stranger who broke into her home.
Samantha Woll, 40, was fatally stabbed in her Lafayette Park home on Oct. 21 while returning from a wedding.
Police believe she was attacked in her home before staggering out. She was found around 6:30 am and pronounced dead at the scene.
Michael Jackson-Bolanos, 28, of Detroit was taken into custody Sunday and charged with murder and two other crimes.
Prosecutor Kym Worthy claimed there was no “sliver of evidence” she was killed as a result of anti-Semitism or a hate crime.
Authorities filed murder charges Wednesday in connection with the October slaying of a Detroit synagogue leader, claiming she was killed by a stranger who broke into her home.
Woll was stabbed several times and left a trail of blood leading to her home. It was initially feared that she had been killed in a hate crime.
But authorities have dispelled them, saying there is no evidence she was killed because of anti-Semitism.
“There are no facts to indicate that this defendant knew Ms. Woll,” Worthy said.
According to the police, a suspect was arrested last weekend. Another person in custody was released in November.
“This was an extremely sad and tragic case,” Worthy said. He added: “This takes time. We never want to rush to judgment.”
The Wayne County Public Defender's Office did not immediately respond when asked if it is representing the suspect and had comment on his case.
Woll was president of the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue. In addition to her work at the synagogue, Woll had worked for Democratic U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin and on Attorney General Dana Nessel's political campaign.