All murder charges were dismissed against Michael Jackson-Bolanos, the man accused of killing Samantha Woll, a prominent Detroit synagogue leader. Judge Margaret Van Houten ruled that retrying Jackson-Bolanos on the remaining felony murder charge would constitute double jeopardy, violating his constitutional rights.
The case garnered significant attention due to Woll’s position and the initial speculation of an antisemitic motive, which was later dismissed by the police. A jury in July had acquitted Jackson-Bolanos of first-degree premeditated murder but was unable to reach a verdict on the felony murder charge.
Related: President Of Detroit Synagogue Found Stabbed To Death Outside Of Her Home
Judge Van Houten, citing a 2009 Supreme Court ruling, stated that although she disagreed with the decision, she was obligated to apply it to this case. The remaining charges were dismissed, but prosecutors intend to appeal.
Jackson-Bolanos was sentenced to 18 months in prison for his only conviction, lying to the police. The judge criticized him sharply for his dishonesty during the investigation.
Samantha Woll’s tragic death last October initially sparked concerns about a hate crime, given her role as president of the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue and her involvement in Democratic politics. However, police found no evidence to support this theory.
Jackson-Bolanos testified in his own defense, claiming he stumbled upon Woll’s body while in the neighborhood and denied any involvement in her death. He admitted to touching the body, explaining his failure to call the police as a fear of being implicated due to his race and the circumstances.
Read: ‘The Base’ Group Member Convicted Of Defacing Michigan Synagogue With Neo-Nazi Symbols
The case previously saw the arrest of Woll’s former boyfriend, who made a disturbing 911 call claiming he might have killed her but couldn’t remember due to medication. He was later released without charges.
While Jackson-Bolanos has been cleared of murder charges, he remains incarcerated for lying to the police. The prosecution’s planned appeal could potentially lead to further legal proceedings in this complex and high-profile case.
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