Jury is 'hopelessly deadlocked' in trial for man charged with murdering Detroit Jewish leader Samantha Woll

DETROIT (WWJ) -- A Wayne County jury has been unable to come to consensus in the trial for the man charged with the murder of Detroit Jewish leader Samantha Woll.

WWJ Newsradio 950's Jon Hewett reported that jurors came out of the jury room at the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice on Friday and told the judge that, after two days of deliberations, they're "hopelessly deadlocked."

The judge told jurors not to give up just yet, telling them to go home for the weekend and reconvene on Monday.

"You've returned from deliberations indicating that you believe you cannot reach a verdict," Wayne County Judge Margaret Van Houton said. "I'm going to ask you to please return to the jury room and resume your deliberations in the hope that after further discussion you will be able to reach a verdict."

Earlier in the day, Hewett said the jury asked to see some witness transcripts, which are now being prepared by the court.

"So, no immediate mistrial at this stage," Hewett reported, "but this is no doubt a development that defendant Michigan Jackson-Bolanos will be happy to hear."

Jackson-Bolanos, 26, is charged with first degree murder and home invasion after it's alleged he attacked Woll inside her east side Detroit home in the early morning hours of Oct. 21, 2023.

Woll stumbled outside onto the sidewalk, leaving a trail of blood from her front door to the spot where a neighbor found her body.

Taking the stand in his own defense last week, Jackson-Bolanos insisted that he did not harm Woll.

Jackson-Bolanos testified that he was in Woll's neighborhood stealing items from unlocked cars, when he spotted her lying on the sidewalk. Jackson-Bolanos said he got her blood on his jacket when he leaned down to touch her neck to see if she was alive.

Asked why he didn't call police after finding Woll's body, Jackson-Bolanos said he knew that the cops would ask what he was doing in the area — and he did not want to get busted for his petty crimes.

Because of her leadership role in the local Jewish community, as president of the Isaac Agree Downtown Detroit Synagogue, many had wondered if Woll's murder was motivated by antisemitism or sparked by the Israel-Hamas war. Officials have said repeatedly over the course of the investigation that no evidence has surfaced suggesting antisemitism played a role in the killing.

Jackson-Bolanos faces life in prison if convicted as charged.