Jury still without verdict in Samantha Woll murder trial, will resume deliberations Thursday

DETROIT (WWJ) — After a fourth day of deliberations in the murder trial of a Detroit man accused of killing local Jewish leader Samantha Woll, the jury has not yet reached a verdict.

Twice — last Friday and on Monday — the jury in the trial of 29-year-old Michael Jackson-Bolanos told Judge Margaret Van Houten they were “hopelessly deadlocked” while trying to reach a verdict.

But on Tuesday jurors told the judge they had some movement throughout the day and asked for more transcript, something that was not done previously.

As the trial is now in its sixth week, the jury will resume deliberations Thursday, as one juror has a childcare issue on Wednesday. On Tuesday an alternate joined the panel after one of the jurors was excused due to a previously scheduled vacation.

Jackson-Bolanos is facing charges of first-degree murder, open murder, home invasion and lying to police.

Woll, 40, was found dead outside her home the morning of Oct. 21, 2023, with multiple stab wounds. Authorities believe she was stabbed inside her home in the early morning hours after returning from a wedding the night before and stumbled outside onto the sidewalk, where a neighbor found her hours later.

Prosecutors say Jackson-Bolanos stabbed Woll to death at her home in the Lafayette Park neighborhood, but he has denied any involvement.

Over the course of the trial, which began on June 11, prosecutors argued Jackson-Bolanos killed Woll on a night that he was “prowling” Detroit neighborhoods and breaking into cars.

Prosecutors presented evidence — including cell phone data records and surveillance video — that placed Jackson-Bolanos in her neighborhood the night she was killed. Testimony also revealed what is likely to be her blood was found on a jacket the defendant wore that night.

Jackson-Bolanos, however, has maintained that he did not kill Woll. He did testify that he was in the area the night she was killed. He said he went to check on her when he saw her lying on the sidewalk, touched her cheek and realized she was dead.

Deliberations will resume Thursday morning.

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