Woll suspect's attorney: Evidence will show 'no involvement' in her stabbing death

Detroit — The attorney for the man accused of killing Detroit synagogue leader Samantha Woll said Wednesday he's waiting for prosecutors to turn over discovery that he says will show his client "had no involvement in this crime."

Michael Jackson-Bolanos, 28, is charged with fatally stabbing Woll Oct. 21 inside her home in Detroit's Lafayette Park neighborhood during what prosecutors say was a home invasion. Woll, 40, who'd been stabbed eight times, stumbled outside and collapsed on her front lawn, police said.

Jackson-Bolanos is charged with committing a felony murder during the perpetration or attempted perpetration of a larceny and/or a first-degree home invasion, which carries a life sentence. He also faces charges of home invasion, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years, and lying to a peace officer, a two-year misdemeanor.

A probable cause hearing was scheduled for Wednesday in Detroit's 36th District Court, but Judge Kenneth King adjourned the proceeding until 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Brian Brown, the defendant's attorney, said Wednesday that prosecutors hadn't provided him with discovery in the case that has attracted national media attention amid speculation that Woll's killing was related to events in the Middle East. Police and prosecutors have maintained there's no evidence Woll's murder was a hate crime.

"I haven't gotten any material from the prosecutors yet," Brown said. "I believe once I get everything and these proceedings start, we'll show that the evidence is all circumstantial, and that my client had no involvement in this crime."

Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor Maria Miller said in an email, "Brown has some of the discovery at this point. However, there is outstanding discovery that he will be receiving."

During Jackson-Bolanos' Dec. 13 arraignment, Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Elsey said the evidence against the defendant included a jacket found in Jackson-Bolanos' girlfriend's home that was stained with Woll's blood. Elsey said other evidence included dozens of surveillance cameras, cellphone data, DNA and a digital trail leading from the suspect to Woll’s home.

Although Brown declined to elaborate about the case Wednesday, he insisted during the arraignment that the evidence against his client was circumstantial.

“Mr. Bolanos has a good chance of being exonerated because I don’t believe that he’s guilty of these crimes," he said. " ... I believe the prosecutor himself states this evidence is very circumstantial, which I believe there could be a very reasonable explanation as to some of the evidence that has been mentioned by Mr. Elsey, which doesn’t necessarily indicate that my client has committed this particular crime. More or less could have been a person at the wrong place at the wrong time.”

In November, another man was arrested in connection with Woll's murder, an acquaintance, but was released after 48 hours. According to police sources, the man told a Kalamazoo police officer that he felt responsible for Woll's death, although he didn't actually confess to killing her.

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