Detroit man charged with killing Samantha Woll

A suspect has been charged in the murder of Detroit synagogue leader Samantha Woll, Wayne County District Attorney Kym Worthy announced Wednesday.

Michael Manuel Jackson-Bolanos, 28, of Detroit, was charged with murder, home invasion, and lying to police. He is accused of killing Woll during a home invasion and did not know Woll, Worthy said.

Detroit police confirmed Tuesday that charges are being sought against the suspect, who was arrested as a “person of interest” on Sunday.

Worthy’s office said it was reviewing the warrant request, but declined to provide further details about the events of the case, which has troubled Detroiters and local religious groups in the weeks since. found Woll on October 21 outside his Lafayette Park. residential area.

Earlier Tuesday, Detroit police were on and off East Lafayette Street — near where Woll lived — looking for evidence, Detroit police confirmed, though they would not say if the test is related to Woll’s case.

An original suspect – other than the one arrested on Sunday – was arrested last month, but charges were never filed against him and he was released.

Woll, 40, was found dead outside her home with multiple injuries. A trail of blood led police to his home, where Detroit police believe the crime likely took place.

Woll had attended a wedding the night before. His death made national headlines and sent shock waves throughout the Jewish and religious communities in metro Detroit. He is the president of the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue and founder of the Muslim-Jewish Forum of Detroit.

He was also known among the Michigan Democratic leaders, worked for US Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, and re-elected Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.

Those who knew Woll described him as a leader whose kindness and commitment to justice were some of his best qualities.

Some speculated that the cleric’s death was a result of anti-Semitism amid ongoing concerns in the Arab, Muslim, and Jewish communities in the United States over the foreign war between Israel and Israel. and Hamas. Detroit Police Chief James White remains confident, based on the evidence so far, that the killing was not motivated by a hate crime.