A judge has dismissed the murder charge against a man accused in the high-profile killing of Detroit synagogue president Samantha Woll.
Woll, a 40-year-old Democratic and interfaith activist, was found stabbed to death outside her home on October 21, 2023. Her murder occurred just two weeks after Hamas’ attack on Israel, raising concerns that the killing might have been an antisemitic act. However, authorities quickly clarified that the case was not considered a hate crime.
The man in question, 29-year-old Jackson-Bolanos, was the second suspect apprehended in connection with Woll's death and the first to face trial. He was acquitted of premeditated murder in July after a five-week trial, with his defense arguing that he was merely in the wrong place at the wrong time while allegedly scouting the neighborhood for car break-ins. The jury was deadlocked on the felony murder charge, leading to a pretrial hearing where Judge Margaret Van Houten decided against a retrial.
Prosecutors are considering an appeal of the judge’s dismissal. Jackson-Bolanos remains in custody, having been convicted of a lesser charge - lying to the police — for which he has been sentenced to 18 months in prison.
* The Jewish Telegraphic Agency contributed to this article.