Samantha Woll murder: Michael Jackson-Bolanos cannot be re-tried for murder, home invasion
DETROIT (FOX 2) - Michael Jackson-Bolanos, the man accused of killing Samantha Woll, will not be-retried for the murder and home invasion after he was in court on Friday.
Judge Margaret Van Houten ruled that, based on previous precedent, murder charges and home invasion charges against Jackson-Bolanos would be dismissed in the case.
In July, a jury convicted 29-year-old Jackson-Bolanos of lying to police during the investigation into Woll's October 2023 murder. The jury also found him not guilty of premeditated murder but deadlocked on felony murder and home invasion charges.
After hearing arguments from both sides regarding sentencing, Van Houten sentenced Jackson-Bolanos to 18 months to 15 years with 243 days credit.
Will the Samantha Woll murder suspect be re-tried?
When Michael Jackson-Bolanos, the man charged with murdering Samantha Woll, is sentenced Friday, the judge will also announce if he will be re-tried on a murder and home invasion charge. The 29-year-old was only convicted of lying to police, while a jury deadlocked on other charges.
Judge Margaret Van Houten ruled a previous case decided by the U.S. Supreme Court ‘bound her’ to rule the charges would be dismissed. A decision on the same issue was expected last month, but Van Houten said more time was needed.
Jackson-Bolanos' attorney argued that it would be double jeopardy to re-try the case, but prosecutors say it's not, and they want to re-try the case.
The prosecutor's office said it would appeal the decision.
Woll was found stabbed to death outside her Detroit home on Oct. 21, 2023. Security video and cell phone records placed Jackson-Bolanos in the area.
Jackson-Bolanos took the stand during his trial. He testified that he admitted seeing Woll's body on the ground while breaking into vehicles the night of her murder. He said he went up to her and checked to see if she was alive, but did not call police when he realized she was dead due to him stealing items from vehicles that night.
However, when first questioned by police, he told them that he didn't see a body, hence the lying to police charge and conviction.
While Jackson-Bolanos maintained his innocence, prosecutors said drops of blood on his jacket and cell phone location data linked him to the crime.
His attorney argues that the killer was actually Woll's ex-boyfriend, Jeffrey Herbstman. He confessed to Woll's murder but later recanted that confession. When Herbstman took the stand, he attributed the confession to a recent change in medication made him delusional.
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