20 | AUGUST 22 • 2024 J
N

M

ichael Jackson-Bolanos, 
the man accused of killing 
Detroit Jewish lay leader 
Samantha Woll, had his remaining 
murder and home invasion charges 
dismissed by a Wayne County 
Circuit Court judge during his 

retrial/sentencing hearing on Aug. 9. 
 Judge Margaret Van Houten said 
she dismissed the felony murder 
charge against Michael Jackson-
Bolanos because of case precedent. 
The prosecution plans on appealing 
to the Michigan Court of Appeals. 

 On July 18, a month-long trial 
and five days of deadlock-ridden 
jury deliberations ended in a mixed 
verdict. In the split decision, a Wayne 
County jury found the defendant, 
Jackson-Bolanos, not guilty of 
premeditated, first-degree murder for 
the death of Woll. 
 The jury deadlocked on the counts 
of felony murder and home invasion 
but convicted Jackson-Bolanos of 
lying to police over the course of the 
investigation. 
 On Aug. 9, Van Houten threw out 
the felony murder charge, as well as 
the home invasion charge, after the 
defense filed a motion to dismiss, 
arguing case precedent would forbid 
the prosecution from retrying the 
deadlocked charges. 
 The prosecution, along with Woll’s 
family, remains adamant the evidence 
points to Jackson-Bolanos as the 
killer. 
 Accused in the October 2023 fatal 
stabbing of Woll, the prosecution 
alleged Jackson-Bolanos killed her 

during a home invasion, and that the 
evidence — including Woll’s blood 
on his jacket — pointed to Jackson-
Bolanos’ guilt. 
 The prosecution also pointed to 
cell phone data placing Jackson-
Bolanos at the scene at the same time 
Woll’s apartment motion detector 
recorded movement and accused 
Jackson-Bolanos of changing his 
story multiple times over the course 
of the trial. 
 The defense maintained it was a 
“wrong place, wrong time,” scenario, 
and that the murder was a “crime of 
passion” carried out by someone who 
wanted her dead. 
 Woll served as president of the 
Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue, 
a revitalized congregation in the 
heart of Detroit, and helped lead 
its fundraising campaign and 2023 
grand reopening. 
 She was heavily involved in local, 
state and national politics, and was 
a deeply devoted interfaith and 
intercommunal bridge-builder. 

OUR COMMUNITY

JCRC/AJC 
board member 
Samantha Woll 
lighting candles 
in March 2018. 

COURTESY OF JCRC/AJC

Judge dismisses murder charge against 
man accused of killing Samantha Woll.
Charges Dismissed

DANNY SCHWARTZ SENIOR STAFF REPORTER

K

en Newbury, a vice president 
of Congregation Beth 
Shalom in Traverse City, 
recently entertained and enlightened 
adult and child congregants with 
his performance, G-d is my SUPER 
POWER.
A retired psychologist and 
educator, Newbury, 70, is now a part-
time amateur actor and magician. 
In his lighthearted one-man show, 
Newbury weaves religious and 
philosophical concepts with sleight-
of-hand illusions and mindreading 
feats. 
In one skit, he “speaks” directly to 
God via telephone.
Newbury explains that his 
presentations demonstrate that one’s 
personal prayers to God can be at 

times fun, creative and spontaneous. 
“Your personal prayers can be 
heard, understood and possibly 
answered,” he said. “But you have to 
have a little bit of faith to get to that 
point.”
Newbury and his wife, Nancy, split 
their time between Traverse City and 
suburban Toledo when they’re not 
visiting their grandchildren in Ann 
Arbor.
Their intent is to give back to the 
Jewish community — something 
they’ve done throughout their 
lives. For example, Ken has taught 
confirmation classes and, for four 
years, he was the principal at the 
Hebrew Academy in Toledo. Nancy 
was the longtime director of Jewish 
Family Service in Toledo. She now 

serves as technical adviser and all-
around supporter for her husband’s 
latest endeavor.
Their Traverse City synagogue, 
Congregation Beth Shalom, was 
founded in 1885, and its cozy 
building is the oldest continually 
operating synagogue in Michigan. 
Arnie Sleutelberg, rabbi emeritus 
of Congregation Shir Tikvah in 
Troy, leads services monthly and on 

Jewish holidays at the upstate shul.
“We enjoyed Ken’s show very 
much,” Rabbi Arnie said. “He is 
funny, affable and entertaining as he 
shares his magic and mindreading 
in his one-God, one-man show.”
Newbury hopes to bring his 
hourlong presentation to Metro 
Detroit and other venues. He can 
be contacted at kennewbury@gmail.
com. 

DAVID SACHS CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

‘Talking’ with God 
over the Telephone

Ken Newbury converses with 
the Almighty in his one-man show, G-d 
is my SUPER POWER.

Newbury, in mime attire, warms up the 
crowd with music and clapping.

COURTESY KEN NEWBURY