Podcast Summary: 48 Hours Post Mortem | Spiral: Murder in Detroit
Date: November 4, 2025
Host: Anne-Marie Green (CBS News)
Guest: Frannie Block (Host of "Spiral: Murder in Detroit," Detroit Free Press)
Overview
This "48 Hours Post Mortem" episode takes listeners behind the scenes of the true crime podcast series "Murder in Detroit," which investigates the life and shocking death of Samantha Wall—the dynamic president of Detroit’s last downtown synagogue and a beloved activist. The conversation between Anne-Marie Green and Frannie Block delves into the investigation’s twisting progression, community impact, and personal stories behind a crime that rocked Detroit. The episode explores the evidence and challenges at the heart of the case, how it intersects with issues of hate crimes, policing, justice, and the legacy Samantha Wall left behind.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Who Was Samantha Wall? (02:23 - 04:19)
- Background: Samantha (“Sam”) Wall, 40, served as president of the Downtown Detroit Synagogue and was a highly respected bridge-builder and community leader.
- Personal Impact: Frannie Block shares first learning of Sam’s death from her own mother, also a synagogue president, expressing widespread community fear, especially in the wake of rising antisemitism globally post-October 7, 2023.
“My mom called me… she said, ‘Frannie, I’m really scared. I’m too scared to even leave my house because this has just happened to this person, Samantha Wall. What if people come and target me?’” — Frannie Block (03:45)
The Investigation: Hate Crime or Not? (04:19 - 05:13)
- Initial Fears: The murder occurred just two weeks after the Hamas attacks on Israel, raising immediate concerns about antisemitism.
- Police Position: Detroit PD quickly announced publicly they found no evidence of hate crime involvement.
- “I asked Captain Matthew Bray… He basically said, ‘We didn’t rule it out as much as we didn’t see any evidence pointing toward a hate crime.’” — Frannie Block (04:51)
Timeline & Forensics (05:28 - 06:52)
- Key Night Movements:
- Sam returns from a wedding (~12:30am) and is active at home (door sensors, phone usage).
- ADT alarm shows last motion inside her living room at 4:22am.
- Sam’s body is discovered outside around 6:20am by a neighbor.
- Crucial evidence links her death to a violent event inside the apartment (blood pools, trail).
- Insight: The alarm and tech data form the basis of the early investigation timeline.
Two Main Suspects: The Ex-boyfriend and the Neighbor (7:34 - 14:45)
Michael Jackson Bolanos (07:34 - 09:46)
- Police Focus: Video and phone data place Bolanos at the apartment complex’s lot around critical times. Forensic testing finds Sam's blood on his jacket and backpack.
- Google Searches: Post-murder, Bolanos searches for “Blacklight sees what” and “Detroit same day passport,” raising suspicion.
- “They find his jacket, and they also find a backpack… They test both… and they come back positive for Samantha Wall’s blood.” — Frannie Block (08:50)
- Limitation: No direct evidence proves Bolanos entered Sam’s home that night.
Jeffrey Herman (Ex-boyfriend) & His False Confession (09:46 - 14:45)
- Dramatic Twist: Two weeks after Sam's murder, ex-boyfriend Jeffrey Herman has a panic attack, calls 911, and confesses he might have killed Sam but can’t remember.
- “I’m convinced that I may have murdered my girlfriend, and I don’t remember it.” — Jeffrey Herman, bodycam footage (10:40)
- Analysis: Jeffrey later attributes his confession to a drug-induced hallucinated panic attack—confirmed as an “internalized false confession” by expert Alan Hirsch.
- “It was one of the most terrifying things I've ever experienced, thinking that I had done something that's so counter to everything that I stand for and believe in and would ever want to do.” — Jeffrey Herman (12:29)
- No Physical Evidence: Police hold Jeffrey for three days but release him, finding nothing to tie him to the crime.
- Their Relationship: Described by Jeffrey as amicable but, under court scrutiny, the defense highlights possible jealousy and motive due to their breakup.
Trial, Testimony, and Racial Context (16:08 - 20:30)
- Bolanos Takes the Stand: He admits to breaking into cars in the area, not murder. Claims he found Sam’s body, checked her pulse, panicked, and left due to fear of being a Black man near a dead white woman in Detroit.
- “When I realized she was dead, I wanted nothing to do with the entire situation. I’m a black guy out in the middle of the night… and I find myself standing in front of a dead white woman. That doesn’t look good at all.” — Michael Jackson Bolanos (17:47)
- Host’s Reflection: Anne-Marie Green underscores how personal and social context—race, policing history, location—influences perceptions of guilt and justice.
- “You have to… check your own personal experiences and put them on the shelf and just listen to the evidence. But you can't help but to sort of fold in a conversation about… how you feel about policing, what the city of Detroit had been going through.” — Anne-Marie Green (18:00)
Family Experience (20:30 - 21:48)
- Sam’s Family: Sat through every day of the trial, showing strength and seeking justice amidst pain and exhaustion.
- “They sat through every day of this trial, which I… can’t even imagine how difficult that was… They’re also so tired now.” — Frannie Block (20:52)
The Legal Twist: The Verdict (21:48 - 24:06)
- Charges & Trial Outcome:
- Bolanos acquitted of premeditated murder.
- Convicted of lying to police.
- Jury hung on felony murder and home invasion; judge ultimately dismisses these charges under double jeopardy, citing Jaeger v. US (2009).
- Sentencing: Bolanos receives 18 months to 15 years for lying to police.
- “She still can sentence him to prison for lying to the police… this really indefinite sentence of 18 months to 15 years in prison.” — Frannie Block (24:06)
Aftermath and Themes of Justice (23:11 - 25:36)
- Community and Spirit: The Jewish community seeks justice and healing, balancing grief with faith teachings not to let “the forces of evil win.”
- “…to not let the forces of evil win. And… the pursuit of justice… trying to get justice for loved ones… drives them forward.” — Frannie Block (23:50)
- Letter from Prison: Bolanos maintains innocence, claims not to have received justice.
- “In this letter, Michael maintains his innocence. He says, ‘I did not kill Samantha Wall, but I also feel like I haven’t got the justice that I deserve either.’” — Frannie Block (24:44)
Reflections on the Justice System & Sam’s Legacy (25:36 - End)
- Imperfect System: The final episode of Spiral is titled “A Beautiful but Imperfect System”—acknowledging the limitations and flaws in seeking justice.
- “No matter what we do in this system, there’s this kind of very hard pill to swallow… this system will not be perfect… what does justice look like?” — Frannie Block (25:36)
- Samantha Wall’s Lasting Impact: The central takeaway is Sam’s bridge-building legacy, kindness, and dedication to uniting Jewish and Muslim communities.
- “She could sit across the table from someone who had totally different political views… and still have an amazing in depth conversation.” — Frannie Block (26:36)
- “My hope… is that they take something away from Sam’s life that they reflect in their own lives. How could I live a life more like Samantha Wall’s?” — Frannie Block (26:56)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “My mom called me… she said, ‘Frannie, I’m really, really scared… What if people come and target me?’” — Frannie Block (03:45)
- “They don't have any direct evidence that Michael actually entered Samantha's home that night.” — Frannie Block (09:40)
- “I’m convinced that I may have murdered my girlfriend, and I don’t remember it.” — Jeffrey Herman (10:40)
- “When I realized she was dead, I wanted nothing to do with the entire situation. I'm a black guy out in the middle of the night breaking into cars, and I find myself standing in front of a dead white woman that doesn't look good at all.” — Michael Jackson Bolanos (17:47)
- “…to not let the forces of evil win.” — Quoted rabbi via Frannie Block (23:50)
- “No matter what we do, this system will not be perfect. And what does justice look like? What… can we do to improve this system?” — Frannie Block (25:36)
- “How could I live a life more like Samantha Wall’s?” — Frannie Block (26:56)
Important Segments with Timestamps
- Introduction & Context: 01:13 – 02:23
- Who Samantha Wall Was: 02:23 – 04:19
- Police Ruling Out Hate Crime: 04:19 – 05:13
- Timeline of the Night: 05:28 – 06:52
- Police Focus on Bolanos: 07:34 – 09:46
- Jeffrey Herman's False Confession: 09:46 – 14:45
- Trial and Testimonies: 16:08 – 20:30
- Impact on the Family: 20:30 – 21:48
- Legal Outcome and Double Jeopardy: 21:48 – 24:06
- Themes of Grief, Justice, and Resilience: 23:11 – 25:36
- Samantha Wall’s Legacy: 25:36 – End
Tone & Takeaways
The discussion is empathetic, nuanced, and thoughtful, reflecting on both the hard evidence and the deeply personal impacts of the crime. Listeners are invited to consider not only the mechanics of justice and the ambiguities of evidence but to remember and emulate Samantha Wall’s spirit of bridge-building and compassion, even when the system—and the world—falls short of perfection.