SANTA ANA, Calif. – A jury has convicted a Southern California man of first-degree murder in the 2018 slaying of a University of Pennsylvania student, determining the attack was a hate crime driven by the victim’s sexual orientation and religion. Samuel Woodward, 26, was found guilty in the murder of Blaze Bernstein, who was stabbed to death while visiting his family during a winter break.
Blaze Bernstein’s case drew extensive attention after he went missing in January 2018. After being reported missing by his family, his body was later discovered in a shallow grave in a park near his home in Lake Forest, about 70 kilometers southeast of Los Angeles. Bernstein, a sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania, was openly gay and Jewish, which authorities said played a significant role in the motive for his murder.
During the trial, it was revealed that Woodward and Bernstein had reconnected through a dating app weeks before the killing. On the night Bernstein disappeared, Woodward picked him up and they drove to the park. According to Woodward’s own admission during the trial, he stabbed Bernstein multiple times after an attempt to seize Bernstein’s phone, which he thought had been used to take compromising photos of him.
Prosecutors portrayed Woodward as a member of a violent, extremist group—the Atomwaffen Division—and argued that he harbored deep-seated prejudice against gay individuals and Jews. They presented evidence, including communication records and a journal kept by Woodward, which contained hateful and violent language against these groups.
The defense attempted to shift the narrative by highlighting Woodward’s struggle with his sexual identity and his upbringing in a conservative and religious household. Ken Morrison, Woodward’s attorney, emphasized that Woodward did not premeditate the killing and suggested his actions were a product of confusion and emotional turmoil.
The controversy around the case was exacerbated by delays attributed to debates over Woodward’s mental fitness for trial and changes in his legal representation. It wasn’t until late 2022 when Woodward was finally deemed competent to stand trial, paving the way for the eventual acknowledgment of his role in the crime.
Following the jury’s verdict, the focus shifted to the significance of prosecuting hate crimes, underscoring the importance of recognizing and addressing the impact of bias-motivated violence on marginalized communities. Legal experts and advocates cite this case as indicative of broader societal issues concerning intolerance and the prosecution of hate crimes in the judicial system.
As the community grapples with the outcome of this case, Bernstein’s family has been active in efforts to preserve his legacy, emphasizing tolerance, understanding, and the need to address hate crimes comprehensively. Their advocacy underscores a commitment to ensuring that this tragedy results in societal changes and serves as a catalyst for dialogue and reform in how hate crimes are understood and prosecuted in the future.
Woodward now faces a potential life sentence without the possibility of parole, with sentencing scheduled for a later date. This verdict not only brings closure to a painful chapter for Bernstein’s family but also raises poignant questions about justice and the prevention of hate-driven violence, suggesting a continual need for vigilance and advocacy against bigotry in all forms.