SANTA ANA, Calif. — A California man had been found guilty of murder with a hate crime charge on Wednesday in the 2018 stabbing death of a gay University of Pennsylvania student.
Samuel Woodward, 26, was found guilty of first-degree murder and enhancement in the death of Blaze Bernstein, a gay, Jewish college student who went missing while visiting his family in Southern California over winter break. Authorities searched the region for him until discovering his death a week later in a shallow grave at a nearby park.
The months-long trial focused on why Woodward killed Bernstein and the circumstances surrounding his death.
During closing arguments, prosecutor Jennifer Walker underlined Woodward’s connection to the Atomwaffen Division, a violent, anti-gay, antisemitic organization.
“This is a person who is motivated by hatred,” Walker stated. “Not following, not being led by, influenced by, victimized by Atomwaffen — seeking it out.”
With the hate crime addition, Woodward may face a life sentence without parole.
NJ Wrestling Coach Faces Sentencing for Sex Crimes With Minors
His attorney, Ken Morrison, attempted to demonstrate at trial that his client had no intention of killing Bernstein and had no hatred for anyone in order to secure a conviction on a lesser charge such as second-degree murder or manslaughter.
Morrison, who intends to appeal after sentencing, claims the judge made important decisions that deprived “jurors the ability to consider evidence critical to a fair trial.”
According to testimony at trial, Woodward and Bernstein attended the same high school in Orange County and met through a dating app in the months leading up to the attack. Woodward claimed he picked up Bernstein and took him to a nearby park, where he repeatedly stabbed him after attempting to retrieve a cellphone he suspected had been used to photograph him.
Prosecutors claim Woodward joined Atomwaffen Division and frequently targeted gay men online, reaching out to them before abruptly breaking off contact while keeping a vile, profanity-laced log of his conduct. They claimed Woodward had an interest in carrying out violent crimes in the weeks preceding the murder and reached out to Bernstein online.
Woodward’s attorney, Ken Morrison, told jurors that his client had no intention of killing anyone and had no animosity toward Bernstein. He claimed Woodward struggled in his relationships as a result of a long-undiagnosed autistic spectrum disease, and he was perplexed about his sexuality after growing up in a politically orthodox and religious Catholic environment where his father openly condemned homosexuality.
Alabama TEEN CHARGED With Capital MURDER FOR ALLEGEDLY KILLING 3 in Grocery Store Robbery
The case took years to reach trial as issues surfaced about Woodward’s mental health and many changes in defense attorneys. Woodward was found competent to stand trial in late 2022.
Bernstein vanished in January 2018, after going out at night with Woodward to a park in Lake Forest, some 45 miles southeast of Los Angeles. After Bernstein missed his dental appointment the next day, his parents discovered his glasses, wallet, and credit cards in his bedroom and attempted to contact him, but he did not answer to texts or phone calls.
Authorities conducted a thorough search, and Bernstein’s family discovered he had connected with Woodward over Snapchat. According to authorities, Woodward informed the family that Bernstein left to see a friend in the park that night and did not return.
Days later, Bernstein’s body was discovered in the shallow grave. He’d been stabbed repeatedly in the face and neck as per NBCNEWS.
Police said they searched Woodward’s family house in Newport Beach and discovered a folding knife with a bloodied blade in his room. Prosecutors said they also discovered a black Atomwaffen mask with blood stains, as well as anti-gay, antisemitic, and hate group publications.