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A tragic hate crime case has reached its conclusion as 27-year-old Samuel Lincoln Woodward was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
This punishment was for the murder of Blaze Bernstein, a 19-year-old gay student from the University of Pennsylvania.
The sentencing took place in a Southern California courtroom, bringing closure to a case that spanned nearly seven years.
The incident dates back to January 3, 2018.
Woodward and Bernstein, two former high school friends, had reconnected over Snapchat, and agreed to meet up in Foothill Ranch, California.
During the meetup, Bernstein reportedly made a romantic advance towards Woodward.
This made Woodward angry and he stabbed the young student over 28 times in the face and neck.
The brutal attack was followed by Woodward burying Bernstein’s body in a shallow grave at Borrego Park, near Bernstein’s family home.
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| Blaze Bernstein |
Blaze Bernstein’s family became worried after he missed a dental appointment and did not respond to multiple attempts to contact him.
A massive search effort was launched.
This eventually led to the discovery of his body in a muddy area of the park after a week of intensive searching.
Authorities arrested Woodward after forensic evidence, including Bernstein's DNA, was found in Woodward’s rental car.
A subsequent search of Woodward’s home revealed disturbing items such as a folding knife with traces of blood and a black Atomwaffen mask.
A journal filled with anti-gay and antisemitic content was also found, pointing to his affiliation with the neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen Division.
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| Blaze Bernstein and family |
During the trial, prosecutors emphasized that the killing was premeditated.
They believed Woodward was driven by his deep-seated hate against gay individuals.
Evidence presented included Woodward’s connection to extremist groups.
Prosecutors argued that Bernstein’s murder was a “ceremonial” killing meant to earn Woodward recognition within Atomwaffen.
The jury was also informed about Woodward’s history of bigotry.
Woodward's defense team, however, painted a different picture.
They claimed that their client struggled with an undiagnosed autism spectrum disorder, leading to severe social isolation and vulnerability to extremist influences.
Woodward’s attorney argued that his client did not set out to kill Bernstein but acted out of a sudden panic after feeling threatened.
Despite these arguments, the jury found Woodward guilty of first-degree murder, with the hate-crime enhancement sealing his fate to a life sentence without parole.
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| Samuel Lincoln Woodward |
The sentencing hearing was marked by emotional testimonies, particularly from Blaze Bernstein's mother, Jeanne Pepper.
She shared her heart-wrenching experience of losing her son in such a violent manner.
She recounted the panic and grief that consumed her when she learned the details of her son's death.
She also highlighted the pain and betrayal they felt after initially trusting Woodward during the early search efforts.
She further expressed relief that Woodward would never be able to harm anyone else.
“We will be here on the outside celebrating the life of Blaze, continuing to make the world more caring, kind, and safe for the Jewish and LGBTQ communities,” she said.
The sentencing brings an end to a lengthy legal battle that was delayed multiple times due to questions about Woodward’s mental health and courtroom outbursts.
Blaze Bernstein’s legacy lives on through the efforts of his family, who have turned their grief into advocacy, working to create a more inclusive and compassionate society.
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