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48 Hours on CBS recently aired an insightful episode that revisits the tragic case of Blaze Bernstein who was a young college student whose life was abruptly ended in 2018. The episode which aired at 9.00 PM EST on September 21 featured the detailed investigation that unfolded following Blaze's disappearance and the subsequent discovery of his body.
Blaze Bernstein was a 19-year-old sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania and was visiting his family in Lake Forest, California, during winter break when he tragically lost his life. On the night of January 2, 2018, Blaze went out to meet Samuel Woodward, who was a former high school classmate, at Borrego Park. This was the last time he was seen alive.
Following an intense search that lasted for nearly a week, Blaze’s body was discovered in a shallow grave at the same park. He had been stabbed 28 times in what authorities later declared a hate crime given that Blaze Bernstein was openly homosexual and Jewish.
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Samuel Woodward was arrested shortly after the discovery of the body. Investigations revealed that Woodward was affiliated with the neo-Nazi group, Atomwaffen Division, which contributed to the classification of the murder as a hate crime. DNA evidence linked him conclusively to the crime.
Woodward’s trial faced several delays, eventually leading to a guilty verdict in 2024 where he was convicted of first-degree murder with a hate crime enhancement.
What did Samuel Woodward do to Blaze Bernstein?
Samuel Woodward was responsible for the tragic death of Blaze Bernstein. On the evening of January 2, 2018, Samuel Woodward, a former high school classmate of Blaze, met with him under the pretense of catching up after reconnecting through a social media platform. Woodward and Bernstein drove to Borrego Park in Lake Forest, California, reportedly to hang out and chat.
According to Woodward’s own statements to the police, once at the park, the situation escalated when he claimed Blaze made unwanted sexual advances towards him. Woodward had brought a knife with him and reacted violently to Bernstein's advances.
He stabbed Bernstein 28 times, leading to his death. The brutality of the attack indicated extreme overkill which prosecutors later argued was evidence of Woodward's deep-seated animosity towards Blaze Bernstein’s sexual orientation and Jewish heritage.
After the murder, Woodward attempted to cover up his crime by burying Blaze Bernstein's body in a shallow grave within the park itself. The body was not discovered until a week later. It was aided by a rainstorm that exposed parts of the remains which led to a subsequent investigation that quickly focused on Samuel Woodward due to digital evidence and his last known interactions with Bernstein.
Woodward was arrested and charged with murder on January 12, 2018. Further investigations revealed Woodward’s ties to the Atomwaffen Division, a known neo-Nazi group which played a crucial role in the determination that the murder was a hate crime. Woodward’s involvement with the group provided a backdrop of extremist beliefs that were presumed to have fueled his violent actions against Bernstein.
The legal proceedings were complicated and drawn out. Initially Woodward pleaded not guilty to the charges, citing self-defense and mental health issues including Asperger syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorder as factors that influenced his actions. His defense also attempted to downplay the hate crime aspect by suggesting that the murder was not premeditated but a panicked reaction to a perceived threat.
Despite these claims, the prosecution presented overwhelming evidence of Woodward’s extremist beliefs and the premeditated nature of the crime. This included DNA evidence linking Woodward to the murder scene and digital evidence from Woodward’s devices showing his involvement with hate groups and his violent ideologies.
Woodward's trial faced several delays largely due to questions about his mental competency and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on court schedules. Finally, in July 2024, Woodward was found guilty of first-degree murder with a hate crime enhancement. The jury rejected the defense's arguments and determined that the murder was both premeditated and motivated by hate.
Following his conviction, Samuel Woodward was held in custody awaiting sentencing with a life sentence without the possibility of parole expected due to the severity of the crime and the hate crime enhancement.
The episode of 48 Hours aired on September 21, 2024 at 9.00 PM EST.
