A California jury has convicted Samuel Woodward, a neo-Nazi, of first-degree murder and hate crime charges for the brutal killing of Blaze Bernstein, a 19-year-old gay classmate he met online. The verdict, delivered after just one day of deliberation, means Woodward now faces a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
The courtroom erupted in cheers as the verdict was read, while Woodward remained motionless, his face obscured by his long hair. Bernstein, a Jewish teen, was found stabbed 20 times in a California park in 2018. The defense did not dispute the killing but argued it was not motivated by hate.
Woodward, who grew up in a conservative, religious family, met Bernstein on Tinder, and they arranged to meet up. During the trial, Woodward testified that he made the first move and that they had agreed to hang out that night. Both were students at the Orange County School of the Arts, and Bernstein had briefly attended the University of Pennsylvania to study pre-med. Woodward had dropped out of college and moved to Texas, where he connected with the Neo-Nazi extremist group Atomwaffen Division before returning to his parents’ home in California.
Woodward testified that he often felt isolated and that his primary interactions with others were online. Screenshots of their online conversations were presented during the trial, showing how they had connected months before Bernstein’s death. Woodward admitted to picking up Bernstein from his home and taking him to the park where the murder occurred.
The defense argued that Woodward’s long-undiagnosed autism spectrum condition made it difficult for him to form relationships and understand his own sexuality, especially given his upbringing in a household where his father openly criticized homosexuality. Woodward’s attorney, Ken Morrison, contended that the narrative of “Nazi kills gay Jew” was inaccurate and that the killing was not a hate crime.
The case took years to go to trial due to questions about Woodward’s mental state. He was deemed competent to stand trial in late 2022, and the trial began in late April, lasting 28 days with three days of Woodward’s testimony. Authorities connected Woodward to the crime after Bernstein’s family reviewed his social media and found he had been in contact with Woodward.
A search of Woodward’s family home revealed a folding knife with a bloodied blade and a black Atomwaffen mask with traces of blood. Prosecutors argued that Woodward, as a member of Atomwaffen Division, targeted gay men online, matching with them on dating apps before breaking off contact.
During the trial, it was revealed that Bernstein had gushed to friends about the prospect of seducing Woodward, describing it as “legendary.” Their initial conversation on Tinder showed Bernstein expressing surprise at seeing Woodward on the app, and Woodward initially claimed he was looking for black women to date and men to go deer hunting with. However, after Bernstein called him cute, Woodward responded positively.
Six months later, they reconnected on Tinder, with Woodward claiming he owed Bernstein an explanation for his previous behavior. Bernstein, skeptical but intrigued, agreed to meet Woodward, giving him his parents’ home address. They met and went to Borrego Park in Lake Forest, where Bernstein was later found dead.
Prosecutor Jennifer Walker described how Woodward brought a folding knife, an Atomwaffen mask, a shovel, and a sleeping bag to the meeting. Bernstein was killed within an hour, with his DNA found on multiple items, including Woodward’s watch band and the folding knife.
The defense maintained that Bernstein’s sexual orientation was not the reason for his murder, arguing that Woodward’s actions were influenced by his autism spectrum disorder and confusion about his sexuality. However, the prosecution presented evidence of Woodward’s long-standing beliefs and hatred against gay and Jewish people, including a “hate diary” found in his emails.
Woodward was arrested and pleaded not guilty to murder with a hate crime enhancement. After years of delays related to his mental state and changes in defense lawyers, he was finally deemed fit for trial in 2022.
The trial, which included testimony from both Bernstein and Woodward’s parents, is expected to last up to three months. If convicted, Woodward faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Source: Orange County Register, Los Angeles Times, The Independent, Getty Images, Facebook
