The Blaze Bernstein Case: Details Revealed in CBS’s 48 Hours Special

The recent episode of 48 Hours on CBS shed light on the heartbreaking case of Blaze Bernstein, a college student whose life was tragically cut short in 2018. This episode, which aired at 9:00 PM EST on September 21, detailed the thorough investigation that transpired after Blaze’s mysterious disappearance and the subsequent discovery of his remains.

Blaze Bernstein was a 19-year-old sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania, visiting family in Lake Forest, California, during winter break when he lost his life. On the fateful evening of January 2, 2018, Blaze met up with Samuel Woodward, a former high school classmate, at Borrego Park – marking the last time he was seen alive.

After an extensive search lasting nearly a week, the discovery of Blaze’s body occurred in a shallow grave at the same park. He had suffered 28 stab wounds, an attack later classified as a hate crime due to Blaze Bernstein’s identities as an openly homosexual and Jewish individual.

Samuel Woodward was arrested shortly after authorities found the body. Investigative efforts uncovered Woodward’s ties to the neo-Nazi group, Atomwaffen Division, which was pivotal in classifying the murder as a hate crime. DNA evidence provided a clear link between him and the crime scene.

After multiple delays, Woodward faced trial and received a guilty verdict in 2024, being convicted of first-degree murder with a hate crime enhancement.

What did Samuel Woodward do to Blaze Bernstein?

Samuel Woodward was the perpetrator of the tragic murder of Blaze Bernstein. On the evening of January 2, 2018, he reconnected with Blaze through social media and they met at Borrego Park in Lake Forest, California, supposedly to catch up.

According to Woodward’s statements to the police, tensions escalated at the park when he accused Blaze of making unwanted sexual advances. Armed with a knife, Woodward reacted violently to Bernstein’s behavior.

In the ensuing attack, he stabbed Bernstein 28 times, leading to Blaze Bernstein’s death. The brutal nature of the attack suggested extreme overkill, which prosecutors argued highlighted Woodward’s profound hatred towards Blaze’s sexual orientation and Jewish identity.

Following the murder, Woodward attempted to conceal his crime by burying Blaze’s body in a shallow grave within the park. A week later, parts of the remains were exposed due to a rainstorm, prompting further investigation that quickly focused on Samuel Woodward, aided by digital evidence and witness accounts.

Woodward was arrested and charged with murder on January 12, 2018. Subsequent investigations revealed his affiliations with the Atomwaffen Division—a known neo-Nazi organization, which played a crucial role in determining the motivations behind the murder as a hate crime. His extremist beliefs provided a troubling context to his violent actions against Bernstein.

The legal proceedings were protracted and complex. Initially, Woodward entered a not guilty plea, citing self-defense and various mental health conditions, including Asperger’s syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorder. His defense sought to minimize the hate crime characterization, arguing that the murder was unplanned and a reaction to a perceived threat.

Defense claims were overshadowed by substantial evidence presented by the prosecution, which included DNA linking Woodward to the scene and digital documentation of his affiliations with hate groups and violent ideologies. Woodward’s trial encountered several delays, primarily due to questions regarding his mental competency and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on court timelines. Ultimately, in July 2024, the jury found Woodward guilty of first-degree murder with a hate crime enhancement, dismissing the defense’s arguments and establishing that the murder was both premeditated and motivated by hate.

Following his conviction, Samuel Woodward was remanded in custody, awaiting sentencing which is likely to result in a life sentence without the possibility of parole due to the severity of his crime and the hate crime designation.

This episode of 48 Hours aired on September 21, 2024, at 9:00 PM EST.

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