SANTA ANA, Calif. – After more than six years, the trial for the man accused of fatally stabbing University of Pennsylvania student Blaze Bernstein is set to begin. Samuel Woodward, a Southern California resident, faces charges in what authorities believe was a hate crime.
The murder case against Woodward, now 26 years old from Newport Beach, California, is scheduled to commence with opening statements on Tuesday. Woodward has entered a plea of not guilty in the death of Blaze Bernstein, a 19-year-old gay, Jewish college student who was home for winter break visiting his family.
Bernstein went missing in January 2018 after being seen with Woodward at a park in Lake Forest, California. His parents found his personal belongings in his bedroom when he didn’t show up for a planned event and stopped responding to messages. Days later, Bernstein’s body was discovered buried in a shallow grave at the park.
Authorities revealed that Woodward allegedly picked up Bernstein from his family’s residence after the two connected on Snapchat. They stated that Bernstein was stabbed nearly 20 times in the face and neck. DNA evidence and Woodward’s cellphone contents linked him to the crime, revealing a cache of anti-gay, antisemitic, and hate group materials.
Woodward’s supposed interest in joining the neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen Division, known for promoting white supremacy, came to light during the investigation. Prosecutors presented journal entries seized from Woodward’s possession that detailed threats he allegedly made towards gay individuals online.
The trial faced delays as concerns about Woodward’s mental health emerged, along with changes in his legal representation. Woodward was deemed fit to stand trial in late 2022, with one of his former attorneys citing his Asperger’s syndrome diagnosis as a factor in his defense.
Despite the ongoing case, Woodward’s current lawyer, Ken Morrison, urged the public to withhold judgment until all evidence is examined in court. The Orange County district attorney’s office declined to comment on the pending trial, emphasizing the importance of due process and a fair trial for all involved in the case.