On Tuesday, a man from California, who has been accused of committing a hate crime by killing a gay University of Pennsylvania student six years ago, shared his testimony. He explained how he had connected with the victim on social media and went to a park, which turned out to be the last sighting of the victim.
During his trial at an Orange County courtroom, Samuel Woodward, 26, had long hair that partially covered his face. Although his lawyer repeatedly asked him to move it aside so that the jurors could see him clearly.
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When asked, Woodward admitted to the court that there were moments in his life where he didn’t feel like he had any friends and that his only means of communication with others were through the internet. He also disclosed that he had come across Blaze Bernstein, an old high school classmate, on a dating application and that they reconnected six months later. During their conversation, Woodward felt uneasy about chatting with Bernstein as he came from a “conservative, Catholic family.”
During his trial which has lasted several months, Woodward stated that he had been searching for individuals to converse with or spend time with for a considerable period of time.
In 2018, Bernstein, a 19-year-old gay Jewish college sophomore, was home on winter break visiting family in Southern California when he disappeared. His body was found a few days later buried in a shallow grave in a nearby park. Woodward has been charged with murder, with a hate crime enhancement, in connection with Bernstein’s death.
During the trial, it was revealed that the two men had been in contact online in the months leading up to the attack, as evidenced by the screenshots of their conversations.
According to prosecutors, Woodward became a member of the Atomwaffen Division, a violent and discriminatory group that promotes anti-gay and anti-Semitic beliefs. He frequently targeted gay men online by initiating contact and then abruptly ending it, all while documenting his hateful and profanity-laced actions in a journal. Additionally, prosecutors discovered hate group materials amongst Woodward’s belongings and noted his interest in transitioning from words to violent actions.
Ken Morrison, the defense attorney, did not deny that his client committed the deadly assault. However, he argued that Woodward did not have any intention of killing anyone and did not hold any animosity towards Bernstein.
According to him, Woodward had to navigate challenging situations in his personal relationships since he had an undiagnosed autism spectrum disorder for a considerable period. Additionally, growing up in a politically conservative and devout Catholic family where his father openly expressed disapproval towards homosexuality, left him feeling uncertain about his own sexuality.
In his testimony, Woodward admitted to reading excerpts from a book called “Siege,” which is promoted by Atomwaffen Division. Additionally, he disclosed that he had contacts with and even met members of the group.
It took several years for the case to reach trial due to concerns surrounding Woodward’s mental state, along with several shifts in defense attorneys. However, in late 2022, Woodward was ultimately declared fit to stand trial.
Throughout the trial, a multitude of witnesses, consisting of both family members and friends, as well as authorities, have taken the stand. As for Woodward’s testimony, it has progressed at a sluggish pace, with the defendant often pausing before responding to his lawyer’s inquiries.
In January 2018, Bernstein vanished after going out with Woodward to a park in Lake Forest, which is around 70 kilometers southeast of Los Angeles. The next day, Bernstein’s parents noticed that he had missed his scheduled dentist appointment, and became concerned when they found his glasses, wallet, and credit cards in his bedroom. Despite their attempts to contact him through calls and texts, they received no response from him.
After Bernstein went missing, authorities conducted a thorough search and discovered that he had communicated with Woodward on Snapchat, according to the investigation. Bernstein’s family had also scoured his social media and found evidence of their communication. Woodward had informed the family that Bernstein had gone to meet a friend in the park that night but did not return.
During the investigation, officials searched Woodward’s family residence in Newport Beach and discovered a bloodstained folding knife in his room. Additionally, they uncovered a black Atomwaffen mask that contained traces of blood, as well as various anti-gay, antisemitic, and hate group materials. The prosecutors reported this information.
