♪
>>> LIKE MANY THINGS IN LIFE THE
FACTS OF THIS CASE ARE NOT
SIMPLE.
THEY'RE NOT BLACK AND WHITE.
>> IT'S EASY TO FORGET HOW
SYMBOLIC THIS TRIAL WAS OF A
GREATER PROBLEM IN THE WORLD.
>> YOU'LL HEAR STRONG,
COMPELLING EVIDENCE THAT
EXPLAINS THE REAL REASON FOR
THIS VERY SAD AND TRAGIC
KILLING.
>> IT'S BEEN SIX YEARS.
IS IT STILL HARD TO BELIEVE THAT
BLAZE IS GONE?
>> IT TOOK A WHILE FOR IT TO SET
IN.
BUT I'M AT PEACE WITH IT.
MAYBE THAT'S ALL THAT WE WERE
SUPPOSED TO HAVE.
♪ HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR BLAZE
>> THERE WERE LIKE 19 YEARS WITH
SO MANY MOMENTS OF BRILLIANCE
AND BEAUTY.
>> BLAZE WAS VERY CREATIVE.
DEFINITELY WHEN WE WERE LITTLE
KIDS.
>> DID YOU WANT CHEESE?
>> SURE.
>> WE WERE LIKE ATTACHED AT THE
HIP.
>> I THINK OF HIM AS SOMEBODY
WHOSE POTENTIAL FOR LIFE WAS
COMPLETELY OBLITERATED.
>> BLAZE BERNSTEIN WAS GAY, AND
HIS KILLER WAS A MEMBER OF A
NEO-NAZI GROUP.
>> UNDERCOVER OFFICERS MADE
THEIR MOVE ON SAM WOODWARD.
>> WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT
NEO-NAZIS?
>> THEY'RE EVERYWHERE.
THEY'RE ALL OVER THE INTERNET.
>> THEY'RE HERE IN ORANGE
COUNTY.
>> I BELIEVE THAT THIS WAS A
HATE CRIME.
>> THE 26-YEAR-OLD'S APPEARANCE
HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY FROM
THE TIME OF HIS ARREST BACK IN
2018.
>> AT THE TRIAL SAM LOOKED LIKE
A SPITTING IMAGE OF CHARLIE
MANSON.
>> IT WAS ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING
TO LOOK AT.
>> THE EVIDENCE WILL SHOW YOU
THAT THE DEFENDANT KILLED BLAZE
BERNSTEIN BECAUSE HE WAS GAY.
HE WAS GAY AND JEWISH.
>> HATE CRIME OR CRIME OF
PASSION.
THE DIFFERENCE IS THE
POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE.
>> BLAZE BERNSTEIN WAS FOUND
WITH 28 STAB WOUNDS.
>> THE PROSECUTION HAS A BIT OF
A HIGHER BAR HERE BECAUSE THEY
ALSO HAVE TO SHOW THAT SAM
MURDERED BLAZE BECAUSE OF HIS
GAY IDENTITY.
HE HAD DEVELOPED HIS
LONG-STANDING BELIEFS AGAINST
JEWISH PEOPLE AND GAY PEOPLE.
>> WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT WAS
NOT A HATE CRIME.
>> WE KNEW THAT HE WAS GOING TO
PRESENT SOME STORY OF WHAT
HAPPENED THAT NIGHT.
>> NOT THE TARGETING OF SOMEONE
BECAUSE OF HIS SEXUAL
ORIENTATION.
>> WHAT KIND OF STORY COULD HE
COME UP WITH?
>> SAM WOODWARD NEVER PLANNED TO
KILL BLAZE BERNSTEIN.
>> HOMOPHOBIA?
SEXUAL REPRESSION?
HOOKUP CULTURE?
IT ALMOST NEVER ENDS, THE WAY
THAT THIS STORY ENDS.
>> WE DON'T HAVE ANY CONTROL
OVER WHAT THE OUTCOME IS.
>> HE COULD BE INNOCENT.
WE'LL LET THE JURY DECIDE.
♪
>>> THE WHY IS THE SINGLE MOST
IMPORTANT ISSUE YOU WILL NEED TO
DECIDE
DECIDE.
NOT WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
DEATH OF A YOUNG MAN BUT EXACTLY
WHY HE WAS KILLED SIX YEARS AGO.
>> FOR JEANNE PEPPER AND HER
HUSBAND, GIDEON BERNSTEIN, THOSE
SIX YEARS WERE PAINFULLY MARKED
BY COVID DELAYS, SHIFTING
LAWYERS AND LEGAL STRATEGIES.
>> SLOW JUSTICE IS NO JUSTICE.
IT'S NOT FAIR TO VICTIMS, AND
IT'S NOT FAIR TO THE DECEASED.
>> FINALLY CAME APRIL OF 2024.
JEANNE AND GIDEON WERE MORE THAN
READY FOR THEIR DAY IN COURT.
>> WE'RE IMPATIENT.
WE WANT TO GET ON WITH OUR
LIVES.
>> BUT NOT BEFORE TELLING THE
STORY OF THEIR FIRST-BORN CHILD,
BLAZE BERNSTEIN.
HOW HE LIVED AND WHY THEY
BELIEVE HE DIED.
MURDERED BECAUSE OF WHO HE WAS.
TARGETED BY HATE.
>> IT'S NOT SAFE FOR YOU TO BE A
LOT OF DIFFERENT MINORITIES NOW.
>> THE VICTIM IN THIS CASE, AND
NOBODY DISPUTES THAT HE WAS A
VICTIM, WAS STABBED TO DEATH.
>> KEN MORRISON WOULD DEFEND
SAMUEL WOODWARD, CHARGED WITH
FIRST-DEGREE PREMEDITATED
MURDER.
MORRISON SQUARED OFF AGAINST
PROSECUTOR JENNIFER WALKER.
>> AND WHERE WE START IS WITH
WHO WAS KILLED, BLAZE BERNSTEIN.
AND HE WAS 19.
HE WAS GAY AND JEWISH.
>> THE SILENT, GHOSTLY PRESENCE
IN THE COURTROOM WAS BLAZE.
THAT SLENDER, CURIOUS, PLAYFUL
YOUNG MAN WITH A BIG WORLD.
IMAGES THAT REFUSE TO FADE.
>> ARE THERE PICTURES OR THINGS
THAT FLASH THROUGH YOUR MIND
THAT YOU THINK OF BLAZE?
>> ALWAYS.
EVERY DAY.
>> IT WAS JUST WEEKS AFTER
BLAZE'S DEATH THAT WE FIRST MET
JEANNE AND GIDEON.
WOUNDS RAW, THEY SHARED
BITTERSWEET MEMORIES OF THE SON
THEY DESCRIBED AS MAGICAL.
>> AND THE FIRST TIME I SAW HIM
I LOOKED IN HIS EYES, SOMETHING
ABOUT THIS BABY.
HE'S GOING TO CHANGE THE WORLD
SOMEDAY.
>> BOOM, BOOM, BOOM.
BA, BA, BOOM.
HEY.
BA, BA, BOOM.
>> THAT'S GOING TO BE THE INTRO.
>> WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT
BLAZE?
>> YEAH, THAT'S IT.
>> HIS QUIRKY PERSONALITY.
♪ BA, BA, BOOM, BA, BOOM
>> HE WAS DIFFERENT.
>> HE LIKED TO TURN THE ORDINARY
INTO THE EXTRAORDINARY.
>> I CALL HIM A UNICORN.
HE WAS MAGNIFICENTLY CREATIVE.
>> IT WAS LATE SUMMER 2016 AND
BLAZE, WHO'D ALREADY ACHIEVED SO
MUCH, WAS HEADED TO AN IVY
LEAGUE SCHOOL HERE IN
PHILADELPHIA, THE UNIVERSITY OF
PENNSYLVANIA.
THERE WOULD BE NEW FRIENDS,
CHALLENGES AND MENTORS, AND
BLAZE SEEMED READY FOR IT ALL.
>> HE REALLY HIT HIS STRIDE.
>> A CREATIVE WRITER THINKING
ABOUT A CAREER IN MEDICINE.
>> HE WAS FINDING HIMSELF.
>> THEN CAME WINTER BREAK,
SOPHOMORE YEAR.
BLAZE HEADED HOME.
>> HE WAS REALLY LOOKING FORWARD
TO BEING WITH US TOO.
>> THERE WERE HOLIDAY
CELEBRATIONS AND HANUKKAH
HANDLES.
THE BUDDING CHEF COOKED UP A
GOURMET MEAL.
AND THEN SOMETIME ON THE NIGHT
OF JANUARY 2nd, 2018 BLAZE
SECRETLY LEFT HIS PARENTS'
HOUSE.
IT WOULD BE THE LAST TIME.
>> THAT NIGHT WHEN DID YOU
REALIZE HE WAS MISSING?
>> WE DIDN'T.
>> I DIDN'T KNOW THAT NIGHT.
>> WE DIDN'T KNOW.
WE THOUGHT HE SLEPT IN AND THE
NEXT DAY WE WERE --
>> I HAD MY A-HA MOMENT WHEN I
WAS AT THE DENTAL APPOINTMENT.
>> THE NEXT DAY BLAZE WAS DUE TO
MEET HIS MOTHER FOR THAT DENTIST
APPOINTMENT, BUT BLAZE NEVER
SHOWED UP AND WASN'T ANSWERING
HIS CELL PHONE.
>> I CALLED GIDEON.
HE ASKED ME IF BLAZE HAD EVER
COME HOME THE NIGHT BEFORE.
AND I SCREAMED OUT, "I DON'T
KNOW."
>> RUSHED OUT OF THE OFFICE AND
CAME HOME.
>> WE BOTH DID.
WE FLEW HOME.
>> Reporter: AND CHECKED BLAZE'S
ROOM.
>> HIS WALLET, HIS RETAINERS,
HIS KEYS.
>> THOSE ARE ALL STILL AT THE
HOUSE.
>> HIS GLASSES.
YEAH.
ALL OF THAT STUFF WAS AT THE
HOUSE.
>> BUT YOUR THOUGHT WAS?
>> WELL, IT WAS JUST SO HIGHLY
UNUSUAL.
>> HE WANTED TO SPEND TIME WITH
US.
I JUST KEPT TEXTING AND CALLING
HIM AND LEAVING MESSAGES ALL
DAY.
WHERE HAD HE BEEN?
WE DIDN'T KNOW.
>> THEY CALLED POLICE AND TRIED
TO LOG ON TO BLAZE'S SOCIAL
MEDIA ACCOUNTS.
>> WE JUST JUMPED ON HIS
COMPUTER.
THIS WAS A BIG CHALLENGE FOR US.
>> BUT WITH THE HELP OF FAMILY
AND FRIENDS THEY LOGGED ON TO
BLAZE'S SNAPCHAT.
THAT'S WHERE THEY DISCOVERED THE
NIGHT HE DISAPPEARED BLAZE HAD
SENT HIS HOME ADDRESS TO
SOMEONE.
SAM WOODWARD.
A SEEMING STRANGER.
>> WE NEVER HEARD THE NAME.
>> NEVER HEARD THE NAME BEFORE.
>> GIDEON AND JEANNE WERE
PANICKED AND BAFFLED.
WHO WAS SAM?
SO GIDEON MESSAGED SAM.
PLEASE PICK UP.
SAM GOT ON THE PHONE.
THE BERNSTEINS RECORDED THE
PHONE CONVERSATION AND WOULD
SHARE IT WITH POLICE.
>> WE JUST CRACKED IN HIS SNAP
ACCOUNT AND SAW THAT YOU HAD
BEEN TRYING TO FIND HIM.
SO YOU'RE THE FIRST REAL CLUE TO
THE PUZZLE HERE.
>> SAM'S PIECES OF THE PUZZLE
BEGAN WITH HIM MEETING BLAZE
NEAR THE BERNSTEINS' HOME.
>> I BIKD HIM UPPICKED HIM UP AT 11:00.
>> Reporter: AND HE SAID HE
DROVE HIM HERE, NEARBY BORREGO
PARK, WITH ITS THICK BRUSH AND
TWISTING PATHS, AND THAT ONCE
THERE THEY PARKED.
>> OKAY.
AND DID HE GET OUT OF THE CAR OR
WHAT HAPPENED?
>> YEAH.
HE GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND I GOT
OUT OF THE CAR TOO.
>> AND, SAM ADDED, BLAZE,
CLAIMING HE WAS GOING TO MEET A
FRIEND, WALKED DOWN A PATH AND
VANISHED INTO THE DARKNESS.
>> I SHOUTED OUT, "BLAZE,
BLAZE."
BUT I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING.
I DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING.
>> SAM EXPLAINED TO THE
BERNSTEINS HOW HE KNEW BLAZE AND
WHY HE SAYS THEY WERE GETTING
TOGETHER.
>> IT WAS MORE OF A SPUR OF THE
MOMENT KIND OF THING.
IT WAS HANGING OUT.
SINCE HE AND I WERE FRIENDS WHEN
WE WERE AT OCSA.
>> OCSA, THE ORANGE COUNTY
SCHOOL OF THE ARTS, WHERE RAIAH
ROFSKY, BLAZE AND SAM WERE ONCE
CLASSMATES.
RAIAH'S HIGH SCHOOL MEMORIES OF
SAM WERE ABOUT TO COME FLOODING
BACK WITH A VENGEANCE.
>> I GOT A CALL FROM MY MOM.
RAIAH, DID YOU HEAR?
AND I SAID WHAT?
SHE SAID BLAZE IS MISSING.
AND THEN MY MOM SAID RAIAH, HE
WAS WITH THIS GUY NAMED SAM
WOODWARD.
I SCREAMED IN THE PHONE, "HE
WHAT?"
THIS GUY?
AND I SAID, "YES, I KNOW THIS
GUY!
HE'S CRAZY."
>> HOW DIFFERENT WERE SAM AND
BLAZE?
>> OH, THEY WERE SO DIFFERENT.
PROBABLY ABOUT AS DIFFERENT AS
YOU COULD BE.
>> HAUNTINGLY DIFFERENT, SAYS
BLAZE'S OLDEST FRIEND.
SO WHEN THAT WORD BEGAN TO
FILTER ACROSS ORANGE COUNTY,
THAT BLAZE HADN'T COME HOME AND
THAT SAM WOODWARD MIGHT BE A
PERSON OF INTEREST, IT CHILLED
RAIAH TO THE BONE.
HER MEMORIES OF SAM IMPOSSIBLE
TO SHAKE.
>> WELL, HELLO, LADIES.
>> HE WAS DRAWING GUNS IN HIS
NOTEBOOK IN CLASS.
>> DID YOU SAY ANYTHING?
>> NO.
>> BUT YOU THOUGHT?
>> THIS IS TERRIFYING.
>>> THE SPOTLIGHT WAS ON SAM
WOODWARD, WHOM RAIAH REMEMBERED
FROM HIGH SCHOOL.
>> HE WAS VERY QUIET.
VERY WITHDRAWN.
DIDN'T REALLY TALK TO PEOPLE.
>> SAM WOODWARD, ODD MAN OUT,
SAYS RAIAH.
>> YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY HAS THEIR
CLIQUE.
BUT I DON'T THINK HE IDENTIFIED
WITH ANY OF THEM REALLY.
>> AND AS FAR AS ANYONE KNEW,
THE LAST PERSON TO SAY BLAZE
BERNSTEIN ALIVE.
>> THE ONLY REASON I COULD THINK
OF SAM MEETING UP WITH BLAZE IS
BECAUSE EITHER, NUMBER ONE, HE
WANTED TO HOOK UP WITH HIM OR,
TWO, BECAUSE HE WAS PLANNING TO
MURDER HIM.
>> AND AS FOR THAT STORY SAM
TOLD, THAT ON THE SPUR OF THE
MOMENT HE AND BLAZE HAD DECIDED
TO HANG OUT, IT DIDN'T COME
CLOSE TO ADDING UP FOR RAIAH.
>> HE HAD A REPUTATION OF BEING
WHAT?
>> RACIST, HOMOPHOBIC, SEXIST.
>> IT WAS RAIAH WHO WAS THERE
WHEN BLAZE'S SEXUALITY WAS STILL
A SECRET, UNTIL ALONG A
GLISTENING CALIFORNIA BEACH HE
BRAVELY CONFIDED IN HIS OLDEST
FRIEND.
>> SO YOU GUYS WERE KIND OF
WALKING DOWN THE BEACH ALONE
TOGETHER AND HE CAME OUT TO YOU?
>> YEAH.
>> RAIAH, WHO WOULD LATER ALSO
COME OUT, STEPPED UP WHEN IT
MATTERED MOST.
>> ALL I COULD DO IS BE A GOOD
FRIEND AND LOVE HIM
UNCONDITIONALLY.
>> DID YOU GET THE SENSE THAT
BLAZE HAD TOLD ANYONE ELSE THAT
HE THOUGHT HE WAS BI?
>> I DON'T THINK THAT HE DID.
HE WAS KIND OF UPSET TO SAY IT.
>> SOMETHING THAT CLEARLY WAS A
BIG SECRET FOR HIM AND --
>> YEAH.
YOU KNOW, COMING OUT TO YOURSELF
IS A REALLY MATURE, DIFFICULT
THING TO DO.
>> AND WHAT DID YOU TELL HIM?
>> I TOLD HIM, "IT'S OKAY.
IF YOU LIKE BOYS, THAT'S TOTALLY
FINE.
LOVE WHO YOU LOVE."
>> WHILE HE HADN'T YET TOLD HIS
PARENTS, GIDEON AND JEANNE
SENSED BLAZE MIGHT BE GAY.
>> WE WENT UP TO HIM AND SAID,
"LISTEN, WHATEVER YOUR SITUATION
IS, WE EMBRACE IT.
WE LOVE YOU.
WE DON'T CARE."
>> BUT IN THOSE FIRST DAYS OF
2018 IT WASN'T JUST LOVE.
IT WAS ALSO AN UNIMAGINABLE FEAR
THAT CONSUMED JEANNE AND GIDEON
AS THE SEARCH FOR BLAZE BEGAN.
ORANGE COUNTY COPS SPOKE WITH
SAM.
HE REPEATED WHAT HE'D TOLD THE
BERNSTEINS ON THAT PHONE CALL,
THAT HE HAD PICKED BLAZE UP,
DRIVEN TO BORREGO PARK, AND THAT
THEN BLAZE HAD VANISHED.
BY JANUARY 5th THE SEARCH HAD
BECOME MASSIVE.
>> WE'RE OUT HERE CONDUCTING A
SEARCH FOR BLAZE BERNSTEIN.
>> WE'RE HERE TODAY TO GET YOUR
HELP TO FIND OUR SON.
>> PLEASE KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN
FOR MY BABY.
I WANT HIM HOME WITH ME NOW.
>> SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAMS AND
HELICOPTERS SEARCHED THE
WILDERNESS AREA.
>> AND WE PRINTED UP THOUSANDS
AND THOUSANDS OF FLYERS THAT
PEOPLE IN THE CONGREGATION PUT
UP.
EVERYBODY'S LOOKING.
>> SHABBAT SHALOM.
>> RABBI ARNOLD RACHLIS
COORDINATED THE SEARCH FROM
UNIVERSITY SYNAGOGUE, WHERE
BLAZE WAS AN ACTIVE MEMBER AND A
ROLE MODEL.
>> PLEASE JOIN ME IN HONORING
BLAZE BERNSTEIN.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> BLAZE EMBRACED HIS JEWISH
HERITAGE AND CONFRONTED ITS
HATERS.
>> NOT ONLY WERE 6 MILLION
JEWISH PEOPLE SYSTEMATICALLY
MURDERED THROUGHOUT EUROPE IN
CONCENTRATION CAMPS --
>> AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE TO SEE
SOMEONE WITH SO MUCH TALENT IS A
BEAUTIFUL THING.
A GOOD HEART.
A GOOD SOUL.
THAT'S WHAT BLAZE HAD.
>> EVERYONE WAS SOMEHOW HOPING
FOR GOOD NEWS, INCLUDING IT
SEEMED SAM WOODWARD.
>> OKAY.
SO IS THIS THE BEST NUMBER TO
REACH YOU AT?
>> YES, SIR, IT IS.
>> ON THAT CALL THAT GIDEON HAD
RECORDED SAM SOUNDED DEEPLY
CONCERNED.
>> YEAH, I WANT TO FIND BLAZE AS
MUCH AS YOU DO.
>> BUT BLAZE WAS NOWHERE TO BE
FOUND.
ANXIOUS HOURS STRETCHED INTO
SLEEPLESS NIGHTS.
>> I REALLY DIDN'T KNOW IF WE
WOULD EVER FIND HIM.
>> AS THE DAYS PASSED.
>> YOU KNOW --
>> IT BECAME MORE AND MORE
DIFFICULT.
>> AND I THOUGHT, WE'RE NEVER
GOING TO KNOW.
WE'RE NEVER GOING TO KNOW WHAT
HAPPENED EXACTLY.
WE'RE NEVER GOING TO FIGURE IT
OUT.
YEAH.
THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.
>> I IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT, HE'S
DEAD.
HE'S DEAD.
>> JUST FROM HEARING THAT HE WAS
WITH SAM?
>> YES.
>> IT WAS DAY SEVEN SINCE BLAZE
LAST LEFT HOME.
A FAMILY, A COMMUNITY WAS BEYOND
FRUSTRATED.
DETECTIVES HAD SEARCHED BORREGO
PARK OVER AND OVER.
BUT THEY DECIDED TO GIVE IT ONE
MORE LOOK.
IN THE POURING RAIN A DETECTIVE
STOOD RIGHT OVER THERE, AND
HIDDEN UNDER A LARGE TREE BRANCH
WAS A MOUND OF DIRT.
UNDER THE WET, CAKED EARTH LAY
BLAZE BERNSTEIN.
>> IF NOT THE RAIN WE WOULD HAVE
NEVER KNOWN WHAT HAPPENED TO
HIM.
SO THE RAIN UNCOVERED HIS FACE.
>> LEAH AND RICHARD BERNSTEIN
ARE BLAZE'S GRANDPARENTS.
>> WE JUST LOVED HIM.
>> I WISH I COULD WRITE LIKE HE
WROTE.
♪
I WISH I COULD COOK LIKE HE
COOKED.
IT WAS BLAZE, YEAH.
HE'S IN FRONT.
>> "48 HOURS" MET THEM JUST A
FEW MONTHS AFTER BLAZE WAS
MURDERED.
>> I THINK THE WORLD LOST A
BEAUTIFUL SOUL.
>> I ALWAYS THINK OF HIM BEFORE
I GO TO SLEEP.
>> THEIR GRANDCHILD, ONCE
BRIMMING WITH LIFE AND
POSSIBILITY, HAD BEEN
HORRIFICALLY SLAUGHTERED WITH A
KNIFE.
>> THEN THE FUNERAL HAPPENED.
AND IT WAS SHATTERING.
>> THE GRIEF STRETCHED ACROSS
ORANGE COUNTY.
>> WE'RE HUGGING HIM RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE ALL HUGGING THEM.
THIS IS OUR BIG GIANT HUG TO
THEM.
>> I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHY.
>> I DON'T -- I DON'T EVEN WANT
TO KNOW.
BECAUSE I'M NOT GOING TO LIKE
THAT ANSWER.
>>> THREE DAYS AFTER BLAZE
BERNSTEIN WAS FOUND, BUTCHERED
AND BROKEN --
>> CAN YOU TELL US WHAT HAPPENED
TO BLAZE?
>> NO.
>> INVESTIGATORS CONFRONTED HIS
ONE-TIME CLASSMATE, SAM
WOODWARD.
>> WERE YOU THERE WHEN HE
DISAPPEARED?
>> AT HIS PARENTS' HOME.
>> NO COMMENT.
>> UNDERCOVER OFFICERS MADE
THEIR MOVE ON SAM WOODWARD THIS
AFTERNOON AS HE PULLED OUT OF
HIS NEWPORT BEACH DRIVEWAY AND
WENT DOWN THE ROAD.
THEY PULLED THAT CAR OVER AND
ARRESTED HIM.
>> SAM WOODWARD WAS CHARGED WITH
MURDER WITH THE PERSONAL USE OF
A KNIFE.
>> THEN ORANGE COUNTY D.A. TONY
RACKAUCKAS.
>> HOW DID BLAZE BERNSTEIN DIE?
>> HE WAS STABBED MULTIPLE TIMES
IN THE NECK.
>> WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU?
>> WELL, IT TELLS ME THAT THERE
WAS A LOT OF HATE.
>> ANYTHING TO SAY, SAM?
>> FOR BLAZE'S PARENTS THE
DETAILS OF HIS MURDER WERE TOO
MUCH TO EVEN IMAGINE.
>> I JUST TRY NOT TO THINK ABOUT
WHAT THAT REALLY MEANT.
I DON'T THINK THAT I -- THAT I
PHYSICALLY CAN DEAL WITH THE
TRAUMA OF WHAT'S HAPPENED.
>> AS POLICE GATHERED EVIDENCE,
THE VIOLENCE THAT HAPPENED IN
BORREGO PARK WAS REVEALED.
WITH BLAZE'S BODY, HIS BATTERED
PHONE.
INSIDE SAM WOODWARD'S CAR,
BLOOD.
>> THE BLOOD ON THE HEADLINER
BELONGED TO BOTH SAM WOODWARD
AND BLAZE BERNSTEIN.
>> BLAZE BERNSTEIN'S BLOOD WAS
IN SAM WOODWARD'S CAR?
>> YES.
YES.
>> AND THEN THEY WENT ON TO
SEARCH THE HOUSE?
>> YES.
>> WHAT KIND OF FORENSIC
EVIDENCE DID THEY GATHER?
>> THERE WAS A KNIFE.
THE KNIFE HAD BLOOD ON IT.
BLAZE BERNSTEIN'S BLOOD ON THE
KNIFE.
>> AT HIS ARRAIGNMENT SAM
WOODWARD WOULD PLEAD NOT GUILTY.
INVESTIGATORS WOULD CONTINUE TO
SEARCH FOR WHAT HAPPENED THAT
NIGHT IN BORREGO PARK.
THEY WOULD SOON COME TO BELIEVE
THAT SAM HAD A DARK AND
FRIGHTENING SECRET.
>> HE WAS INVOLVED IN THIS
EXTREME NEO-NAZI ORGANIZATION
ATM WAFEN DIVISION WHICH DOES
EXPECT ITS MEMBERS TO EXPLICITLY
TARGET MEBDS OF THE JEWISH AND
LGBTQ COMMUNITY.
>> CEARA MOORE MONITORS HATE
CRIME, WORKING FOR GLAAD, ONE OF
THE MOST PROMINENT GAY RIGHTS
ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COUNTRY.
SHE'S KEPT A CLOSE EYE ON THE
SMALL BUT VIOLENT GROUP
ATMWAFFEN.
THESE ARE THEIR PROPAGANDA
VIDEOS, POSTED BETWEEN 2017 AND
'18.
>> THEY WANT TO KIND OF BLOW UP
THE WORLD AS IT IS.
THEY WANT TO CREATE SOMETHING
ENTIRELY NEW.
>> AND THE NEW THING IS WHAT?
>> IN THEIR MIND IT WOULD BE A
WHITE ETHNOSTATE.
>> RACE WAR NOW!
>> AND THERE'S EITHER NO JEWISH
OR NO LGBTQ, OR NO PEOPLE OF
COLOR IN THAT SOCIETY.
>> HOW DOES ATOM WAFFEN RECRUIT?
>> THEY RECRUIT PRIMARILY
ONLINE.
>> JUST A CLICK AWAY.
AND EXACTLY WHERE SAM, WHO RAIAH
ROFSKY REMEMBERS HAD TROUBLE
MAKING FRIENDS, FOUND SOME.
STRANGERS WHO WELCOMED AND
ENCOURAGED HIM.
>> DID YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF A
NEO-NAZI?
>> I JUST CONSIDERED MYSELF A
NAZI.
>> THIS MAN DOES NOT WANT HIS
IDENTITY REVEALED.
BUT HE SAYS HE WAS ONCE A MEMBER
OF ATOMWAFFEN AND THAT HE CAME
IN CONTACT WITH SAM THE YEAR
BEFORE BLAZE WAS MURDERED.
>> IT WAS LIKE A CAMARADERIE
TYPE OF THING.
COMMON INTERESTS.
>> AND THOSE INTERESTS WERE
HATING OTHER GROUPS, HATING
JEWS, HATING GAYS, HATING
BLACKS.
>> YEAH.
OH, YEAH.
>> HOW INVOLVED WAS SAM WOODWARD
IN ATOMWAFFEN?
>> I KNOW THAT HE WAS INVOLVED.
>> INVOLVED ENOUGH, SAY
INVESTIGATORS, TO WEAR THE ATOM
ATOMWAFFEN MASK, GIVE THE NAZI
SALUTE, MAKE I APILGRIMAGE TO
COLORADO TO MEET NEO-NAZI LEADER
JAMES MASON, AND TRAVEL TO TEXAS
TO ATTEND ATOMWAFFEN'S VERSION
OF A CORPORATE RETREAT.
THEY CALL IT "HATE CAMP."
>> AT HATE CAMPS MEMBERS WILL
GET KIND OF A ONE-ON-ONE
TRAINING ON HOW TO BE A VIOLENT
EXTREMIST.
>> AND THAT BITTER JANUARY 2018,
WHEN NEWS BROKE THAT BLAZE HAD
BEEN STABBED TO DEATH, ALLEGEDLY
BY A MEMBER OF ATOMWAFFEN, AS
ORANGE COUNTY MOURNED NEO-NAZIS
REPORTEDLY CHEERED.
>> EVERYBODY CELEBRATED HIM.
LIKE HE KILLED A GAY JEW.
>> WHICH IN THEIR MIND IS SORT
OF A JACKPOT.
>> UGH.
>> IT'S DISGUSTING.
>> THERE WERE PEOPLE
CONGRATULATING THIS ACCUSED
KILLER FOR WHAT HE HAD DONE,
KILLING MY SON.
CONGRATULATING HIM.
>> HAD YOU EVER HEARD OF
ATOMWAFFEN?
>> NO.
>> BEFORE THIS?
>> BUT WE SHOULD HAVE.
BECAUSE WE'RE A PERFECT TARGET
FOR THAT GROUP.
>> BECAUSE OF SAM'S INVOLVEMENT
IN ATOMWAFFEN, SEVEN MONTHS
AFTER BLAZE'S MURDER PROSECUTORS
UPPED THE ANTE, ADDING A HATE
CRIME ENHANCEMENT, A MURDER
MOTIVATED BY PREJUDICE.
>> AS THE STORY UNFOLDED THAT
THE MURDER WAS RELATED TO
HOMOPHOBIA AND ANTISEMITISM,
WELL, THEN THE ANGER IN THE
COMMUNITY RATCHETED UP.
>> FOR SOME IT BROUGHT BACK THE
DARKEST OF TIMES.
>> IT MUST SEEM LIKE ALL OF THIS
HATE WAS BEHIND YOU, THAT'S
SOMETHING IN THE PAST.
>> YOU CAN'T FORGET IT.
>> YOU CAN'T FORGET IT?
>> NEVER.
>> IT'S A MURDEROUS ECHO FROM
HER PAST, ALL TOO REAL FOR
GRANDMA LEAH, A HOLOCAUST
SURVIVOR.
ONCE A LITTLE GIRL FORCED BY
HITLER'S NAZIS TO WEAR A YELLOW
STAR.
>> YES, WE DID WEAR THE STARS.
>> IT'S A HORRIBLE IRONY THAT
WHAT YOU ESCAPED IS --
>> IS FOLLOWING ME.
>> SAM WOODWARD WAS LOCKED UP IN
THE ORANGE COUNTY JAIL.
HE WOULD BEGIN HIS YEARS-LONG
JOURNEY THROUGH THE JUSTICE
SYSTEM.
IT INCLUDED A REVOLVING DOOR OF
DEFENSE LAWYERS, WHO RAISED
QUESTIONS WITH THE COURT ABOUT
SAM'S MENTAL HEALTH AND HIS
ABILITY TO DEFEND HIMSELF.
IN 2022 SAM WOODWARD WAS FOUND
COMPETENT TO STAND TRIAL.
INVESTIGATORS SAY THEY ALSO
MINED SAM WOODWARD'S PHONE AND
SOCIAL MEDIA ACTIVITY.
AND ALONG WITH THE NAZI
PROPAGANDA THEY FOUND SOMETHING
ELSE.
SAM HAD VISITED GAY DATING AND
PORN SITES.
AND HE HAD EXCHANGED FLIRTATIOUS
MESSAGES WITH BLAZE.
>> SO THEY MATCHED TWICE ON
TINDER.
>> Reporter: LOUIS KEENE, A
REPORTER FOR "THE FORWARD,"
WOULD COVER THE CASE AND REPORT
ON THE CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN SAM
AND BLAZE.
>> BLAZE ADMITS THAT HE'S GAY.
BLAZE SAYS, "I THINK YOU'RE
HOT."
AND SAM SAYS BACK TO BLAZE,
"YOU'RE NOT TOO BAD-LOOKING
YOURSELF, BLAZE."
SO THEY KIND OF HAD THIS FLIRTY
INTERACTION.
>> MAYBE SAM WAS LIKE CLOSETED
AND WANTED TO HOOK UP.
>> RAIAH ROFSKY MOVED TO NEW
YORK CITY, WHERE SHE LIVES AS AN
OPENLY BISEXUAL WOMAN.
SHE STILL WONDERS ABOUT SAM'S
INTENTION AND BLAZE'S THAT
TRAGIC NIGHT IN BORREGO PARK.
>> THE DEFENSE MAY ARGUE THAT
BLAZE MADE A MOVE ON SAM AND SAM
FREAKED OUT.
>> OKAY.
AND IF YOU FREAK OUT DOES THAT
EXCUSE YOU STABBING SOMEBODY?
>> APRIL 2024.
>> STUFF IS GETTING REAL.
THE JURY'S BEING PICKED.
>> FINALLY, SAM WOODWARD HEADED
TO TRIAL.
OVER TIME THE CASE HAD TAKEN ON
EVEN GREATER MEANING.
>> THERE'S A LOT AT STAKE HERE
BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT
GETTING JUSTICE FOR BLAZE, BUT
IT'S ALSO ABOUT WHAT PRECEDENT
THIS IS SETTING FOR OTHER LGBTQ
PLUS PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN OR
MIGHT IN THE FUTURE BE IN
SIMILAR SITUATIONS.
>> BLAZE'S PARENTS STEADIED
THEMSELVES TO RELIVE THE NIGHT
THAT SHATTERED THEIR LIVES.
>> I KNOW THAT A LOT OF THINGS
WILL BE SAID THAT ARE PROBABLY
UNTRUE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT
HAPPENS IN A CRIMINAL TRIAL.
I HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEFEND
BLAZE.
AND THAT'S WHAT I WILL DO.
>> SEE MORE EVIDENC
>>> MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS SOME
FORM OF JUSTICE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MISS PEPPER.
>> IT TOOK MORE THAN SIX YEARS
FOR JEANNE AND GIDEON TO GET
THIS DAY IN COURT.
>> I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE AND I'M SORRY THAT
THE CIRCUMSTANCES --
>> BUT IT COMES WITH TERRIBLE
MEMORIES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OF THE DAY THEY LOST THEIR
SON BLAZE.
>> YOU REMEMBER WHERE YOU WERE
WHEN YOU GOT THE PHONE CALL?
>> I DO REMEMBER THAT, YES.
>> AND WHY DOES THAT STAND OUT
IN YOUR MIND?
>> BECAUSE IT WAS THE BEGINNING
OF HELL.
>> THE COUPLE HAVE TO COME FACE
TO FACE WITH THEIR SON'S KILLER.
BUT THE KILLER, SAM WOODWARD,
DOESN'T SEEM TO WANT TO BE SEEN.
>> CAN I ASK YOU TO MOVE THE
HAIR OUT OF YOUR FACE A LITTLE
BIT?
MAYBE PULL THE HAIR ON THE RIGHT
SIDE OF YOUR HEAD AWAY SO WE CAN
SEE YOU.
PLEASE.
THANK YOU.
>> EVEN BEFORE HE TOOK THE STAND
SAM WOODWARD WAS ALREADY AN
EERIE PRESENCE IN THE COURTROOM
WHO GOT EVERYONE'S ATTENTION.
>> SAM LOOKED LIKE CHARLES
MANSON.
YOU COULDN'T REALLY SEE HIS
FACE.
>> NO.
>> YOU COULDN'T REALLY HEAR HIM
ALL THE TIME.
>> REPORTER LOUIS KEENE.
>> IF YOU'RE IN THE JURY, HE
LOOKS EXTREMELY MENACING.
>> DO YOU WANT TO LOOK HIM IN
THE EYE?
>> NOT REALLY.
I DON'T CARE.
HE'S MEANINGLESS TO ME.
>> DO YOU WANT MORE TIME TO MOVE
YOUR HAIR OUT OF YOUR FACE A
LITTLE BIT FOR US?
>> BLAZE, WE LOVE YOU, AND WE
WANT YOU TO COME HOME.
>> BACK WHEN THEY WERE
FRANTICALLY SEARCHING FOR
BLAZE --
>> KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN FOR MY
BABY.
I WANT HIM HOME WITH ME NOW.
>> -- SAM WOODWARD TOLD THEM HE
DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT
HAPPENED TO THEIR SON.
>> I DIDN'T SEE WHERE HE WENT.
I SEARCHED ALL OVER FOR HIM.
I DIDN'T FIND HIM ANYWHERE.
>> BUT HIS LOOKS HAVE CHANGED
DRAMATICALLY AND SO HAS HIS
STORY.
>> DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT YOU'RE
THINKING WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING THE
KNIFE DOWN AGAIN AND AGAIN AND
AGAIN?
>> AN ANGER LIKE NOTHING I'D
EVER FELT IN MY WHOLE LIFE.
>> THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO
QUESTION SAM WOODWARD KILLED
BLAZE BERNSTEIN.
>> THE EVIDENCE WILL SHOW THAT
SAMUEL WOODWARD IS GUILTY OF
HOMICIDE
HOMICIDE.
>> THE QUESTION FOR THE JURY
IS --
>> WHY THIS HOMICIDE WAS
COMMITTED.
>> SAM'S DEFENSE ATTORNEY SAID
IN OPENING ARGUMENTS THAT WE
WERE GOING TO HEAR FROM SAM
ABOUT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED
THAT NIGHT THAT PROVOKED SAM
INTO KILLING BLAZE.
>> THE CHALLENGE FOR DEFENSE
ATTORNEY KEN MORRISON IS TO
PROVE VOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER,
THAT WOODWARD ACTED IMPULSIVELY.
>> THERE WAS NO COLD, CALCULATED
DECISION TO KILL.
>> AND THE KNIFE?
ACCORDING TO THE DEFENSE, IT
WASN'T EVER MEANT FOR MURDER.
FROM THE TIME SAM WAS A BOY
SCOUT, SAM WAS NEVER WITHOUT
ONE.
>> WOULD YOU EVER CARRY A POCKET
KNIFE WITH YOU IN YOUR PANTS
POCKET?
>> YES, I WOULD.
ALMOST ALL THE TIME.
>> DID YOU HAVE A KNIFE IN YOUR
POCKET WHEN YOU WERE WITH BLAZE
BERNSTEIN?
>> YES, I DID.
>> THE KILLING HAPPENED IN LESS
THAN AN HOUR.
>> PROSECUTOR JENNIFER WALKER
ARGUES THIS WAS PREMEDITATED
MURDER AND A HATE CRIME.
> YOU'LL SEE THE CELL PHONE
EVIDENCE, THE DNA EVIDENCE, THE
DEFENDANT'S WORDS, THE
DEFENDANT'S HATE.
>> IN THE NEARLY THREE MONTHS AT
TRIAL WALKER PAINSTAKINGLY PUT
ON MORE THAN 20 WITNESSES,
INCLUDING THE SAME FORMER
ATOMWAFFEN MEMBER WHO SPOKE WITH
US, NOW A WITNESS FOR THE
PROSECUTION, WHO STILL WANTED
HIS IDENTITY CONCEALED.
>> DO YOU RECOGNIZE THAT?
>> YES.
>> WHAT IS IT?
>> THAT'S A PICTURE OF SAMUEL
WOODWARD.
>> ALL TO BUILD THE CASE FOR THE
ADDED HATE CHARGE AND A GREATER
SENTENCE.
>> THE DIFFERENCE IS THE
POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE.
IF IT'S NO HATE CRIME, THEN IT'S
25 YEARS TO LIFE WITH THE
POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE.
IF IT'S A FIRST-DEGREE
PREMEDITATED MURDER AND A HATE
CRIME, SAM FACES LIFE IN PRISON
WITHOUT POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE.
>> THE FACTS OF THIS CASE ARE
NOT SIMPLE.
>> THE DEFENSE USES A
TIME-HONORED TACTIC.
SUGGESTING THE VICTIM IS NOT AS
INNOCENT AS HE APPEARS.
>> YOU WILL LEARN THAT BLAZE
BERNSTEIN WAS NOT KILLED BECAUSE
OF WHO HE WAS BUT BECAUSE OF
WHAT HE DID.
>> TELL US WHAT HAPPENED.
>> IN SAM WOODWARD'S VERSION --
>> SAM, CAN YOU PICK YOUR HEAD
UP, MOVE YOUR HAIR?
>> BLAZE WAS TOYING WITH HIM AND
THREATENING TO OUT HIM.
ONCE THEY WERE IN BORREGO PARK
SAM SAYS HE SMOKED A JOINT.
>> I STARTED NODDING OFF.
>> SAM SAYS HE THOUGHT BLAZE
TOOK A COMPROMISING PICTURE.
>> I SAW MY PANTS UNBUCKLED.
I COULD PRACTICALLY LIKE FEEL
SOMETHING SOMEWHAT CLOSE TO MY
LEG.
AND HE HAD HIS PHONE IN HIS
HAND.
>> HE TELLS US THAT HE BELIEVES
THAT BLAZE IS TAKING A PHOTO OF
HIS PRIVATES.
>> I JUST CAME UNDONE.
I WENT IN A STATE OF JUST
TERROR.
AND I ASKED, "WHAT ARE YOU
DOING?
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"
>> NO PHOTO WAS EVER FOUND.
SO THERE'S NO EVIDENCE THAT
BLAZE ACTUALLY TOOK ONE.
>> WHAT WERE YOU AFRAID OF?
>> I GREW UP IN A HOME WITH MY
MOTHER AND MY FATHER AND I LOVE
THEM MORE THAN I CAN IMAGINE.
MY FATHER, THOUGH, HE -- THERE'S
NO WAY, NOT A CHANCE PEOPLE LIKE
HIM, JUST EVEN THINKING ABOUT
THE LOOK ON HIS FACE IF HE SAW
SOMETHING LIKE THAT, IF HE'D
HEARD ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE THAT
THAT GOT OUT SOMEHOW.
I COULDN'T FATHOM THAT.
>> SAM GREW UP IN AN
ULTRA-CONSERVATIVE CATHOLIC
HOUSEHOLD.
HE HAD PARENTS WHO BELIEVED
HOMOSEXUALITY WAS A SIN.
BUT SAM ALSO SEEMED TO HAVE
REALLY CONFLICTED FEELINGS ABOUT
HIS OWN SEXUALITY.
WHAT YOU COME AWAY WITH IS JUST
IMMENSE SADNESS OF ALL THESE
EXTERNAL FORCES COMING TO BEAR
ON HIS LIFE.
HE DID WHAT HE DID.
AND WHAT HE DID CAN'T BE UNDONE.
>> ANY IDEA HOW LONG IT TOOK TO
STOP STABBING BLAZE?
>> NO IDEA, NO.
>> IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST AWFUL
THINGS I'VE EVER HEARD.
AND YOU KNOW THAT BLAZE'S
PARENTS ARE SITTING THERE FOR
MONTHS OF THIS TRIAL.
THEY'VE BEEN HEARING THEIR SON
IS ACCUSED OF SEXUAL ASSAULT.
YOU CAN'T REALLY IMAGINE WHAT
THAT'S LIKE.
JEANNE PEPPER WALKED OUT OF THE
ROOM.
>> FOR THE PROSECUTION THE ONLY
PREDATOR IN THIS STORY IS SAM
WOODWARD.
>> HE HAS A SIX-INCH KNIFE OUT
AND BLAZE IS THE PREDATOR?
BLAZE IS THE PROBLEM HERE?
THAT'S WHAT'S BEING SOLD TO YOU
BY THE DEFENDANT.
HE WAS INTERESTED IN FIXATED ON
HATE.
ATOMWAFFEN DIVISION HAD THAT
OUTLET FOR HIM.
>> ONLY TWO PEOPLE KNOW WHAT
REALLY HAPPENED THAT NIGHT.
SAM WOODWARD HAS HAD HIS SAY.
BLAZE BERNSTEIN ISN'T ALIVE TO
TELL US.
>> YOU SHOULD FIND HIM GUILTY OF
THE FIRST-DEGREE MURDER WITH THE
HATE CRIME.
IT'S THE ONLY REASONABLE
CONCLUSION.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANY HESITATION?
DO YOU HAVE ANY DOUBT?
>> NOW IT'S UP TO THE JURY.
>>> THE PASSAGE OF TIME HAS BEEN
DOUBLY HARD FOR BLAZE'S
GRANDPARENTS, RICHARD AND LEAH,
STILL WAITING FOR JUSTICE FOR
THE GRANDSON THEY LOVED AND
LOST.
>> I MISS HIM ALL.
EVERYTHING ABOUT HIM.
HE WAS LOVING AND CARING.
HE WAS HANDSOME TOO.
>> BLAZE AND HIS EXCEPTIONAL
APPETITE FOR LIFE.
>> I TRIED TO TREAT HIM AS JUST
A NORMAL KID, YOU KNOW.
AND HE TURNED OUT --
>> I'M SORRY.
>> HE TURNED OUT WELL.
>> ON JULY 3rd, 2024 THE JURORS
BEGAN THEIR DELIBERATIONS.
>> I DON'T WANT HIM TO DIE.
I WANT HIM TO SUFFER EVERY DAY
OF HIS LIFE.
>> IS THERE A PART OF YOU THAT
WANTS TO LOOK THAT YOUNG MAN IN
THE EYE?
>> NO.
>> WHY NOT?
>> BECAUSE HE'S A FOOTNOTE IN
HISTORY.
>> WHETHER FOOTNOTE OR HEADLINE,
GRANDPARENTS, PARENTS, RABBI,
OLDEST FRIEND, IT FELT LIKE
FOREVER.
>> I WAS NERVOUS.
AND I FELT THE ANXIETY BECAUSE I
WAS NOT SURE WHAT THE VERDICT
WAS GOING TO BE.
>> 2,364 DAYS AFTER HIS ARREST,
SAM WOODWARD'S FATE IS ON THE
LINE.
LIVING AND DYING IN PRISON OR
SOMEDAY POSSIBLY WALKING FREE.
>> IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT
YOU DO HAVE A VERDICT.
IS THAT ACCURATE?
>> WE HAVE.
>> IT TOOK THE JURY EIGHT HOURS.
>> THE VERDICT BEING READ,
THERE'S NO WAY TO DESCRIBE WHAT
IT'S LIKE.
SORT OF THE EMOTIONAL INTENSITY
OF THE MOMENT.
>> WE THE JURY FIND THE
DEFENDANT, SAMUEL WOODWARD,
GUILTY OF THE CRIME OF
FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.
>> BUT AS SOON AS THE JURY SAYS
"GUILTY" I HEARD JEANNE SAY "OH,
THANK GOD."
>> THANK GOD.
>> GUILTY OF MURDER.
BUT WAS IT HATE?
DID SAM TARGET BLAZE BECAUSE HE
WAS GAY?
THE JURY SPOKE AGAIN.
>> WE THE JURY FIND IT TO BE
TRUE THAT THE DEFENDANT SAMUEL
WOODWARD COMMITTED HATE CRIME
FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> OUTSIDE THE ORANGE COUNTY
COURTROOM ALL THAT PAIN AND
UNCERTAINTY OVERFLOWED.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS TODD SPITZER.
I'M THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OF
ORANGE COUNTY.
>> THE CURRENT D.A. OFFERED
THOUGHTS ON LOVE AND LAW.
>> WE DON'T CARE WHO YOU LOVE OR
WHO YOU WANT TO BE WITH.
YOU DESERVE TO BE A FREE PERSON
WITH FREE WILL AND LOVE WHO YOU
LOVE.
AND THAT NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED.
>> WE ARE THRILLED WITH THE
VERDICT, WHICH HOLDS SAMUEL
WOODWARD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE
BRUTAL, VIOLENT, PAINFUL MURDER
OF OUR SON, BROTHER, GRANDSON,
COUSIN, BLAZE BERNSTEIN ON
JANUARY 3rd, 2018.
>> HIS PARENTS WILL NEVER GET TO
SPEAK TO HIM AGAIN.
AND THAT LOSS IS INCALCULABLE.
THE WOODWARDS ALSO LOST THEIR
SON.
HE'S GOING TO PRISON.
>> WHEN THE VERDICT WAS THAT THE
MURDER WAS A HATE CRIME, THAT
ESSENTIALLY MEANT THAT THERE IS
THE PROOF THAT BLAZE WAS
MURDERED BECAUSE HE WAS GAY AND
JEWISH.
SIMPLE AS THAT.
>> FOR RAIAH, WHO BLAZE FIRST
CAME OUT TO ON THAT CALIFORNIA
BEACH --
>> IN MY HEAD I WAS TELLING
BLAZE, WE FINALLY GOT HIM.
LIKE YOU KNOW, CASE CLOSED.
>> AND, SAYS THE PROSECUTOR, SAM
WOODWARD SHOULD PAY THE MAXIMUM
PRICE.
>> HE FACES LIFE WITHOUT
POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE, AND
THAT'S WHAT WE'LL BE ASKING FOR.
>> THANK YOU.
>> EXPERTS WHO MONITOR
ATOMWAFFEN SAY IT HAS LARGELY
DISSOLVED BUT THAT THE THREAT OF
HATE GROUPS REMAINS TODAY.
>> YOU SAID LOVE WHO YOU LOVE.
IT SOUNDS SO SIMPLE.
BUT IT'S NOT.
>> MM-HMM.
JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE ACCEPTING OF
YOURSELF, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT
EVERYBODY'S GOING TO SEE IT THE
SAME WAY AS YOU DO, YOU KNOW.
>> CAN YOU PICTURE BLAZE IF HE
WAS ALIVE TODAY?
>> NO, I DON'T THINK I CAN.
>> CAN YOU STILL HEAR HIS VOICE?
>> NO.
>> THAT'S KIND OF SAD.
>> YEAH.
>> FOR JEANNE AND GIDEON EVERY
DAY BRINGS REMINDERS OF WHAT
MIGHT HAVE BEEN.
>> I THINK ABOUT BLAZE ALL THE
TIME BECAUSE WHEN I SEE THINGS I
THINK TO MYSELF WHAT WOULD BLAZE
BE DOING NOW?
>> THEY FOUNDED WHAT THEY CALL A
KINDNESS MOVEMENT, PROMOTING
POSITIVITY AND RANDOM ACTS OF
KINDNESS IN BLAZE'S NAME.
>> BLAZE IT FORWARD IS A
RESPONSE TO BLAZE'S DEATH.
>> AND IN BORREGO PARK, WHERE
BLAZE TOOK HIS LAST BREATH,
THERE IS THIS.
HUNDREDS OF HAND-PAINTED STONES,
MOST LEFT BY TOTAL STRANGERS, IN
THE MEMORY OF BLAZE BERNSTEIN.
>> THIS PILE OF STONES HAS GROWN
AND GROWN AND GROWN.
>> YES.
IT'S GREAT TO SEE THE MESSAGING.
IT'S ALWAYS POSITIVE.
>> AND THEY'RE GETTING SENT TO
US FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.
>> STILL?
>> STILL.
>> THE SILENT STONES SPEAK OF
TOLERANCE AND BLAZE BERNSTEIN'S
TRANSFORMATION INTO A KIND OF
MARTYR.
HIS MURDER A MARKER OF RABID
HATE.
HIS SPIRIT AN INSPIRATION TO
LGBTQ-PLUS PEOPLE, WHEREVER THEY
LIVE AND WITH WHOMEVER THEY
LOVE.
>> BLAZE'S LIFE MATTERED, AND HE
HAS A LEGACY TO CREATE GOOD
NEWS, TO INSPIRE PEOPLE TO BE
BETTER, TO BE KINDER.
AND TO WORK ON REPAIRING THE
WORLD, BECAUSE IT'S NOT TOO LATE
AND WE CAN MAKE IT BETTER.
>> NEW CBS NEXT.
A YOUNG GIRL'S MYSTERIOUS
DISAPPEARANCE.
>> SHE JUST VANISHED.
>> AND A CAT AND MOUSE GAME WITH
A CONVICTED KILLER.
>> WE DON'T HAVE SARAH'S BODY.
>> DO YOU THINK HE'LL GIVE THAT
UP?
>> I DON'T KNOW.
IF HE DOES IT WON'T BE OUT OF
THE GOODNESS OF HIS HEART.
>> NEW "48 HOURS" TWO EPISODE
PREMIERE.
NEXT ON CBS AND STREAMING ON
PA