College Student's Accused Murderer Will Wait In Jail

LAKE FOREST, CA — Criminal charges were filed in connection with the murder of 19-year-old Lake Forest resident Blaze Bernstein, a University of Pennsylvania student who was found buried one week after he went missing in early January.

Samuel Lincoln Woodward, a 20-year-old Newport Beach resident, was charged on Wednesday with murder along with a sentencing enhancement citing the personal use of a deadly weapon. Woodward remained jailed without bail as he waited to be taken to court for an arraignment hearing, when he'll be asked to enter a plea. He did make a brief court appearance Wednesday afternoon, but his arraignment on the murder charge was postponed until Feb. 2. He was ordered to remain jailed without bail.

Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas stated his opinion that Woodward should not be afforded the privilege of bail. The maximum penalty Woodward faces is 26 years to life in state prison, according to the OCDA.

"He will have a bail hearing, and we will argue about bail and state our position that he shouldn't get out," Rackauckas told reporters at a Wednesday press conference. "In the event that he is, a very tight leash will be kept on him. We are concerned about the (Newport Beach) neighborhood, the families and safety of all concerned. We are going to try and make (the bail) as high as we can under the circumstances."

Woodward is under medical observation while in jail, according to media sources, however no further details about that was offered by the OCDA's office.

The accusations against Woodward are vast. He and Blaze knew each other from attending Orange County School of the Arts in Santa Ana, though it is unclear if they were good friends or had a previous relationship.

Woodward is accused of communicating with Blaze through Snapchat, picking up Blaze at his parents' home in Lake Forest at 11 p.m. on Jan. 2, and driving with him to the parking lot of the Portola Parkway shopping center.

According to the circumstances of the case, Woodward was significantly taller and weightier than Bernstein.

"Woodward is accused of murdering Bernstein by stabbing him multiple times and burying him in the dirt perimeter of Borrego Park," according to the charges filed. After an eight day investigation, the shallow grave was uncovered following a deluge, according to Blaze Bernstein's grandfather. At the time of the discovery, officials from the Orange County Sheriff's Department did not reveal the type of injuries Blaze incurred, only that signs of homicide were evident.

"Woodward is accused of having scratches and dirt on his hands," Rackauckas said. "Following the disappearance of Blaze Bernstein, while Woodward was under surveillance by homicide investigators, he was seen cleaning out the car he was using during that time."

Rackauckas also mentioned that Woodward returned to the crime scene days after the murder while he was under surveillance, though it is unclear what transpired while Woodward was at the park.

A detailed affidavit was released by the Orange County Register last week regarding a search warrant served at the Woodward home, as well as a subsequent Orange County Sheriff's Department interview with Woodward. Rackauckas would not discuss the affidavit, but only revealed that the investigation into Woodward's involvement is ongoing. Questions regarding the type of knife used in the stabbing, the motive for murder and other details of the case were not answered in Wednesday's press conference.

"We haven't completed the investigation, regarding motive," Rackauckas said. "We need evidence beyond a reasonable doubt before we begin talking about that."

Woodward was arrested at his home in Newport Beach on Jan. 12, and has been held since that time. Woodward's mother, Michele, made her first public statement about the case Tuesday, asking for privacy.

"I would like it very much if everyone would respect our privacy and the privacy of the Bernstein family," she told NBC4 outside her home. "This is a time of great suffering and we would ask that you would respect that suffering. Thank you very much."

Bernstein's parents, Gideon and Jeanne, issued a statement expressing dismay at media reports about the cause of their son's death. The Orange County Register reported Monday — the day of Bernstein's funeral — that he had been stabbed more than 20 times and the killing may have been an act of rage sparked by an alleged attempt by Bernstein to kiss Woodward the night he disappeared.

Blaze Bernstein's obituary was posted on Patch, Monday.

"Our son was a beautiful, gentle soul who we loved more than anything," the Bernsteins said. "We were proud of everything he did and who he was. He had nothing to hide. We are in solidarity with our son and the LGBTQ community. There is still much discovery to be done, and if it is determined that this was a hate crime, we will cry not only for our son, but for LGBTQ people everywhere that live in fear or who have been victims of hate crime."

Bernstein went missing around 11 p.m. Jan. 2 at Borrego Park in Lake Forest. He was reported missing the next day by his family after he missed a dental appointment and failed to answer telephone calls and text messages. After a week-long search, his body was found Jan. 9 on the outskirts of the park, in a shallow grave.

Sheriff's officials said Woodward drove Bernstein to the park the night of Jan. 2. He told investigators that Bernstein wandered into the park and disappeared. Woodward eventually left the park at 1 a.m., telling investigators he drove to a girlfriend's house in Tustin, but returned about 3:40 a.m. when Bernstein still had not surfaced, according to a search warrant affidavit obtained by the Orange County Register.

In subsequent interviews, however, Woodward was unable to remember the girlfriend's name or address, according to the affidavit. Woodward also had scratches and abrasions on his hands, which he attributed to a "fight club" in which he was involved. He also had dirt under his fingernails, with Woodward saying he had fallen into a mud puddle.

Sheriff's officials said DNA evidence tied Woodward to Bernstein's death, although they have not provided any specifics. The Register reported that the DNA was Bernstein's blood found on a sleeping bag in Woodward's possession.

"Blaze should be back in college right now, going to class, hanging out with friends and dreaming about who he would become," Rackauckas said.

"This case has been solved by good old fashioned detective work. We have been and will continue to investigate tips," Rackauckas said. "We, and the Orange County Sheriff's Department offer our sincerest condolences to the Bernstein family. Unfortunately, there have been many reports and speculations in this case. Our priority is to make sure that Woodward was brought to justice."

The Bernstein family is distraught though they are being active in trying to learn all that they can. He was a treasured young man and a son that they loved, Rackauckas said.

No additional information about this case will be revealed until after the preliminary hearing, according to the DA.

"We have a murder, we have a victim," Rackauckas told reporters. "We are going to bring charges against this person, and we will bring the maximum charges we can bring on the person who did this."

City News Service contributed to this report.

Photo, AP Photo/Jae C. Hong

Booking photo, Orange County Sheriff's Department