Spoiler alert: this latest story about Alt-Right hate does not involve very fine people on both sides.
Samuel Woodward will stand trial for hate crimes and murder for the death of his former schoolmate Blaze Bernstein. Bernstein was found murdered in January, having been stabbed 20 times in the face and chest before getting dumped in a shallow grave in a Lake Forest, California park.
Investigators have linked Bernstein to Woodward through information from their cell phones. Prosecutors allege that Woodward had a history of humiliating gay men by posing as sexually curious, only to rebuff them later. He also wrote on his phone that he had sent images of Bernstein’s mutilated body to gay men on Grindr as a method of intimidation. At least one victim threatened to call the FBI.
Woodward’s phone also contained a wide variety of anti-gay and antisemitic images and writings, many of which tied to the neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen.
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Related: Suspect in brutal murder of college student thought victim was hitting on him: report
Prosecutors further point out that Bernstein had sent a photo of Woodward to a friend six months prior to his murder. They also allege that Woodward and Bernstein had communicated via Snapchat, and that Woodward had picked up Bernstein in his car the night of the crime under the auspice of meeting for sex. Woodward admits to meeting Bernstein, and that the two kissed, but denies committing the crime. DNA experts disagree: forensics investigators discovered Bernstein’s DNA in Woodward’s bedroom, in his car, and on his watch.
Defense attorneys for Woodward have argued that he suffers from autism and “sexual confusion.” If convicted, he could face life in prison without parole.
rray63
People like this are not sane, they can’t be. How do you stab someone 20 times in the face and chest if your brain is functioning rationally? No, I’m not saying he should be excused by reason of insanity. But I really think the shrinks should have unfettered access to him for as long (life I hope) as he is in prison. They should be able to study him like a lab rat. I will never understand racial or sexual orientation hatred, it doesn’t make sense on any level. Maybe I’m naive, I don’t know. He’s robbed a young man of life, not to mention what he has done to the mans family and friends. My heart goes out to them. Sadly, I hope he suffers in prison, even if it’s just being taken nightly by a group of men. If that sounds horrible, all I can say is so was what happened to Blaze.
Vince
I’d just prefer they donate his brain to science and organs to whoever needs it and get it over with.
djmcgamester
Where’s the like button? Yes, I agree. Are people studying the reasons behind this strange hatred? It would be interesting to find out, and maybe using prisoners as a starting point isn’t such a bad idea.
Kangol
The neo-Nazi domestic terrorist organization Atomwaffen Division that white supremacist homophobe Samuel Woodward is linked to has been attracting lots of young white followers over the last few years. Queerty flags hyperlinked text, so just Google the terms and you’ll find ProPublica’s excellent report on it, which complements this site’s reporting. In addition to being anti-gay, racist and anti-Semitic, Woodward also appears to be a psychopath, and should be behind bars for the rest of his life for killing Blaze Bernstein. He may be sexually confused, but neither that nor autism is an excuse for what he did; it’s actually offensive that his defense attorney would even make such a claim.
DarkZephyr
“At least one victim threatened to call the FBI”
They really should have just done it, or at least reported him on grindr. This happened to me once years ago. I got sent pictures of a woman who had been horribly butchered and told that I was next. I immediately contacted the proper authorities. I also couldn’t sleep for weeks.
Vince
Damn. He looks like a deranged psychopath. No way in hell would I ever get around that. I get that the kid was young and naive. Tough life lesson.
startenout
First, duh that he looks like a crazy killer in his arrest mugshot. I’m sure that’s not the picture he sent the other kid. His senior yearbook photo looks like any normal kid. Google search.
Second, “tough life lesson.” He was murdered. That’s not a lesson other than it can be anyone, anytime, trust no one.
JAWIWA
Allright, if no one else is going to say it, I will: WOODWARD AND BERNSTEIN!!!!!
Kangol
I almost posted about it, but thought it might be insensitive given the subject matter. But yes–great catch. (And Woodward’s back in the news with his new book about the lunatic in the White House too!)
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
Sorry but when someone serves notice on society they are unfit to live amongst us, they should be executed. There is no rehabilitation for someone capable of what he did to that poor kid.
A rabid animal is ALWAYS put down, same should apply to humans….
StraightnNarrow
For once I agree with you. These deranged and insane criminals forfeit their right to live in our society and deserve to be put to death to give the victim’s family some well deserved justice. If I were to be granted this honorable duty to pull the trigger to eradicate this creature with no redemption , I’ll have no hesitation to do so.
Loverboy12
Guys, please be careful. LGBTs are the most targeted group for hate crimes. Please make sure you are prepared to protect yourself as a gay person when using Grindr.
Mozo83
A Nazi homophobic murderer? Clearly, he needs counseling. I have written “counseling” on the side of a very large hammer and wish he could receive my help. I’d love to give it to him, several times over.
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tham
This is another example on why we need National healthcare. Both physical and MENTAL.
Mental healthcare would also lower our gun death issue…just saying…
rbernard
It doesn’t matter whether he is sane or not.
We know he hunted and killed a medical student, simply because he was gay..
Samuel Woodward was known to hate gay people and to have his own sexual identity problems with himself..
Samuel Woodward sent pictures of corpses to men he was cruising on Grindr.
Samuel Woodward is a dangerous man.
Samuel Woodward should be incarcerated for the rest of his life, isolated from society, in order to protect it from being harmed by him again.