The parents of gay Ivy League student Blaze Bernstein, who was savagely murdered in California earlier this month, have spoken out about the killing.
Jeanne Pepper Bernstein and her husband, Gideon, appeared on NBC’s Today Show on Thursday to talk about their slain son, 19, who was stabbed more than 20 times and buried in a shallow grave while visiting his family in Orange County over the winter break.
‘I lost my son,’ the victim’s grief-stricken mother said. ‘I lost the most precious gift.’
Parents speak out: Jeanne Pepper Bernstein and her husband, Gideon, appeared on NBC’s Today Show on Thursday to talk about their slain son, Blaze
Samuel Lincoln Woodward (left), 20, appeared in court on Wednesday and was charged with murdering his former high school classmate, 19-year-old Blaze Bernstein (right)
Blaze’s former high school classmate, 20-year-old Samuel Woodward, on Wednesday was charged with his murder, and prosecutors have not ruled out filing hate crime counts against him if they find evidence that would support such charges.
Woodward told investigators after his arrest that Bernstein, who was openly gay, kissed him on the lips, raising the possibility that the Ivy League student might have been killed for his sexual orientation.
Mrs Bernstein on Thursday declined to discuss the potential hate crime charges, telling Morales: ‘It’s not going to help anything, and if we talk about these things now, then this young man will not get a fair trial, and I want that for… I want that all of us.’
She added: ‘I want the legal system to work. I’m an attorney. I value it.’
Mrs Bernstein spoke warmly about the last time she saw Blaze alive, on January 2, when their entire family gathered under one roof.
Mrs Bernstein on Thursday said she wants Woodward to get a fair trial. Her husband said their family wish to turn their tragedy into a source of inspiration
Prosecutors are looking for evidence that would support hate crime charges against Woodward
‘Blaze cooked a beautiful meal for all of us to eat,’ Jeanne recounted.
The Bernsteins were supposed to spend time together the following day, but Blaze was nowhere to be found, having failed to return from an evening outing with friends the night before.
On January 9, the 19-year-old’s body riddled with stab wounds was discovered at a local park.
‘I don’t know why we were tasked with having to go through this and losing our child, but I told Jeanne that I want to make the best of this,’ Gideon Bernstein said on Today.
The boy’s parents have launched a movement, #DoGoodforBlaze, in the hopes of inspiring people to help others and turning a tragedy into ‘something that could be magical,’ as Blaze’s father put it.
‘This is story of hope for the future that has come from a tragedy that no one would ever wish on their worst enemy,’ added Mr Bernstein.
Authorities have said Bernstein went to Borrego Ranch Park with Woodward on January 2. His body was found in a shallow grave at the park a week later.
Woodward was arrested and told investigators he became angry after Bernstein kissed him the night they went to the park.
Gideon and Jeanne Bernstein speak on January 10 during a news conference. They say the killing may have been a hate crime against their gay son
Woodward, in a previous interview with police, said he had sustained scratches while participating in a fight club
Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckus told reporters on Wednesday that investigators are looking for evidence that would support making the legal case a hate crime.
Asked specifically about hate crime evidence, Rackauckus said, ‘We’re looking for that evidence and if and when we find it we will amend the charges and file that.’
Rackauckus says both young men had attended the Orange County School of the Arts.
The district attorney says Woodward communicated with Bernstein by Snapchat on January 2 and then picked him up at his parents’ house.
Bernstein was visiting his family in Foothill Ranch during winter break from the Ivy League school when Woodward picked him up and drove with him to several places before winding up at Borrego Park in Lake Forest, police say.
Bernstein’s body was found in brush at the park on January 9 after recent rains partially exposed it.
Investigators say the college sophomore was stabbed more than 20 times.
Authorities say Woodward told them he had left Bernstein at the park alive, claiming he left the park to go see his girlfriend, the San Jose Mercury News reported.
The body of Bernstein (pictured), a 19-year-old sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania, was found dead on January 9. Bernstein was home for winter break when he went missing
The park where Bernstein was found dead is seen. His father had said his son had a passion for cooking and was a creative writer
Woodward could remember neither the name nor address of his ‘girlfriend’, police said.
He also had scratches on his hands, which police say he told them he had sustained while participating in a fight club.
Woodward also had dirt under his fingernails, which he told authorities was due to falling into a ‘dirty puddle’ while sparring.
Woodward was arrested on Friday after crime lab technicians determined that blood found on a sleeping bag in his possession belonged to Bernstein.
Orange County prosecutors filed a sentencing enhancement for use of a knife, which would allow them to seek more jail time for Woodward if he is convicted.
Prosecutors also revealed that Woodward returned to the scene of the crime while under police surveillance.
Woodward and Bernstein had attended the Orange County School of the Arts together.
Tension between the two friends may have dated back at least to June, when Bernstein texted with two female friends about their friendship, according to a warrant affidavit reported by the OC Register.
Orange County Undersheriff Don Barnes, left, takes a questions as District Attorney Tony Rackauckas looks on during a news conference about the death
Bernstein claimed in the messages that Woodward ‘hit on me’, adding ‘he made me promise not to tell anyone … but I have texted every one, uh oh.’
On January 2, cops believe the two young men parked outside a Hobby Lobby.
Woodward told investigators that Bernstein kissed him on the lips, and that he pushed Bernstein away.
Police told a judge that Woodward clenched his fists while recounting this part of the story, saying ‘he wanted to tell Blaze to get off of him’.
Woodward was known for his conservative religious and political beliefs in high school, police said.
He had posted online defending the Confederate flag and expressing interest in guns, the Bible and ‘waterboarding’, according to published reports.
Bernstein was planning to major in psychology and later study medicine, his father Gideon Bernstein told the local press last week.
His dad said that he had a passion for cooking and was a creative writer. He had recently been named to the staff of Penn Appetit magazine at school.
Woodward, who is from Newport Beach, was due to appear in court later Wednesday.
Prosecutors said they don’t want him released but he may be eligible for bail. No attorney was listed for him on the court’s website.
Jeanne Bernstein tweeted about the news that an individual had been arrested in connection with her son’s murder