Samuel Woodward Sentenced to Life for Hate Crime Murder of Blaze Bernstein

Woodward, linked to a neo-Nazi group, receives life sentence for the 2018 murder of his gay, Jewish ex-classmate.

Samuel Woodward, 27, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of Blaze Bernstein, a 19-year-old gay, Jewish student.
The murder, committed in 2018, was prosecuted as a hate crime due to Bernstein's sexual orientation and Woodward's neo-Nazi affiliations.
Bernstein's body was found with over 28 stab wounds in a shallow grave in Lake Forest Park, days after he went missing during a visit to his family.
Woodward's defense argued his actions were influenced by a long-undiagnosed autism spectrum disorder and confusion about his sexuality.
The case took years to reach trial, with significant public attention and emotional victim impact statements from Bernstein's family.