California Man Convicted of Killing UPenn Student

Samuel Woodward, 26, has been convicted of first-degree murder with a hate crime enhancement for the 2018 killing of Blaze Bernstein, a gay University of Pennsylvania student, following their reconnection on a dating app. Woodward, associated with a violent, anti-gay, neo-Nazi extremist group, stabbed Bernstein multiple times, leading to his death. The trial highlighted Woodward's mental health challenges, including an autism spectrum disorder and confusion about his sexuality due to his conservative upbringing. Despite arguments from Woodward's lawyer, the jury found him guilty, emphasizing that hate crimes will not be tolerated in Orange County. Authorities found Bernstein's body in a shallow grave after a week-long search, concluding a tragic case with some justice for the victim's family.