Found Deceased CA - Blaze Bernstein, 19, Lake Forest, 2 Jan 2018 #6 *Arrest*

[Laniep79]

Email campaign urges no bail for Blaze Bernstein's suspected killer
CBS/AP
Jan 16 '18, 11:40 pm


"Orange County residents started an email campaign to urge no bail for the suspected killer of 19-year-old Blaze Bernstein, CBS Los Angeles reports."
...

It's sad when your guilty until proven innocent.

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[stlrfninca]

No the OC Register got a copy and has been realeasing small bits of info on different days. Shortly after OCR got a copy the document was sealed.

Yeah, I really hate the fact that it seems they are just piecemealing us stuff from the same affidavit from last week day-by-day. That's really pathetic. They know they have an exclusive so they are milking it for all they've got. I guess other papers would do the same, but that doesn't make it any less repulsive.

 

[stlrfninca]

No, I don't see how any news agency could have reported that SW called police within 4 hours or took police to the body within four hours. That does not align with anything we've been told. The only thing that comes anywhere close is that SW apparently told police that he returned to the park at 4 a.m. to look for BB after BB disappeared. http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2018/01/05/missing-student-from-foothill-ranch/

Agreed. Many of us have been following this closely for over a week and have never heard of this. Until we get a link or specific details on where this information is coming from, we should assume this is a misunderstanding.

 

[Gooddeeds]

From a former teacher of SW:

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/c...ein-california-stabbed-20-times-20180116.html

The man charged with fatally stabbing a University of Pennsylvania sophomore at least 20 times was described by a former teacher Tuesday as quiet, humorless, and outspoken in his political views.

“I can’t remember a single joke or a single light-hearted moment from him,” said Philip Schwadron, who taught acting to Samuel Lincoln Woodward in 10th grade in the fall of 2012 at the Orange County School of the Arts in Santa Ana, Calif.

Still, “I never thought I was looking into the 15-year-old eyes of a killer,” Schwadron said.

Both Woodward, 20, and his alleged victim, Blaze Bernstein, 19, had attended the exclusive school. Schwadron, who didn’t teach Bernstein, described Woodward as “very quiet, very serious, very direct.”

Meanwhile, Jake Chustz, a former student who knew Woodward at the school, said in an interview Tuesday that Woodward “had a reputation for being very strange and for rubbing people the wrong way.”

In Schwadron’s class, Woodward occasionally voiced conservative beliefs, mentioning at one point that President Barack Obama’s policy in Iraq was “wimpy” for not including more troops on the ground, the teacher said.

In his online musings, Woodward veered more sharply to the right.

Woodward defended the Confederate flag in a post as a symbol of “Southern pride, not hate,” according to the CBS Los Angeles affiliate, and in a thread on *******, a site that invites anonymous commenters to post questions to a specific person, said atheists will go to hell, and called Obama a “spineless coward” and an “arrogant, hypocritical, spineless socialist.”

These views unnerved Woodward’s classmates at the generally liberal performing arts school, which Schwadron said Woodward left after his sophomore year.

Michael Joseph Wells, a classmate of both Bernstein’s and Woodward’s, said in a public Facebook post that Woodward was “aggressive and made scary remarks to people.”

Wells, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment, wrote that Bernstein was “playful and kind hearted” while Woodward always “was drawing guns when prompted to draw our favorite things.”

 

[stlrfninca]

From a former teacher of SW:

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/c...ein-california-stabbed-20-times-20180116.html

The man charged with fatally stabbing a University of Pennsylvania sophomore at least 20 times was described by a former teacher Tuesday as quiet, humorless, and outspoken in his political views.

“I can’t remember a single joke or a single light-hearted moment from him,” said Philip Schwadron, who taught acting to Samuel Lincoln Woodward in 10th grade in the fall of 2012 at the Orange County School of the Arts in Santa Ana, Calif.

Still, “I never thought I was looking into the 15-year-old eyes of a killer,” Schwadron said.

Both Woodward, 20, and his alleged victim, Blaze Bernstein, 19, had attended the exclusive school. Schwadron, who didn’t teach Bernstein, described Woodward as “very quiet, very serious, very direct.”

Meanwhile, Jake Chustz, a former student who knew Woodward at the school, said in an interview Tuesday that Woodward “had a reputation for being very strange and for rubbing people the wrong way.”

In Schwadron’s class, Woodward occasionally voiced conservative beliefs, mentioning at one point that President Barack Obama’s policy in Iraq was “wimpy” for not including more troops on the ground, the teacher said.

In his online musings, Woodward veered more sharply to the right.

Woodward defended the Confederate flag in a post as a symbol of “Southern pride, not hate,” according to the CBS Los Angeles affiliate, and in a thread on *******, a site that invites anonymous commenters to post questions to a specific person, said atheists will go to hell, and called Obama a “spineless coward” and an “arrogant, hypocritical, spineless socialist.”

These views unnerved Woodward’s classmates at the generally liberal performing arts school, which Schwadron said Woodward left after his sophomore year.

Michael Joseph Wells, a classmate of both Bernstein’s and Woodward’s, said in a public Facebook post that Woodward was “aggressive and made scary remarks to people.”

Wells, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment, wrote that Bernstein was “playful and kind hearted” while Woodward always “was drawing guns when prompted to draw our favorite things.”

I knew it was only a matter of time before the media tried to make this about politics... disgusting. It's OK to mention it as a backdrop for example to understand his differences from his classmates, but spending half the article on it, give me a break!

Being serious and direct does not make you a killer. Holding political views that are different than those of your classmates does not make you a killer. Even the teacher, the only adult in this interview, indicated that knowing all these things about SW's personality he didn't see a killer in his class.

But of course the media has to pursue it's "liberals are angels and conservatives are the evil" narrative to further divide the country at every turn.

What happened to turn him into a killer likely happened much later, even possibly as late as the night of Jan. 2nd.

This murder is not about politics, it is about homosexuality and rage and the many year relationship between BB and SW. Let's please stay focused on that and give us more details about those aspects.

JMO

 

[Mudcat]

From a former teacher of SW:

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/c...ein-california-stabbed-20-times-20180116.html

The man charged with fatally stabbing a University of Pennsylvania sophomore at least 20 times was described by a former teacher Tuesday as quiet, humorless, and outspoken in his political views.

“I can’t remember a single joke or a single light-hearted moment from him,” said Philip Schwadron, who taught acting to Samuel Lincoln Woodward in 10th grade in the fall of 2012 at the Orange County School of the Arts in Santa Ana, Calif.

Still, “I never thought I was looking into the 15-year-old eyes of a killer,” Schwadron said.

Both Woodward, 20, and his alleged victim, Blaze Bernstein, 19, had attended the exclusive school. Schwadron, who didn’t teach Bernstein, described Woodward as “very quiet, very serious, very direct.”

Meanwhile, Jake Chustz, a former student who knew Woodward at the school, said in an interview Tuesday that Woodward “had a reputation for being very strange and for rubbing people the wrong way.”

In Schwadron’s class, Woodward occasionally voiced conservative beliefs, mentioning at one point that President Barack Obama’s policy in Iraq was “wimpy” for not including more troops on the ground, the teacher said.

In his online musings, Woodward veered more sharply to the right.

Woodward defended the Confederate flag in a post as a symbol of “Southern pride, not hate,” according to the CBS Los Angeles affiliate, and in a thread on *******, a site that invites anonymous commenters to post questions to a specific person, said atheists will go to hell, and called Obama a “spineless coward” and an “arrogant, hypocritical, spineless socialist.”

These views unnerved Woodward’s classmates at the generally liberal performing arts school, which Schwadron said Woodward left after his sophomore year.

Michael Joseph Wells, a classmate of both Bernstein’s and Woodward’s, said in a public Facebook post that Woodward was “aggressive and made scary remarks to people.”

Wells, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment, wrote that Bernstein was “playful and kind hearted” while Woodward always “was drawing guns when prompted to draw our favorite things.”

the High School SW ultimately graduated from? Or was he Home-schooled?

 

[Coquette]

It's sad when your guilty until proven innocent.

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It is equally sad when an entire community is in fear for their safety, IMO. From the same CBS Los Angeles Article:

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2018/01/16/new-details-death-blaze-bernstein/

“The street where the perpetrator currently lives is populated by homes housing many kids and teens and is a regular hang out destination for kids…The safety of these kids would be of utmost importance…”

The email to the DA also expressed concern about another Newport Beach man charged with murder who hasn’t been seen since he posted bail. Peter Chadwick is accused of killing his wife at their home in Newport Coast. Chadwick has now vanished.

 

[Nancy2441]

SW graduated from Corona Del Mar High School in Newport Beach.

http://coronadelmarhighschool.org/class-of-2016.html.

 

[Mamabear05]

Supposedly this paper is quoting a document that is in their possession, but IMO, this is information coming from an inside source. Has anybody else caught on to what they are doing? Releasing “bits and pieces” strategically timed for sensationalism. First, the “quote” partial statements the fit with mindset they want people to have. Then they make a very BOLD statement that Bernstein wanted to have sex with Woodall. There isn’t even partial quotes for that one. If what I just wrote isn’t enough to show this “news” outlet is skewing information, then the fact that they quoted the Bernstein’s statement released this morning and OMMITTED a VERY important part. The part that necessitated the statement to begin with.

I don't know when, or even if, that document will be made public, but just remember that this is comparable to reading the National Enquirer.

The Bernstien’s latest statement can be found on the blazebernstien.com website.

 

[Gooddeeds]

the High School SW ultimately graduated from? Or was he Home-schooled?

2nd paragraph: 10th grade at OCSA.
Mudcat I am very curious about your mention of ‘Home school’, as most of the article centers around the school they attended and the teacher is quoted throughout. It is self explanatory in my opinion. The headline reads ‘A former teacher...’

 

[Mamabear05]

In reply to https://www.websleuths.com/forums/member.php?215209-stlrfninca

You are spot on! People have lost the ability to “think for themselves”.

The confederate flag post has been taken WAAAAY out of context. I don’t know if anyone bothered to read it all or just looked at the pic and decided that what they were told was right. I’m pretty sure it was the latter. IMO

 

[BelMarduk]

In 2016, two people I cared about very much were murdered because they were gay, in addition to 47 others. It was the most DEMEANING thing to our community for the media --- with no evidence whatsoever -- to imply that the murderer was gay himself... yet, that's what everyone here is doing. You should be ashamed.

Omar Mateen was not gay. He committed a hate crime against gay people which was wrongly portrayed. Bernstein's parents believe this was a hate crime against their son. Is that outside the realm of possibility or is this just another case of gay-on-gay killing???

 

[Jonesjones]

In 2016, two people I cared about very much were murdered because they were gay, in addition to 47 others. It was the most DEMEANING thing to our community for the media --- with no evidence whatsoever -- to imply that the murderer was gay himself... yet, that's what everyone here is doing. You should be ashamed.

Omar Mateen was not gay. He committed a hate crime against gay people which was wrongly portrayed. Bernstein's parents believe this was a hate crime against their son. Is that outside the realm of possibility or is this just another case of gay-on-gay killing???

First off, I’m very sorry for your loss. My heart goes out to you.

Everyone is just giving their own opinion based on what limited (factual) information that we have. After all, we’re all speculating right now. We don’t have enough facts to say one way or the other. There are few facts, lots of heresay and second-hand (circumstantial) information and so much conflicting media reports. I’m not willing to, at this point, say it was a premeditated hate crime by a Neo-Natzi/Alt-Right , gay hater. That seems irresponsible, IMO. That could very well be the case, but I’ll have to wait and see what evidence substantiates that.

BTW, quite a few people here and in other forums believe it was a premeditated hate crime. Everyone deserves their day in court. I think there is more to this story, though. JMO

 

[prue]

I knew it was only a matter of time before the media tried to make this about politics... disgusting. It's OK to mention it as a backdrop for example to understand his differences from his classmates, but spending half the article on it, give me a break!

Being serious and direct does not make you a killer. Holding political views that are different than those of your classmates does not make you a killer. Even the teacher, the only adult in this interview, indicated that knowing all these things about SW's personality he didn't see a killer in his class.

But of course the media has to pursue it's "liberals are angels and conservatives are the evil" narrative to further divide the country at every turn.

What happened to turn him into a killer likely happened much later, even possibly as late as the night of Jan. 2nd.

This murder is not about politics, it is about homosexuality and rage and the many year relationship between BB and SW. Let's please stay focused on that and give us more details about those aspects.

JMO

Tellin ya! Great post, I agree completely and I think it does a grave disservice to Blaze.

I would add on another hand that perhaps this type behavior so aptly described by stlrfninca itself caused a part, at least, of the rage SW felt.

This division, being castigated and shamed while you are being your authentic conservative self, how does that affect a younger person? I'm not saying this to condone SW's horrid act but on human level
I think it's past time to consider that this type division is causing serious social problems. It shames people and shaming consistently causes people to go crazy. It honestly reminds me of Lord of the Flies, myopic and insane.

 

[prue]

On a final note, since as I said earlier (with links in Part 5) there have been past lawsuits and judgements protecting the discoveded information in sealed documents I find it interesting they leaks continue. It'll will be interesting how this all plays out. Where's your DA in all this leakage?

The Ruling

 

[Jonesjones]

I'm not convinced it was a "hate" crime the way it's typically used. You could link any murder as a hate crime. I think SW was closeted. I think both had a history to their relationship. It's like the ugly duckling that turned into a swan. Maybe BB had a crush on SW and it came to fruition when SW actually showed interest back he (SW) bragged about it. It's the classic nerdy girl gets the high school quarterback after high school.

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or some sort of argument ensued in the heat of the moment regarding a prior encounter/relationship, jealousy, maybe he just found out B.B. outed him for the first time...I can think of a plethora of scenarios that could have made him snap. I’m not discrediting the fact that a murder occurred by any means or diminishing the crime, but I’m not so hell bent on a premeditated hate crime at this point.

we don’t even know if they hadn’t seen each other on other occasions over the break and there wasn’t more interaction before the 2nd. I guess we’ll find out more tomorrow. At this point, the court of public opinion is out and finding a fair jury will be almost impossible.

 

[HastingsChi]

In 2016, two people I cared about very much were murdered because they were gay, in addition to 47 others. It was the most DEMEANING thing to our community for the media --- with no evidence whatsoever -- to imply that the murderer was gay himself... yet, that's what everyone here is doing. You should be ashamed.

Omar Mateen was not gay. He committed a hate crime against gay people which was wrongly portrayed. Bernstein's parents believe this was a hate crime against their son. Is that outside the realm of possibility or is this just another case of gay-on-gay killing???

As a gay man, I'm sorry for your loss. That senseless event had a profound impact on all Americans regardless of their sexual identity. There was a tsunami of irresponsible journalism in the wake of that tragedy where the media cared more about being first than being right.


I take serious use with you telling the folks here that they "should be ashamed" because they should not. The facts as we understand them now, from the affidavit, show that both the victim and the defendant are likely members of our community.

Per the Orange County Register:

In text conversations made in June, according to the affidavit, Bernstein told two female friends about his interaction with Woodward.

In one conversation, Bernstein wrote that Woodward was about to “hit on me” and “he made me promise not to tell anyone … but I have texted every one, uh oh.”

Given the time between the victim "outing" the defendant and the murder, I don't believe that the motive for the murder was being "outed." If that was the motive, he would have done it between June and August, not six months later.

Obviously no one deserves to be killed for doing such a reprehensible thing as "outing" someone who confided in him (especially considering the victim's own struggle he wrote about), but that alone would negate a hate crime charge.

The harsh reality is that every human being is complex who have done good and bad acts. No one is as pure as the driven snow as they often are treated after death.

This is a really awful thing and, no doubt that we will learn that it's a far more complex situation than we understand.

 

[Tortoise]

This case reminds me quite a bit of Jodi Arias. I think planning was involved, BB was set up, SW brought along the stabbing implement, possibly used a rental car that night, stabbed him over 20 times. Also dyed his hair but I don't know exactly when. What I'm sensing is revenge for having been treated in a way he didn't like. When people say it was too badly planned to have been premeditated I don't agree - he had the tale set up for them meeting a 3rd person. I wouldn't be surprised if that is how he lured BB out that night, something like there's someone here from high school has asked me to take you to meet him, he won't let me tell you who because he wants to surprise you, has a massive crush on you kind of thing. Then when he gets there he tells him it is him really, and stabs BB when he is compromised and completely off guard. I don't think he had his alibi of where he went sorted out because he assumed he had done enough to satisfy LE that there was a 3rd person.

When I thought it could have been strangulation I thought it was a case of rejection. The stabbing has changed my mind to exacting revenge.

So what would make a 20 year old seek revenge? I think he is most likely gay and hasn't quite accepted it himself, didn't want to be gay, and therefore nowhere near ready for it to be public knowledge. The story of the girlfriend and his deliberate choice of the word he used to describe BB to LE, seem to be said for the same reasons. I don't see it as a hate crime in the sense it is widely used, but a very personal hatred for BB. Not because BB was gay but because of whatever happened between him and BB he thought should have been private.

All IMO.

 

[Niner]

Hey!

IIRC< the camping stuff was in the rental car when LE talked to SW at the park. That was days before he was arrested, when Blaze was still missing.

So LE took those items THEN?? Without a search warrant??

I don't think the sleeping bag was found amongst the camping gear in the rental car. I think LE did have it before he was arrested and had the blood/DNA tested on it.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/01/...e-act-of-rage/
Woodward was arrested Friday after crime lab technicians determined that blood found on a sleeping bag in his possession belonged to Bernstein, the Register learned.

That's what I've trying to figure out - WHEN did LE "take" the sleeping bag to do the tests??

Re: Sleeping Bag
Apparently police do not need a warrant to collect evidence from trash left on the street for collection. Police also admit that SW's house was being watched since earlier interviews so perhaps the officers had a poke around in the bins on trash collection day?

Okay - that IS a possibility! Thanks!

This has probably already been answered, but LE had 3 search warrants prior to the arrest. They conducted the search, recovered some evidence (possibly the sleeping bag, probably blood or other dna), analyzed the evidence, and THEN made the arrest.

Still unclear what the 3 search warrants were for, but speculation has been some combination of SW&#8217;s home, car, cell phone records, computer, dna.

Thank you! I must have missed that part of 3 search warrants that were issued. Yes, that answers my question - very much appreciated! :wave:

Re SW dyeing his hair - I believe I read that neighbors said he dyed it after BB was found - sorry no link - just from my memory.

so - today we have:

Wednesday, January 17th:
*Arraignment Hearing (@ 9am PT) &#8211; CA &#8211; Blaze Bernstein (19) (Jan. 2, 2018) &#8211; Samuel Lincoln Woodward (20) &#8211; arrested (1/12) on suspicion of homicide. Held without bail.

 

[DAnthrplgst]

This case reminds me quite a bit of Jodi Arias. I think planning was involved, BB was set up, SW brought along the stabbing implement, possibly used a rental car that night, stabbed him over 20 times. Also dyed his hair but I don't know exactly when. What I'm sensing is revenge for having been treated in a way he didn't like. When people say it was too badly planned to have been premeditated I don't agree - he had the tale set up for them meeting a 3rd person.

All IMO.

Snipped

BBM I'd just like to mention that this tale of a 3rd person is something that SW apparently told LE when he was questioned when BB was first reported missing. So far there is no indication he actually said anything to Blaze about meeting a 3rd person, in fact I would suggest that SW never said anything about a 3rd person to Blaze because LE has stated that BB and SW drove around to several locations before arriving in the park. If they were supposed to meet up with a 3rd, which was apparently the reason for BB having asked for the ride in the first place, then why did they drive around to several locations, hanging out and talking instead of SW driving BB immediately to meet up with this 3rd person.