An Orange County, California, jury has reached a verdict in the trial of 26-year-old Sam Woodward, convicting him of first-degree murder with a hate crime enhancement for the 2018 death of Blaze Bernstein. The 19-year-old's body was found buried in a shallow grave at a Lake Forest park days after he went missing.

The prosecution argued for Woodward to be found guilty of first-degree murder as a hate crime, while the defense maintained that Woodward should be convicted of voluntary manslaughter and acquitted of hate crime allegations. Jurors were also asked to consider second-degree murder.

After two-and-a-half months of trial proceedings in Santa Ana, closing arguments in the case began on Friday. Finally, on Wednesday, the jury delivered their verdict, finding Woodward guilty of first-degree murder with a hate crime enhancement.

Following the reading of the guilty verdict, Bernstein's parents expressed their gratitude to the jury, law enforcement, and the "army of supporters and volunteers" who stood by them throughout the six-and-a-half-year ordeal.

"This was a great relief that justice was served and this despicable human, who murdered our son, will no longer be a threat to the public," said Jeanne Pepper Bernstein, Blaze's mother. "We are grateful to the jury for their service and their long days and weeks they spent in that service. Justice has been served."

Woodward, a resident of Newport Beach, admitted to stabbing Bernstein multiple times in 2018 but pleaded not guilty to murder with a hate crime enhancement. Prosecutor Jennifer Walker contended that Woodward targeted Bernstein, his former high school classmate, because he was gay. Bernstein's body was later buried at Borrego Park in Lake Forest.

Walker argued, "To dig a grave in that terrain, and bury and clean up and murder someone in an hour and a half...that is not someone who is just going, 'Oh..something happened and I need to figure it out.' That is determined."

Blaze Bernstein, a 19-year-old gay, Jewish man and sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania, had returned home to visit his family on winter break in January 2018. Woodward picked him up from his parents' home after connecting with him on social media. When Bernstein missed a dental appointment and was unresponsive to messages, his parents discovered his glasses, wallet, and credit cards in his room.

Days later, Bernstein's body was discovered buried at the park in a shallow grave. The case faced delays over questions about Woodward's mental state and attorney changes, leading to years before the trial could proceed. In late 2022, Woodward was deemed competent to stand trial.

During the trial, Woodward took the stand and confessed to stabbing Bernstein multiple times. Authorities also presented DNA evidence linking Woodward to the killing, along with his cellphone containing anti-gay, antisemitic, and hate group materials.

"Now with the verdict in hand, we believe justice has been served and that Blaze's memory will be honored through this outcome," stated Pepper Bernstein.

The sentencing for Sam Woodward is yet to be determined.