University of Pennsylvania attack: California man guilty of stabbing gay student in 2018

Samuel Woodward, 26, was found guilty of first-degree murder with a hate crime aggravation in the stabbing death of a gay University of Pennsylvania student on Wednesday.

Bernstein, a 19-year-old sophomore, was spending time with his family in Southern California during winter break when he disappeared. A week later, his body was discovered in a shallow grave at Borrego Park in Lake Forest, ABC News reported.

Prosecutor Jennifer Walker highlighted in her closing arguments Woodward's affiliation with a violent, anti-gay neo-Nazi extremist group known as the Atomwaffen Division (Orange County District Attorney's Office). She said Woodward actively sought out the organization, which targeted gay men.

Citing Woodward's autism spectrum disorder and his confused sexual orientation resulting from his conservative upbringing, Woodward's attorney, Ken Morrison, argued for a reduced charge. Morrison, arguing that the judge withheld important evidence, intends to appeal.

Authorities linked Woodward to Bernstein through Snapchat communications and evidence found during a search of Woodward's home, including a bloody folding knife and hate group materials, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

Woodward and Bernstein graduated from the same high school and met on a dating app. Woodward said he killed Bernstein because he thought Bernstein had taken a photo of him. The prosecution presented evidence supporting Woodward’s violent intentions and hateful actions, leading to his conviction.

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said, “Hate will never be tolerated here in Orange County. This conviction shows that our society will never tolerate people who terrorize the most vulnerable members of our community.”