Blaze Bernstein on a recent trip to Iceland. Image by Facebook

By Dave Goldiner January 16, 2018

Blaze Bernstein was reportedly stabbed more than 20 times, and the prime suspect in the brutal slaying, an ex-high school classmate of Bernstein’s, told police that Bernstein kissed him the night of the murder.

The Orange County Register reported that suspect Samuel Woodward claimed he pushed Bernstein away when they met on the night the popular University of Pennsylvania student disappeared.

Police have not officially said how Bernstein, who was home on winter break, was killed or commented on a motive for the murder.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

The shocking report came out just hours after Bernstein was mourned in a private funeral attended by hundreds in which his parents pleaded for well-wishers to make the world a better place in his honor.

Authorities suspected Woodward after examining Bernstein’s social media accounts, according to a police report obtained by the Register.

Bernstein told two friends about an earlier romantic interaction with Woodward last summer.

Bernstein reportedly claimed that Woodward “made me promise not to tell anyone … but I have texted every one, uh oh.”

The affidavit also says Woodward claimed that Bernstein kissed him when they met on Jan. 3 before the Ivy League student disappeared and was later found in a shallow grave in a nearby park.

Detectives said Woodward clenched his jaw when discussing the incident and claimed “he wanted to tell Blaze to get off of him.”

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount