Blaze Bernstein was murdered for being Jewish and gay. His family responded with hope #shorts | Forensic Files

Bla1 Bernstein was a brilliant 19-year-old college student at the University of Pennsylvania who'd come
home here to Orange County for winter break when he was brutally stabbed to death at a park near his home. The man
accused of his murder was a guy named Sam Woodward who Bla1 Bernstein had gone to high school with. Sam also had ties
to a neo-Nazi group. And prosecutors said that Sam killed Blae because Blae was Jewish and gay. We first met
Blaise's parents, Gideon and Jeanie, shortly after Blae was killed in 2018. >> And the first time I saw him and I
looked in his eyes, there's something about this baby. He's he's going to change the world someday.
>> What do you miss most about Blaze? >> Yeah, that's it. >> His quirky personality.
>> He was different. >> You like to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. >> I call him the unicorn. He was
magnificently creative. >> There's Sam Woodward at trial looking very different than he did when Blae was
killed. The case finally went to trial in 2024. So, it took 6 years for Gideon and Jeanie to see justice for their son.
6 years during which hate crimes in the US continued to rise. But what's remarkable about this is that almost
from the moment that they learned their son was killed, Jeanie and Gideon decided to fight hate with love. They
started a Blaze Itit Forward Foundation and it encourages acts of kindness in the face of all the ugliness in the
world. It's a wonderful tribute to Blae. Still, the Bernsteeen wanted to see justice for their son and they were
ready for that trial. [Applause]

Brief Summary

Bla1 Bernstein's murder by Sam Woodward highlights hate crimes and his parents' fight for justice and kindness through the Blaze It Forward Foundation.

Key points

The Tragic Murder of Blae Bernstein. Blae Bernstein, a 19-year-old student, was brutally murdered, sparking a long fight for justice.
Six Years for Justice. It took six years for Blae's parents to see justice served in their son's case.
Parents' Inspiring Response. In the wake of their son's death, Blae's parents founded a foundation promoting kindness.

Episode highlights

Episode quotes

He was different.

A parent reflecting on Blae's unique personality.

0:48WatchJul 27, 2025

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