California

Missing UPenn Student Blaze Bernstein Found Dead in California Park

Blaze Bernstein's death while he was home on winter break is being investigated as a homicide

The body of a University of Pennsylvania student who went missing while home in Southern California on winter break has been found and his death is being investigated as a homicide, authorities said on Wednesday.

Authorities had been searching for 19-year-old Blaze Bernstein for days when his body was found Tuesday afternoon in brush surrounding a neighborhood park in the Foothill Ranch area of the city of Lake Forest, the Orange County sheriff's department said in a statement.

Bernstein, who was home visiting his family, was last seen around 11 p.m. on Jan. 2 while entering Borrego Park. Authorities have said witnesses said Bernstein met up with a friend and the two drove there, and he got out of the vehicle and went into the park.

Search and rescue crews looked for Bernstein for several days, with assistance from drone pilots.

Authorities declined to release additional information about Bernstein cause death, saying their investigation was ongoing. An autopsy was scheduled for Wednesday.

Bernstein, a sophomore, was planning to major in psychology and later study medicine, the Orange County Register reported his father Gideon Bernstein saying last week.

Bernstein was picked up by a high school friend on Jan. 2 and was heading to meet a third person in the park, said Annee Della Donna, an attorney and friend of the family.

When Bernstein didn't return, his friend began sending him text messages but did not hear back, she said, adding the location device on his phone eventually stopped working.

"The only thing I can think of is that maybe he was abducted," the newspaper reported Bernstein's mother Jeanne saying on Sunday. "I can't figure out why anybody would want to hurt my son."

Bernstein was the incoming managing editor of Penn Appétit, UPenn's student-run food magazine. He was also a copy associate for Penn's 34th Street magazine and wrote opinion columns for the Daily Pennsylvanian.

A support session will take place in the Ben Franklin Room in Houston Hall at Penn Thursday at 12 p.m. Penn is also offering several resources for students in the wake of Bernstein's death:

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS): 215-898-7021

University Chaplain’s Office: 215-898-8456

Student Health Service: 215-746-3535

Student Intervention Services: 215-898-6081

School Advising and Student Affairs Offices: College of Arts and Sciences: 215-898-6341
School of Engineering and Applied Science: 215-898-7246
School of Nursing: 215-898-6687
Wharton: 215-898-7613

Division of Public Safety HELP Line: 215-898-HELP (215-898-4357)

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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