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Blaze Bernstein memorial will honor killed college student

This image provided by the Orange County Sheriff's Department shows Blaze Bernstein, the 19-year-old college student who was found dead at a park while on winter break from his studies at the University of Pennsylvania.
This image provided by the Orange County Sheriff's Department shows Blaze Bernstein, the 19-year-old college student who was found dead at a park while on winter break from his studies at the University of Pennsylvania.
Orange County Sheriff's Department
Francine Rios |

Community members in Orange County will gather Sunday afternoon to pay tribute to 19-year-old Blaze Bernstein, a college student who was found stabbed to death last month.

Bernstein was a sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania. He went missing in January while he was home in Lake Forest for winter break. A week later, Bernstein's remains were found at a nearby park.

A Jan. 12, 2018 booking photo provided by the Orange County Sheriff's Department shows Samuel Lincoln Woodward, 20. Authorities arrested Woodward for the killing of 19-year-old University of Pennsylvania student Blaze Bernstein.
A Jan. 12, 2018 booking photo provided by the Orange County Sheriff's Department shows Samuel Lincoln Woodward, 20. Authorities arrested Woodward for the killing of 19-year-old University of Pennsylvania student Blaze Bernstein.
AP

Today's tribute will be held at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa. It will feature music from students at Orange County School of the Arts, where Bernstein attended school. His family will also thank the Orange County Sheriff's Department and volunteers who helped search for Bernstein.

The tribute will be live-streamed at 4:30 p.m.

20-year-old Samuel Woodward was arrested for and has pleaded not guilty to Bernstein's murder. The two men knew each other from high school. 

Bernstein was gay. Prosecutors have been searching for evidence that his alleged murder was a hate crime, due to his sexual orientation. So far, no such charges have been filed.

Gideon and Jeanne Bernstein, parents of Blaze Bernstein, pictured left, are joined by Orange County Sheriff's Lt. Brad Valentine, right, during a news conference in Lake Forest on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2018.
Gideon and Jeanne Bernstein, parents of Blaze Bernstein, pictured left, are joined by Orange County Sheriff's Lt. Brad Valentine, right, during a news conference in Lake Forest on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2018.
Amy Taxin/AP