Justine Vanderschoot’s parents and sister are fighting to keep her convicted killers—Danny Bezemer and Brandon Fernandez—behind bars after a California judge upheld Fernandez’s murder conviction in August 2024. The ruling marked the latest chapter in a two-decade legal battle following the 17-year-old’s 2003 murder, which prosecutors say was premeditated by both men.
The Murder and Convictions of Danny Bezemer and Brandon Fernandez
Justine Vanderschoot disappeared on September 2, 2003, after attending a party at the apartment shared by Bezemer, her boyfriend, and Fernandez, his roommate. Her remains were found 16 days later in a remote Placer County grave, buried under an old mattress. Investigators determined she was strangled and had ingested dirt, indicating she was alive when buried.
Bezemer and Fernandez were arrested after Fernandez led authorities to the gravesite during an FBI interrogation. Both initially blamed each other, but in 2005, Bezemer pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and received 25 years to life, while Fernandez pleaded to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 15 years to life. Prosecutors argued the men had planned the killing for months, with Bezemer targeting Justine over jealousy and Fernandez assisting in the cover-up.
Legal Challenges and the Fight for Justice
The Vanderschoots’ struggle intensified in 2020 when Fernandez petitioned for resentencing under California’s revised murder laws, which reduced penalties for accomplices who did not directly commit killings. A judge initially denied his motion, but an appellate court reversed the decision, forcing a new evidentiary hearing in 2024.
During the hearing, Deputy District Attorney Tim Weerts presented testimony from Bezemer, who claimed Fernandez helped dig the grave, purchased chemicals used to decompose Justine’s body, and directed the disposal of evidence. Fernandez’s defense argued he was merely a panicked accomplice, but the judge ruled that his actions proved he was a willing participant in the murder plot.
The Vanderschoots, who have attended seven parole hearings in the past seven years, expressed relief but remain vigilant. “We’re not going away,” said Christine Vanderschoot, Justine’s sister. “We’ll be there with my dad’s cane if we have to.” Both killers remain eligible for future parole hearings, and the family continues advocating for victims’ rights.
Legacy and Advocacy for Victims’ Rights
In 2023, the Vanderschoots partnered with Placer County prosecutors to pass “Justine’s Law,” which mandates teen dating violence prevention education in California high schools. “If it saves one life, it’s worth everything,” said Lynnette Vanderschoot, Justine’s mother.
The family’s fight highlights ongoing tensions in California’s criminal justice system, where legal reforms have allowed convicted killers to challenge their sentences years later. A new appellate court ruling in December 2025 reversed the 2024 decision, setting the stage for another hearing. The Vanderschoots vow to keep fighting to ensure neither Bezemer nor Fernandez ever walks free.
