Horse trainer’s trail ride became key in California teen murder case

A horse trainer riding a remote Sierra Nevada foothills trail in 2003 saw something he could not shake: a fresh hole in the ground, miles northeast of Auburn, California.

Matt Scribner, a local farrier, trainer and endurance rider, told CBS News’ “48 Hours” that the sight stayed with him through the rest of his ride over Labor Day weekend. He later learned the spot was tied to the killing of 17-year-old Justine Vanderschoot.

Scribner returned to the same trail about a week later and saw searchers gathering near a park-and-ride area, CBS reported. By then, the community knew Justine was missing. When Scribner passed the place where he had seen the fresh hole, he saw a mattress, but told “48 Hours” he did not immediately connect it to the case because the area was used for dumping.

That changed after the local newspaper reported that Justine’s remains had been found and that her boyfriend, Danny Bezemer, and his roommate, Brandon Fernandez, had been arrested and charged in her murder, according to CBS. Scribner said a photo in the Auburn Journal showed brush near the burial site, and he realized he had seen the hole before Justine disappeared. He contacted the Placer County Sheriff’s Department.

Retired Placer County Sheriff Ed Bonner told “48 Hours” that Scribner’s account became an important piece of evidence and described it as pointing to premeditation.

Search for Justine

Justine’s parents, Don and Lynnette Vanderschoot, reported her missing on Sept. 2, 2003, CBS reported. Lynnette had woken in the early morning and found that Justine was not in her bedroom and that her truck was gone from the driveway.

The family asked the community for help, but more than two weeks passed without Justine being found. Bonner told “48 Hours” the situation felt sinister.

Detectives looked at people close to Justine and focused on Bezemer and Fernandez, according to CBS. Bonner said investigators believed the two men were hiding something about her disappearance and wanted to question them separately.

Placer County sheriff’s detectives then brought in the FBI. On Sept. 17, 2003, FBI agents Jeff Rinek and Chris Hopkins interviewed Fernandez at the FBI building in Sacramento while Bezemer was questioned at sheriff’s headquarters, CBS reported.

According to “48 Hours,” Fernandez confessed under questioning and led investigators to Justine’s grave, the same location where Scribner had seen the freshly dug hole. Fernandez said Bezemer strangled Justine and forced him to help bury her. CBS reported that Justine’s autopsy later indicated she was still breathing when she was buried.

Bezemer admitted to detectives that he strangled Justine, CBS reported, but claimed Fernandez was the mastermind. Placer County District Attorney Morgan Gire told “48 Hours” that both men incriminated each other.

Plea deals and a new legal fight

Both men later took plea deals, with prosecutors considering the Vanderschoot family’s wish to avoid a long and painful trial, according to CBS. In 2005, Bezemer pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced to 25 years to life. Fernandez pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and received 15 years to life.

Fernandez later sought to have his murder conviction thrown out after a 2018 change to California murder law, CBS reported. The change reduced culpability for some defendants who did not kill and did not intend for anyone to die.

Fernandez asked to be resentenced as an accessory after the fact. His attorney, Steve Defilippis, told “48 Hours” that Fernandez is not guilty of Justine’s murder and said Bezemer threatened him into helping after the killing. Defilippis said Fernandez was wrong to participate in the cover-up.

CBS reported that both sides were set to present their arguments at an evidentiary hearing in May 2024. If Fernandez’s petition is granted, he would be released on time served.

The Vanderschoot family has opposed that possibility. Lynnette Vanderschoot told “48 Hours” that Fernandez has not taken responsibility and said she believes he is as guilty as Bezemer. Justine’s sister, Christine, told CBS the family is fighting for Justine because she no longer has a voice.

This story draws on original reporting from CBS News.