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Justine Vanderschoot’s killers sought parole 7 times; her family fought in court for 21 years
In 2003, 17-year-old Justine Vanderschoot was strangled to death by her boyfriend Danny Bezemer and his friend Brandon Fernandez in California. Sentenced to life, the killers have sought parole seven times under California law, and the family attends every court hearing to prevent their release.
The Vanderschoot family of Auburn, California, confronts each year the possibility that the killers of their daughter Justine, whom they lost 21 years ago, could be freed. In September 2003, 17-year-old Justine Vanderschoot vanished and was found dead two weeks later; she had been strangled and buried in a remote area.
Retired Placer County District Attorney Ed Bonner stated that killers Danny Bezemer and Brandon Fernandez have gone to court seven times in the last seven years seeking parole. The family appears at every hearing, fighting to prevent the release of these two individuals sentenced to life in prison.
Justine Vanderschoot was a high school senior dreaming of a career in fashion and beauty. Her older sister Christine described her as "lively, charismatic, the life of the party," while her father Don Vanderschoot said, "She was the spark of the house."
The murderers were once welcomed in the family home. Brandon Fernandez, a friend of Christine's, later introduced Danny Bezemer to the family. The relationship between Danny and Justine progressed to marriage plans. Her father Don found Danny a job and gave him a key to the house.
Over time, Danny's jealous and controlling behavior became apparent. Lindsey Morris, who was Brandon's girlfriend at the time, recounted that Justine told her Danny was very jealous and would not let her see her friends. Justine feared that even if she ended the relationship, Danny would not leave her alone.
In the spring of 2003, Justine met a sailor while on vacation in Florida, which heightened Danny's paranoia. Danny asked Lindsey to secretly listen in on Justine and pressure her into admitting she was cheating, but Lindsey refused. At the same time, Brandon Fernandez also hated Justine and constantly belittled her.
On the morning of September 2, 2003, mother Lynnette Vanderschoot found her daughter's bed empty and her pickup truck gone from in front of the house. The family blanketed Auburn with missing posters and pink ribbons. Justine's vehicle was found in a park about 8 kilometers from the house.
Matt Scribner, who was riding a horse in the area, reported seeing a freshly dug and then covered hole on the trail a week earlier. That hole would later be identified as Justine Vanderschoot's grave.
Initially, Danny Bezemer presented a grieving boyfriend image to the media, even saying there had been a credit card application in Florida and he hoped it might be Justine. However, the investigation revealed that he and Brandon had planned the murder. The two had previously discussed murder and body disposal, and Brandon had even created a website ranking levels of violence.
At the end of the trial, Bezemer and Fernandez were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. California law allows these inmates to request parole at certain intervals.
Father Don Vanderschoot said, "I don't want to lose my memories of her, but I don't want to remember what happened," and stated they would continue their fight for justice. Mother Lynnette remembers their daughter in a memorial garden they named "Justine's Garden."
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