This California Teen Was Buried Alive By Her Jealous Boyfriend And His Best Friend On Labor Day In 2003
In 2003, Justine Vanderschoot was a 17-year-old high school student from California in what appeared to be a typical teenage romance. She was dating 18-year-old Daniel Bezemer, who often went over to her home and ate dinner with her family.
Justine was known by her loved ones as “a young woman sure of herself and what she wanted in life.”
However, prosecutors claim that Daniel “turned jealous,” and their young relationship was marred by Daniel’s “jealousy” and “control.”
Then, Daniel and his best friend, 21-year-old Brandon Fernandez, plotted to kill Justine, burying her alive on Labor Day in 2003.
That day, Justine and Daniel attended a family dinner at her home before leaving to meet up with Brandon.
Daniel strangled Justine, put her into Brandon’s car, and drove to the woods, where they had already dug a hole to bury her.
In the woods, the men took off Justine’s clothes, poured a substance believed to be methanol on her, and buried her.
Daniel and Brandon reportedly told investigators later that Justine had made noises and moved after she was buried in the grave.
“She had dirt in her esophagus and lungs. So she was gasping for air when they buried her,” said Justine’s mother, Lynnette Vanderschoot, during a 2017 parole hearing.
Placer County District Attorney – pictured above is Justine
At 11:00 p.m. one evening, after weeks of searching for Justine, her parents opened their front door to Placer County Sheriff’s detectives, accompanied by a chaplain. They stated, “Your daughter’s not coming home.”
According to a pathologist, evidence indicated that Justine was buried alive. But, she also might have breathed in dirt prior to being buried. Daniel and Brandon ultimately confessed to Justine’s murder.
Daniel was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison in 2005 following a first-degree murder conviction. He is now 40-years-old and had a parole consultation in August 2020, as well as a hearing about two years later.
Daniel is currently an inmate at Valley State Prison and was denied parole in 2022 and 2023. His next hearing is scheduled for March 2028.
Brandon received a sentence of 15 years to life after he was convicted of second-degree murder. He was up for parole in 2017 and 2022, both of which were denied. Another parole hearing is tentatively scheduled for July 2027.
Brandon also petitioned for re-sentencing in order to be released early from prison. This move was based on a 2019 California law that can decrease a murder accomplice’s legal liability.
His petition was denied, and Justine’s family released a statement afterward.
“We ask, what kind of message are we sending to our young women that someone can plan, scheme, and execute a horrific murder against a teenage girl and be eligible for legal relief?” the statement read.
Justine’s loved ones have since channeled their grief into sparking change. In collaboration with prosecutors, they drafted state legislation that would provide education on teen dating violence in California schools. It was approved last year by the governor.
“By teaching our youth healthy boundaries and the early signs of teen dating violence, we hope to prevent future victims and aggressors,” said Placer County District Attorney Morgan Gire.
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