The Tragic Case of Justine Vanderschoot: A Family’s Fight for Justice

Justine Vanderschoot’s remains were discovered on September 18, 2003, in a remote area over two weeks after she vanished. Her parents, Don and Lynnette, find solace in a garden outside her bedroom, naming it ‘Justine’s Garden.’

Lynnette Vanderschoot: “It’s been 21 years since we lost Justine, but it’s still very fresh in our mind.” The garden has become a permanent tribute, filled with mementos and condolence flowers.

Christine Vanderschoot: Justine’s older sister describes the years without her as lonely, as they were close in age and did everything together.

Natalie Morales: Inquiring about Justine’s personality, Christine portrays her as vibrant, charismatic, and the life of the party. Her father, Don, recalls her as a spark in their household, while Lynnette fondly remembers her daughter’s active lifestyle and ambitions in fashion and beauty.

A Family’s Fight Begins

Tragically, the family confronts Justine’s murder and its consequences. They recently battled to keep her convicted murderers, Danny Bezemer and Brandon Fernandez, behind bars during multiple parole hearings.

Don Vanderschoot: “I don’t ever want to forget about her, but I don’t want to be reminded of what happened.”

The Vanderschoots recall the troubling evolution of their relationship with Danny, who was once welcomed into their home. He became like family, receiving support and even a job from Don. Christine remembers him as controlling, increasingly jealous, and possessive of Justine.

Warning Signs Ignored

Friends noticed Danny’s controlling behavior, with Lindsey Morris, Brandon’s girlfriend, describing his jealousy and possessiveness. Justine felt trapped, fearing that Danny wouldn’t let her go if she ended the relationship. Christine observed her sister’s frustration as she began to grow apart from Danny.

Things escalated when Danny’s fears intensified after Justine met someone new during a spring break trip. Angela Ford, a retired Placer County Detective, notes Danny’s increasing paranoia during this time.

Searching for Justine

On September 2, 2003, Justine’s parents realized she was missing. Her truck and belongings were gone. They launched a community search, hanging posters and raising awareness. Danny appeared concerned initially, participating in efforts to find her.

The first significant lead appeared when Justine’s truck was found. Initially, investigators considered if she had left voluntarily, but interviews with a Navy sailor in Florida confirmed he was uninvolved.

Critical Moments in the Investigation

Friends spoke about Danny’s jealousy. Detectives explored Danny and Brandon’s close relationship further. Both shared a fascination with violence, a troubling element investigators couldn’t ignore. Interviews revealed Danny and Brandon were each other’s alibis, raising suspicion.

As detectives dug deeper, they questioned their actions on the night Justine disappeared. Interviews revealed inconsistencies in Brandon’s alibi.

The Truth Emerges

With FBI involvement, pressure mounted on Brandon during interrogation. Under scrutiny, he revealed knowledge of Justine’s location, blaming Danny for the crime but admitting his presence.

Brandon confessed Danny had committed the murder, and his story over time shifted to implicating himself. He described seeing Danny strangle Justine and hearing his chilling laughter.

The Aftermath and Legal Battles

In court, Danny admitted guilt but claimed Brandon was the mastermind. This testimony led to a plea deal, with Danny pleading guilty to first-degree murder and receiving a 25-years-to-life sentence, while Brandon received a 15-years-to-life sentence for second-degree murder.

The Vanderschoots faced Brandon’s parole hearings, fighting to keep him imprisoned. Legal changes in California led Brandon to challenge his conviction, claiming he should be resentenced as an accessory. This battle concluded with a judge denying his motion, but appeals kept the case alive.

In 2023, Justine’s Law was enacted, promoting teen dating violence prevention in California high schools, honoring her memory. Her parents continue their advocacy work, channeling their grief into meaningful change.

Lynnette Vanderschoot (in Justine’s Garden): “We think of her as hummingbirds come to us. A lot of times when we’re back here working in her garden, I’ll have a little hummingbird come right up to my face…”