In the late summer of 1991, a young couple's promising future was tragically cut short at a rest stop in Yuma, Arizona. Laura Bernstein, a 22-year-old female, and her husband, Brian, were recent graduates of Cornell University. The two were on their way to California to begin a graduate program at the University of California at Los Angeles when their paths crossed with two individuals who would bring their journey to a violent end.
On September 10, 1991, Laura and Brian Bernstein were confronted by Travis Amaral, who was 16 at the time, and his accomplice, 26-year-old Gregory Dickens.
The fatal encounter was the result of a grim decision made by Amaral and Dickens, who, short on money, had decided to commit a robbery. After flipping a coin to determine who would carry out the act, Amaral, armed with a. 38-caliber revolver belonging to Dickens, approached the Bernsteins. While Dickens waited in a car, Amaral robbed the couple and then, after asking if they were ready to die, shot both Laura and Brian in the head. Following the shooting, Dickens drove through the rest stop to ensure there were no witnesses before picking up Amaral and fleeing the scene.
The case remained unsolved for a period of time until an investigation into unrelated crimes led to a breakthrough. In 1992, San Diego police arrested Gregory Dickens on charges of sexual abuse and assault with a deadly weapon. It was during this investigation that Travis Amaral disclosed his and Dickens's involvement in the double homicide in Yuma. Following this confession, Gregory Dickens was charged with felony murder and armed robbery for his role in the deaths of Laura and Brian Bernstein. He was subsequently sentenced to death for his part in the murders.
