So before you start judging Kirsten, first get facts. I came across people like that in my in-laws family when I was married and it is pathetic the way older siblings are so selfish. Rubbish. Bernadette was to in a (round about way) She wasnt as popular as Kirsten, she desired to have the things Kirsten had. Nobody was all that nice to each other because that was the culture parents included even more so than the kids. Her drive for perfection makes her seek out the friendship of Kelly Locke, a rich and pretty girl. Youve got to be kidding right?! I feel very sad for both sides. Notable Alumni. The following day, she washed the knife and returned it to the kitchen. I was on a few adult precision ice skating teams, and let me tell you, some of the women who were on the teams were a hell of a lot worse than high school girls!! So youre justifying Murder due to bullying? I think the outcast girls there would say Kirsten was a (bully) chaise no one liked them, and they would say that. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. I just felt like I didnt fit in at Miramonte or Orinda. She was sentenced to a maximum of nine years in a juvenile prison in April 1985. Your email address will not be published. She probaly wanted Bernadette to leave her alone thats all. I believe Bernadette tried to friend her, and as I read and I do believe she acted on impulse, I believe she was just so enraged she snapped and did the (unthinkable). I think Bernadettes Youtube is fake now. Bernadette committed the crime at the age of 15. Every School has kids people dont like! The profesors are going home and the parents are at work all day and dont have a time for kids, so what do you expect from society like that. That night, Bernadette told her mother they needed to talk, but Elaine Protti said she was tired. Thier homecoming Queen was friendly and always spoke to people. Yes Kirsten May of been Snooty, but she was also adorable to those who knew her. So she was a Bully, she is not here to defend herself any longer, so youre the Bully now. I hardly knew this girl. Kirsten never got to Cheer, go to Prom, Graduate or go on to College. Kirsten wouldnt give you the time of day especially if you werent in her (group). if you came at her the wrong way like Bernadette did, or kids no one else liked cause they were so annoying to be around. And anyone messed with one of us they had to take on all of us. If she does go back there its only to see her family who is still there, and she wont leave The Whole time shes there or contact a soul. We arent all made to be popular. Bernadette later wrote a letter to her parents confessing to the murder. They were weird and odd mostly, I didnt like them myself. So I would say to any bully, we all have our weaknesses,. We all have someone we dont like. Read the facts of the case instead of perpetuating lies that Kirsten pushed Bernadette or that she bullied Bernadette. Kristen was a bitch (sorry, fact), who would roll her eyes at randoms and point and laugh at people. The Lifetime movie serves as a dramatic retelling, where we see how a girl decides that she can be popular and accepted at school, by befriending one of the more beautiful classmates. The rest of you can lurk around and limp your hunchback selves to therapy. Is it difficult to understand why a person might not respect the opinion of someone else who supports a murderer? As I said, its possible Bernadette snapped and found the knife by chance; but if she hadnt of been so aggressive towards Kirsten to be her friend, she wouldnt of needed that knife. I wouldnt doubt it cause thats how much she is hated in Orinda. Being disgusted with the the murderers nonchalant behaviour after her brutal crime? Dont trust someone like that. I was happy enough at school without popularity. Now that you know, have fun looking around! Between 10-15 years ago bullying came into the news. Lol the people saying bernadette was better looking and Kristen had it coming, oh boyhoping your not the ugly neighbor living on my block and lurking in my bushes. So was PC, DM, LP and Kirsten. Anyway, the past cannot be erased, rather we can learn from every instance and scenario. Bernadette her family says she is suffering from Depression maybe karma collecting. I cant believe they made a movie that was so offensive to the real victim. She may of been misunderstood. Mats you knew those Girls? Killing is still not an excuse but Id have to say the real losers out of this situation are Bernadettes parents. I was raised to treat others with respect. Her family was not the same. I would rather die., Asked what Kirsten had done to make her angry, Bernadette said: I have a lot of inferiority feelings and I really have bad feelings about myself. Who knows what was true or not. Kirsten was SelfAbsorbed not mean and bullish. Bernadette killed Kirsten out of Jealousy, not Bullying. PS: If you liked this article, please share it! We know Bernadette has issues, you that like her and defend her have Issues as well. Always had also. And yes Bernadette has enough problems, and theres Virus out there Worldwide that is killing people all over, and Rioters rioting in streets keeping the Virus alive, that is what the World needs to focus on today. lol Dylans mother saying We werent rich. So I would say to any bully, we all have our weaknesses, I highly doubt I would like you either. If you were snubbed at Miramonte, maybe you caused your own reactions. So I can tell you kids in these upper class schools are not angels and theyre raised not to be by their parents, who were the same way when they were in school. On December 11, nearly every girl attending Miramonte, even those with the flu, showed up. Was Bernadette fragile when she took Catechism classes with one of the accused girls and would have no doubt seen the emotional toll being falsely accused of murder would have taken on the girl, yet she acted like nothing was amiss. A sane or fragile person would not have been able to endure being confronted with so much pain that they were responsible for, yet Bernadette could and did. Several girls in Interviews said they didnt want to be found cause there years at Miramonte wasnt the best. With all this Corona Virus going around, none of that matters, it was 36 years ago, maybe LP or whoever moved on with her life. I would suggest that you should be able to distinguish between a fictional depiction and reality, but judging from your comments it is clearly beyond your capacity to do so. Columbine has nothing to do with case and you know well that the two cant be compared. She is in her 50s currently, and it seems like she has gotten a fresh start at life. Kirsten probaly spotted she wasnt all there and was going to out her on it. According to a court report dating back to 1985, these were some of the traits her cold-hearted . Even if she was, no right to murder her. All teen gals are (snotty) for the most part, but grow out of it. You named all of Kirstens friends. Boys are Smart Aleck also, girls are Worse at it. I hope it was justice, though I fear it may have been nothing more than entertainment. I know a gal who knew someone who knew Kirsten. Both girls attended Miramonte High School in Orinda, California. from what I have read on different blogs from kids that actually went to school with both these girls they have said that this movie did not accurately portray either one of the girls and thats very frustrating for people who watch the movie and find themselves empathizing with the wrong person. Newspaper headlines from the real-life Death of a Cheerleader story: The Kirsten Costas murder (1984). Kirsten wasnt a bully. She said she used a knife she found in the Pinto to stab Kirsten to death. Oh Im sure they so love having thier names and business displayed for the World to see. I heard also Kirsten was just Self Absorbed to, but not a Bully. Bernadette lived in a wealthier area than Kirsten. How is sweet referred to Murder? Kelly wrong there Kirsten didnt deserve to be murder she was innocent teenager who happened to a crazy obsessed girl wanting to be her and there no evidence of Kirsten being a bully, Kelly maybe you should read the comment you just left. I would love to hear Bernadette being interviewed now about that tragic night in suburban Oakland. Bernadette protti longed to be popular and she decided to kill an innocent person just because she couldnt have things get way.thats sad. Besides if Kirsten was going to out her, she would of told Alex Arnold all about it on the drive home. One girl here posted that one girl accused Football players of Sexual Assault at a Party and she was driven out of that School also. Later, an agitated Kirsten reached out to Alex and Mary Jane Arnold, in Moraga, saying her friend had acted weirdly with her. 15-year-old Kirsten Costas was ruthlessly murdered on June 23, 1984, by one of her schoolmates. They were rich. But as she drove, she became frightened about how Kirsten might describe the evening to the other girls at school. Im not saying that she should have been killed, but sometimes bad behavior has a terrible outcome which is why we all need to teach our children to respect the feelings of others. GG was the mutual friend of Kirsten and Bernadette, GG doesnt want anything to do with Bernadette again ever. This whole story is just disgusting. So sad her life was shortened. Kirsten didnt have anything against Bernadette before the murder.So Kirsten made a few comments. Absolutely not. She didnt give examples because she wasnt bullied by Kirsten. Ive heard she was Bubbly and funny. Google it and Season 1 thru 3 Lindsey is on there. If you werent Popular she looked down on you just as bad as Kirsten did. I isolate now due to the fact women have betrayed me so badly. However, we should leave our readers with the thought that if Bernadette had committed the crime today, she would not have gotten off as easily as she did back in 1985. Rupaul and Sarah, Bernadette has friends and fit in. They werent as bad as you think. Was she snotty to? Girls in Jr high and high School can be Brutal. John Grisham, Kirsten was nothing like Tori Spelling at all. Luca's friend and the man got out but, despite firefighters' best efforts, Luca didn't. Shes obviously mentally ill . That Movie was truly (one sided) and people are just going by off that Movie, and maybe Kirsten did say some mean things to other People, but who hasnt! And those others, D and them, they have lives of their own and probaly (jobs and families) so why would they care about being the Life of the Party? I liked Nancy Kane, she got tired of having to be something she wasnt, they looked down on her well. You are right, (Kirsten didnt really bully Bernadette) around a friend she would throw ice at Bernadette, and tease her to show off in front of thier friend, (but girls will be girls). She idolized Kirsten and her clique, wanting to be more like Kirsten. She is paying for it like they said in her chess pie recipe. Apparently the owner of the other blogs havent gave up, just busy. Bernadette was homely; Kirsten was pretty. I am almost certain she and Bernadette had words its Obvious, but Kirsten got in the Car with her, Kirsten didnt have anything against Bernadette, Bernadette took it way to Personal till it became Personal and (fatal). How did Kirsten push Bernadette so far? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I honestly thought Bernadette wouldve looked worse. Who killed Stacey in Death Of A Cheerleader? I believe they wouldnt allow you to read if you were in a group with them, thats there Nature towards people who they feel superior to. Rupaul Since then, she is supposed to have changed her name and left the state of California. Pre-meditation seems sensible between the clothes and the knife. Bernadette, as described would have known that Kirsten would have thought it weird to be driving around with a butcher knife. So whoever wrote Miramonte was a bad school and everyone cut everyone down, maybe it was you cause you werent socially accepted, and probably didnt make the best choices, or embarrassed yourself wanting the attention and. In that moment, becoming a social outcast in a place like Miramonte High School was a fate worse than death. She mostly liked everybody. Can you give examples of Kirsten bullying Bernadette? If Bernadette was so Sweet would of never murdered. they all were, taking a life is unacceptable and inexcusable. She is a Sociopath. Kirsten didnt like (stupidity). Like I said, Kirsten was so much fun. Repeats itself, repeats itself, repeats itself, ugh. She would of grown out of that. Kirsten Costas, a 15-year-old teen living in the small suburban California town of Orinda, was stabbed to death by her classmate Bernadette Protti, then also 15, on June 23, 1984. Whether the murder was premeditated or not, no one can really determine that, still a young girl died at the hands of Bernadette Protti, and Bernadette will have to live with that the rest of her life. The juvenile code dictates a sentence of confinement to the age of 25. Reports suggest that Bernadette was sent to the Youth Authoritys Ventura School, and according to the CYA (California Youth Authority), she earned her high school diploma with a 4.0 average. God would want you to forgive, Kirsten would as well. Everyone talked a bunch of crap about each other, including Bernadette who was just as rude and mean as any other girl there. You act dumb you wont fit in (anywhere). A cheerleader was found dead, and with the investigators having little to go on, they brought in the FBI, who made some astounding revelations. So yes it sucks to be bullied, but that is no excuse for any kind of physical action. She should of just beat her up, that would of stopped her. She isnt outgoing like she use to be, I can see why, she has to watch over her head. No there were several girls bullied, but Bernadette wasnt one. But for the most part Kirsten got along with mostly everyone. Embarrassed, Angela moves her mother's arm and storms off to collect her bag. Youre the same one I bet. Caskets cannot be covered with a flag of the deceased's nationality while in the church. I saw an interview with one of her classmates who described her as mean. Bunch of fg liars. In your dreams Bernadette was better looking! I agree with Karen, you cant prove Kirsten bullied Bernadette. Classes are out for the Thanksgiving holiday this week, but the Miramonte wellness center opened Monday so students could come together and grieve, make cards for Luca and talk about her tragic passing. She loved School. Now the new version of the movie was making Bernadette innocent, when Kirsten was innocent herself. Ok, I agree with you that Kirsten was better-looking, but you realize that Bernadette was part Italian, right? Its about time on other sites told all about Kirsten and how much fun loving she was. Maybe I made a mistake somewhere in the story (not sure youre mostly just saying I was not being honest what is that about?). One girl she got mad at for saying stupid stuff around her and embarrassing her. After the attacks start again, Ellie must find the killer before they get to her. You have those girls in all schools, you just go on and leave them be, and hang with your own friends. We didnt want to associate with them, cause we didnt want to get in trouble We got good grades and did what we were suppose to, our way of (having fun) and Choices were different than theirs. I cant live if it is known. If Mrs. Cistss forgave Bernadette then great. She may of just wanted to scare Bernadette so she would leave her alone (Bernadette) Bernadette took things way to personal, and, it became Personal.. Joe Kosla hi. However, she didn't finish her nine-year sentence behind bars as she was paroled after seven years, released on June 10, 1992. Even if Kirsten was stuck up and a Bully! She kissed the popular girls butt in order to be popular. Maybe if Bernadette wouldnt of chased her, she wouldnt of had to of murdered her. Considering the evidence presented here, I must conclude that the prosecution has failed to prove its contention of premeditation. Bridget is a shy outsider, who wants to be popular and beautiful. Bernadette had jealousy issues. We have got you covered in that regard. Bernadette is a Pig. There is no need to BULLY someone who is poor which is what Kristen did!!! Kirstens favorite game was Nancy Drew, and she loved her cheers to. According to People, Protti attended her funeral just like everyone else in her school. She refused to. She knew what the students there would do to her. Kirsten was described as a cheerful girl by classmates, and I do believe for the most part, she got along with most her classmates and school mates. Protti didnt get a short sentence because she claimed to have been picked on. That pain of being relentlessly bullied stays with you your whole life and your self worth is damaged. Learn how your comment data is processed. Lots of Students had to seek Counseling that year over all this. She comes back to see her mom her dad passed. Her family were upper-middle class, not multi millionaires. As I also wrote to you in a previous comment, judging from your malicious, reprehensible comments and utter ignorance and delusion, your moral fiber is rotten to the core, and I pity any child subjected to your skewed guidance as their moral fiber will no doubt succumb to decay. My friend was a friend of hers. No, it is about love, people. She could block it out of her mind (her words). Some 86 graduate girls felt ridiculed and belittled by them as well as I did and others. Interesting. That could hurt much more than death. So classy and dead on. People who need to put others down to feel validated are the ones with the mental problems and theres no excuse for that type of behavior the ppl saying that this girl or any girl is ugly they need to get checked maybe they are the real lesbians lol. No one deserves to be murdered. She was snooty to or maybe just misunderstood. And, of course, at her age, the perception made her quite bitter. I think she made a pass and got rejected. Word around town was that K was stabbed 18 times. Well it is best to not bother the girl anymore sick or not, cause she moved on and so did the Costas family, so why keep the fuel burning, its just best to let folks live their lives. Her sister at the bank dont discuss Bernadette, or discloses her whereabouts, she just says Bernadette dont wish to be located by former classmates, friends or co workers, she has a very private life now and wants to be left alone. You got kids in all school people try to duck away from and avoid. Bernadette was paroled after seven years, for good behavior, at the age of 23. All of the pictures featured here are photos taken from newspapers, not the authors private collection. If it hadnt of been Kirsten, itd been her childhood friend, or someone else, cause Bern has Jealousy Issues. She said Bernadette was kind of Snooty also. No right to murder. Are you looking for more information about Oliver Jackson Cohens wife? Who is Ms Bunch? Miramonte sounds like it had its share of Bullying. I hear a lot of them still get together on Occasions, and others have moved on. A lot of murder cases they get s light sentence or aquitted, but they also get harassed by the public and media so they dont get off all the way, the media torments them. The Principal though highly of her. Most people would be angered and perturbed by that kind of behavior. Bernadette admitted to many friends she craved the wealthy life, and hated that her own parents (whom I feel sorry for) were so old. 16-year-old Luca Gero was a junior at Miramonte High School. Your eyes are deceiving you. Kirsten from what I heard was arrogant and self absorbed, but no bully, just a typical teen girl who didnt deserve to die even if she was a bully. Karen, everyone reading your comments sees you as the odious one. I see why her Sisters and mom forgive her, theyre her family and family sticks by you. She just got irritated cause Bernadette lied to her and lured her out under false Circumstances, Id be annoyed and Angry to. Kirsten was gorgeous! Mats you knew Kirsten? No reason for Murder cause someone is what you arent, or ever will be. Bernadette was a Snob also, she only wanted to hang with the incrowd, if you were nothing she didnt talk to you anymore than she had to. You dont know whether or not Kirsten had to go without anything. She liked mostly everybody. She did have the cutest clothes of all time and knew it. She picked up Kirsten for dinner as promised, using her parent's car. I think Kirsten probably threatened to tell everybody their bizarre conversation in the car that night. People make their own reputation and choices in life whether they are bad or good. Kirsten had a lot to look forward to. Kirsten has nothing to do with thier problems at Miramonte or any of her friends had anything to do with it, so where is it youre all getting Kirsten and her friends ran these girls out. And if Kirsten was so bad and such a bully why did Bernadette want to be friends with her so badly? Im sorry but not sorry to be petty but Bernadette has a huge fg nose and hamster cheeks topped with a double chin. As with the earlier movie, it's a loose fictionalization of the 1984 murder of high school sophomore Kirsten Costas . Did you ever stop and think that Bernadette was a fragile human being? Also McDonald I heard of her on these sites. Protti, 16, was convicted of second-degree murder Wednesday for stabbing to death last June her popular classmate, Kirsten Costas, 15, a varsity swimmer and cheerleader. Kirsten was a hugging person and went around joking, she would tease all of us, it was harmless. I am shocked to even read that some people think this 15 year old girl deserved to die because she could be a little snobby at school, I personally would prefer my children to be friends at school with a snobby girl than a cold blooded killer! Lots of her classmates are out of State and moved on, maybe you all should as well, Bernadette isnt even around, leave her alone, the past is gone its not coming back ever. Kirsten May of had moments and been a Stuck up person, but that dont Justify murdering her. She looked like Kirsten with her curly hair, and the Life of the Party like Kirsten. I saw the film Death of a Cheerleader this January, 2021. very sad. I just heard that Kirsten was full of energy and life. The person I knew didnt hate Kirsten, she just thought she was Snooty or Misunderstood. She was not some vulnerable lost soul who was bullied mercilessly. We are no longer in the 80 s and never will be again. Bernadette Protti also went to Miramonte High School, along with Kirsten. But would a real student please come forward and reveal yourself. You appear to be making up scenarios in your head about Bernadettes life and have difficulty differentiating fact from fiction. Her friends were all Pretty. Is it so hard to do without hurt someone? Thats a different situation, no one liked those other kids as well. I also was in a school where most others came from two income families and most of the parents were accountants, lawyers or doctors. You are full of it. If Stacy Lockwood's funeral was Catholic, it would be unlikely the priest would wear a green stole and the casket covered in purple. She doesnt leave her house hardly at all anymore. Being disgusted that the murderer allowed two innocent girls to be accused of the murder? Note: This article may feature affiliate links, and purchases made may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. If you ever saw Saved by the Bell the new Class Lindsey on that show reminded me a lot of what Kirsten was like. She also took enough courses through a local community college to graduate with an associate in arts degree. Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/kirstenmarina.costas.9 Is she really sick, (or is this just something they came up with).? Bernadette took a lie detector test as they questioned students, whose results were inconclusive, proving neither guilt nor innocence. Im sure Kirsten had her moments and faults and good qualities as well. justice was nwot served and the costas have shed tears and felt grief for over 30 years and i think bernadette shouldnt have been given the privelege to go to college, get her high school diploma, have a boyfriend, and then have kids and get married no she should have been locked in a brick cell staring at walls all day so that she could focus on what she did but no she is scott free now to go out and kill again if she wants. Most teen girls are smart alecky and mean. Lifetime released a remake, also titled Death of a Cheerleader, on Feb. 2, 2019. I am really stunned that she only spent 8 years in jail. I cant picture Kirsten being Mean or Rude, so hard to picture that one. I dont understand why you sympathize with a murderer and perpetuate lies about her murder victim under different aliases. I think NOT! But unfortunately for her all she was taught was whats the best material Possessions, popularity and the look at me attitude. Bernadette isnt coming anyway, she is not well anymore. Kirsten is forever missed. I feel sorry for Bernadette. There were girls she didnt like, either she liked you or she didnt, no in between. It was only a matter of time before she d get caught so she came forth. She was then driven to an empty car- park at night and was justifiably angry with Bernadette over it. She cared about people and if she thought she hurt someones feelings she would try and talk to them, we all make mistakes. In the beginning, the investigators had suspected Nancy Kane, a girl that happened to be bullied by Kirsten a lot. What are you talking about?? She had a circle of friends, Kirsten was more popular though. ORINDA (KPIX) -- The day after a deadly house fire killed a 16-year-old girl at her home in Orinda, friends and family on Monday were remembering her as a vivacious young woman who could light up a room. Dont matter, been what 37 years. Catholic priests normally wear a violet, black or white stole during a funeral mass. as bad as she wanted her friendship. She watched 2 girls take the blame and did absolutely nothing about it. Although Bernadette had been questioned and cleared via a polygraph test, a private detective hired by the Costas found discrepancies in her alibi. She was also friends with people who were considered popular. The only freak in this tragic story is Bernadette. As any 15 year old would.even today in 2015. The boys at Miramonte liked Bernadettes childhood friend and Kirsten, none were interested in Bernadette. Seeing this, Alex offered to drive Kirsten home. Sad because K had it all as I saw it. We all have moved on, and went on with our Lives since that tragic episode. The only apparent witness to the killing told reporters that he and his wife were playing pinochle in their home with neighbors in nearby Moraga when Kirsten, looking frightened, came to their door and asked to use the phone to call her parents. She didnt bully, but she told people how she felt. I just believe Bernadette pushed to hard on Kirsten and it weirded out. Bernadette could be to at times She was no Angel some thought of her as Stuck up(Bernadette that is) and her BFF was kind of popular, but not as popular and Bernadette, Stacy, Diane, Jessica and Carrie.