My friend was surprised it was Bernadette who murdered Kirsten! As for the girls who got blamed, so sorry if your lives were miserable at the time, but remember Bernadette was scared herself and did t know what to do, she didnt aim for all that to come down. They werent socially accepted on account of the choices they made.. Berns BFF chose to support her( that set her apart) In Orinda if you act like a Bad A.. you wont be accepted. I hear her husband knew all along about her. A grown woman from England pretending to be someone who knew Bernadette, Kirsten, or Kirstens brother. Some are quick, rich, own the finest and the most expensive of anything. We all had enemies and faults and all teen girls are Caddy and mean at some point, no reason to die, they outgrow it in adulthood, most do anyways, some never do. Lisa I totally agree. Death of a Cheerleader follows the story of two girls in Hollybrook High, in the fictional town of Colina, California. They probably rubbed her the wrong way, or got on her nerves somehow. In 1984, California's Miramonte High School cheerleader and all-around popular teen, Kirsten Costas, was murdered by her classmate Bernadette Protti, who was not only jealous of Kirsten's high-profile life but bitter and resentful that she took did not get picked for cheerleading or the yearbook committee. Otherwise, her new identity would have surfaced as well. We were never the same after that, Miramonte was never the same after that. She wasnt into that game. Maybe it wasnt a big national story at the time, and was more of a California Bay area story (Im from Illinois). She could have gotten all of her 9 years. Well said Sarah. Nicolle Devenish Wallace, former White House Communications Director and spokesperson for John McCain for President. So if your child were bully someone they deserve to die ? I was fortunate to be surrounded by guys who were my best friends from 3rd grade and were very popular. Why isnt anyone talking about the incompetency of the police here? Not youre so called Sweet friend Bernie. You clearly are basing your opinions on a movie a fictional depiction. We had our own group, and we didnt really talk much to them, (other than hello) Some of those kids there that were misfits, hate to tell you, some of them werent Angels They dressed rough and acted (Bad) and cussed. There was no justification for murder even if the victim was a bully, which it seems she was, at worst, catty. It could have been antisocial Goth girl Monica, it could've been angst-ridden Jill--or maybe it was the plain girl nobody suspected. . Later, an agitated Kirsten reached out to Alex and Mary Jane Arnold, in Moraga, saying her friend had acted weirdly with her. No reason for Murder cause someone is what you arent, or ever will be. Thisb isnt about Columbine, its about the Kirsten Costas case. I think she had a crush on Kirsten and was terrified of Kirsten telling everyone she was a lesbian. So this murderer just gets off free after 8 years and gets to live her life because (somebody picked on her)? The murder of her daughter, Berit says, was premeditated from the moment of the phone call. Felicia Forbes: The story of Tommy 'Tiny' Lister's wife. I liked School and I wasnt popular, but I still liked it. Ellie returns to her high school as a teacher ten years after she was nearly killed in a series of brutal slayings on the cheerleader squad. So I would say to any bully, we all have our weaknesses, Sheriffs aide Michael Bachman searches for murder weapon, San Francisco Examiner Tuesday, June 26, 1984. Moreover, the 1994 movie, A Friend to Die For explores the same story. 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. I dont care what anyone says to another person, it does not give you the right to kill them. Kirsten was adorable. Bernadette is a physchopath and a Killer, and always will be. This whole story is just disgusting. She would have seen Kirstens parents and brother crying anguished tears of unfathomable sorrow and would have seen the inconsolable grief and despair etched into their faces, and she had the unconscionable gall to not only attend Kirstens funeral knowing she was responsible for putting Kirsten in her coffin, but also had the cold nerve to be in the presence of and be able to look at Kirstens family whose sadness and grief would have been heart wrenchingly palpable, which she knew she was responsible for. Kristen had it well deserved. Bernadette was to in a (round about way) She wasnt as popular as Kirsten, she desired to have the things Kirsten had. She was committed to the California Youth Authority. Youre not looking at that Situation. If the ones acting like Hoes were demonized while everyone lived happily ever after, why were they demonized. I dont think she was any worse than any other teenage girl by any means. Bernadette is no more and she doesnt exist anymore, so why keep bringing up the past, my goodness look at the times the World is in now. Just because the Costas had millions of dollars and Are socialites Of the upper class community Does not give their family the right to treat others like dirt. There is no justification for murder, and I am not siding with the criminals, but you can push someone so far. Bernadette/Jeanette has paid her dues. Kirsten was Cute and so funny and bouncy and full of energy and Life. We arent all made to be popular. What are you talking about?? First, an assumedly innocent girl murdering her schoolmate got people by surprise. Kirsten never got to Cheer, go to Prom, Graduate or go on to College. You didnt read that. She was good at that. The evidence supports nothing more than the finding of murder in the second degree. Nancy I know exactly how you feel. Kelly and Bridget are modeled after Kirsten and Bernadette. 86ers you want to forgive thats up to you, it would be nice if something could be worked out and you all could go back to the wya things were and not are. It wont bring Kirsten back. they all were, taking a life is unacceptable and inexcusable. As I said, Kirsten was Conceited, and Stuck up, but not no Bully. That Mats Chick dont know her head from her Butt. She may of been Stuck up most Cheerleaders are, but she was no where near a Bully or made fun of people. Some of these girls ( not Nancy or Joanna) acted like Hoes, and ppl dont take kindly to that. Bernadette was homely; Kirsten was pretty. Catholic priests normally wear a violet, black or white stole during a funeral mass. 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. One reporter wrote that by the end of the tape, even Berit Costass head was bowed. Once Kirsten was dropped off, a girl got off the Pinto, stabbed her, and fled. Its so competitive.. I disagree with you. Also people dont want to be around someone who makes a butt out of themselves and acts like an idiot, its to embarrassing. Bernadette committed the crime at the age of 15. 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. Sorry but the parents are to blame. She fit it fine and was considered to be popular in her own way. It just became a War between the 2 which one was better, and Kirsten was, and Bernadette wanted to be, and Kirsten was in her way. 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. Hundreds of mourners filled the great sanctuary of the Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church yesterday to pay their last respects to Kirsten Costas. Kirsten was a true Social Butterfly, always joking with others, talking with others, We werent friends but I liked Kirsten and all those girls. You took the words right out of my mouth! After killing Kirsten, Bernadette said she returned home, hid the knife and took a walk with her mother and the family dog. But I will feel honored at the same timebut I still would have been weirded out. Rubbish. So, I dont know, I just felt bad., She said that Kirsten, Just sort of put me down I remembered one time on the ski trip we were on together. She and one of her good friends practiced all the time. There was this one girl that was so jealous of me, that she spread lies about me to her sorority friends and kept me from pledging her sorority. The people involved in the case are local residents, driven by an amalgamation of insecurities and human greed. I know some fragile ppl, and theyd kill themselves before someone else. We have the original step-by-step booklets from the 40s and 50s, Vintage Instamatic cameras: The boxy, iconic cameras pretty much everyone had in the 60s & 70s, See top 1970s stars on 17 vintage Tiger Beat magazine covers, and relive all the breathless hype, The Great Depression: Newspaper headlines from the 1929 stock market crash, See dozens of vintage US Army & Navy shoulder insignia, plus WWII military medals & ribbons, Match Game: The vintage game show with some real blank, 100 vintage 1960s supermarkets & old-fashioned grocery stores, Busch Gardens: See the theme park in Tampa, Florida through the 20th century, Pretty, thin, young and single? Even before I read about the real case, I thought the movie blamed the victim way too much. She was described as a nurturer in an episode of Killer Kids. Player, 2004. Always had also. I dont even think she was there when that all went down. Bernadette said Kirsten wanted to smoke pot first, a claim that drew cries of disbelief from Kirstens parents and friends. Kirstens future was right there in front of her staring her in the face, like the prom, graduation and deciding what College she would of been going to and getting married and having Children. We need an Memorial Page set up for Kirsten. The teen girl died in a fire at 6 a.m. Sunday morning in the Orinda home where she lived that is now the site of a growing memorial. 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 calls to classmates to ask who made pompom girl and cheerleader. I dont think it was so much bullying as it was insecurity, I think Bernadette said something that went all wrong in the car. Kirsten Costas, who had just finished her sophomore year at Miramonte High School in this scenic, affluent suburb, was killed at about 10pm Saturday, Contra Costa County . Im not sure about that case, but Kirsten I cant picture her being a bully, yes telling how she felt, that she did well. As for LF aka LP she just disappeared off the map somehow. More stood in the narthex, craning to hear the service in memory of the 15-year-old Miramonte High School student, stabbed to death near her Orinda home Saturday night. I hardly knew this girl. By what name was Death of A Cheerleader (1994) officially released in India in English? I was raised to treat others with respect. Kirsten was beautiful. Bullies should get their a** whooped not killed just because they dont want to be friends with someone. Or someone who stares at you constantly, you got a problem doing that. She was obsessed with being liked and Kirsten not liking her. According to her attorney, Charles James, juveniles convicted of murder in California serve an average of four to six years. That part of LPs life is over with I guess. I hear a lot of them still get together on Occasions, and others have moved on. You are lying. For one, some of Heather Cranes former classmates have started speaking to Heather again. She didnt bully, but she told people how she felt. I see why her Sisters and mom forgive her, theyre her family and family sticks by you. Its sad, but when all is said and done its not worth it. The Costas family is doing well and went on with life. According to the outlet, she was motivated by greed, envy, and the desire to become more like Costas. In order to get into the Bobbies you had to have money. She had taken Kirsten out in her car, where the latter felt that Bernadette had gone weird. Another lesson is parents should not have kids too late in life. I think NOT! I heard also Kirsten was just Self Absorbed to, but not a Bully. I know a gal who knew someone who knew Kirsten. Bernadette joined the Bobbies, a volunteer group created to organize fundraisers and other charitable events. On April 1, the first hot day of spring, while kids throughout Orinda were signing up for Meadow Pools summer swim team, Bernadette Protti was sentenced. And not a fuckn psycho. Kirsten was mostly nice to Everyone, so she had a few people she didnt like, we all have. She didnt want to be bothered with her either. The senior class officers are President Haley Moltyaner and Treasurer. Kirsten is forever missed. Unfortunately, she was pronounced dead on Saturday, June 23, 1984, as one of the stab wounds had bisected the heart's major artery. Kirsten wasnt obligated to helping those people, sometimes it has to be done on your own! Sounds like her parents Shouldve did some actual parenting and taught her how to have respect for other people. Later, she would throw her T-shirt and sweatpants in the garbage dump of the Sleepy Hollow Swim Club. And she killed her because she was jealous and that she would have been humiliuated if Kirsten told people at school that she was admiring her. I cant believe they made a movie that was so offensive to the real victim. Teens are teens. Cant blame Kirsten if you werent popular, maybe ask yourself why. They were all fun gals to be around. Not true, analyzes yourself if they were snobs to you, probably embarrassed yourself by trying to hard to be accepted, or you were a troublemaker and a bully yourself. I feel if it was true bullying she would be afraid to be near Kirsten and these people who call Kirsten a snot and said she was a Bully and deserved it, Karens right youre the Bullies cause you know Zilch about any of this.