The 1980s: The Deadliest Decade (2016–2017): Season 1, Episode 3 - The Cheerleader Murder - full transcript

ORINDA WOKE UP TO TRAGEDY TODAY.

A 15-YEAR-OLD CHEERLEADER
WAS STABBED TO DEATH LAST NIGHT.

THIS WAS A HEINOUS CRIME,
A SAVAGE CRIME.

THE INVESTIGATION THAT FOLLOWED

IS CONSIDERED ONE
OF THE MOST INTENSIVE

AND EXTENSIVE
IN THE COUNTY'S HISTORY.

THIS SORT OF THING
DOESN'T HAPPEN

IN A COMMUNITY LIKE ORINDA.

IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM LIKE
IT WOULD HAPPEN TO US.

IT SEEMS LIKE IT'D HAPPEN
TO SOMEBODY ELSE.

MANY FELT IT HAD
CLASSIC STORY MATERIAL.



MURDER AND JUSTICE

WITH ADOLESCENT PASSIONS
AND FEELINGS AND PRESSURES.

THE PEOPLE IN THE AREA
WERE TERRIFIED.

THERE'S A KILLER
LOOSE OUT THERE.

JUST SAY NO.

FORGET BIG BROTHER.

1984 IS THE YEAR OF BIG CHANGES
FOR AMERICA'S YOUTH,

FROM THE NEW PERSONAL COMPUTER
TO THE FIRST CELLPHONE

TO A POP-CULTURE REVOLUTION.

IT WAS KIND OF
THE PREPPY TIMES,

SWINGING INTO NEW WAVE.

AND IT'S, LIKE,
WHEN FLOCK OF SEAGULLS

WAS OUT AND DURAN DURAN.

IT'S GREAT TO BE PART



OF THE NEWLY COINED
"MTV GENERATION."

YOUNG...

IT'S A BRAND-NEW YEAR.
I'M 16.

AND FOOTLOOSE...

LET'S DANCE!

NO PLACE IS THAT MORE TRUE

THAN ACROSS THE BAY
FROM SAN FRANCISCO.

ORINDA IS A VERY
AFFLUENT COMMUNITY.

ORINDA, IN THE '80s,
THE MORE YOU HAD, THE BETTER.

AND IF YOU'RE FROM
ORINDA, CALIFORNIA,

YOU'VE GOT IT MADE.

IT'S THE KIND OF PLACE
WHERE KIDS GROW UP

FEELING COMPLETELY SAFE.

AND A LOT OF STAY-AT-HOME MOMS

WHILE THE DADS WENT OFF
TO WORK IN SAN FRANCISCO

AT SOME SORT OF
WHITE-COLLAR JOB.

IT WAS LIKE THERE WAS
NO PLACE ELSE IN THE WORLD.

LIKE, WE WERE THE CENTER
OF THE UNIVERSE.

"AREN'T WE ALL LUCKY
TO BE HERE?"

NO ONE'S ENJOYING
A TEENAGE LIFESTYLE

IN ORINDA MORE
THAN KIRSTEN COSTAS.

SHE WAS 15 YEARS OLD.
SHE WAS PRETTY.

SHE HAD A LOT OF FRIENDS.
SHE WAS VERY ATHLETIC.

SHE WAS ON
THE VARSITY SWIM TEAM.

SHE PLAYED SOCCER.
SHE PLAYED BASEBALL.

SHE WAS ONE
OF THE KIND OF KIDS

THAT EVERYBODY ELSE
IN HIGH SCHOOL GRAVITATES TO.

SHE WAS SUPER CUTE.

SHE HAD CUTE HAIR,
CUTE CLOTHES.

SHE HAD KIND OF
A NATURALLY TAN SKIN.

SHE ALWAYS LOOKED LIKE
SHE'D BEEN OUT IN THE SUN.

KIRSTEN'S JUST ENDED
HER SOPHOMORE YEAR

AT MIRAMONTE HIGH SCHOOL
ON A HIGH NOTE.

SHE WAS ELECTED
TO BECOME THE CHEERLEADER

THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

SHE WAS A VERY POPULAR GIRL.

MIRAMONTE HIGH SCHOOL
WAS A COMPETITIVE PLACE.

THESE WERE KIDS
WHO WERE THE SONS

AND DAUGHTERS
OF VERY SUCCESSFUL PARENTS.

THEY WANTED TO REPLICATE
THEIR PARENTS' SUCCESSES.

THEY WORKED HARD IN SCHOOL.

KIRSTEN IS NO DIFFERENT.

HER DAD, ARTHUR,
WAS AN EXECUTIVE

WITH THE 3M COMPANY
IN SAN FRANCISCO.

AND HER MOTHER,
BERIT, WAS A HOMEMAKER.

AND SHE WORKED PART-TIME

AT A LOCAL COMMUNITY CENTER
AS WELL.

AND KIRSTEN WAS THE --
THE PERFECT DAUGHTER.

KIRSTEN'S FAMILY
ENJOYS ALL THE PRIVILEGE

AND PRESTIGE THAT COMES
OF LIVING IN ORINDA.

YOUR WHOLE IDENTITY
WAS BEING WRAPPED AROUND

WHAT CLUB YOU BELONG TO

AND WHERE YOU WERE
IN THE SOCIAL STATUS.

YOU REMEMBER THAT MADONNA SONG?

"WE ARE LIVING
IN A MATERIAL WORLD.

AND I AM A MATERIAL GIRL."

THAT WAS A LARGER CULTURE,
RIGHT,

THAT WE WERE ALL
TRYING TO FIT INTO.

KIRSTEN IS HEADED TO
THE TOP OF THE MATERIAL WORLD

OF HIGH SCHOOL ALONG
WITH SOME OF HER FRIENDS.

THERE WAS THIS HUGE
GROUP OF GIRLS

WITH FLOWING HAIR
AND CUTE OUTFITS.

AND THAT GROUP WAS THE CORE,
THE MOST POPULAR.

THE CLIQUE INCLUDES
KIRSTEN'S CLOSE CONFIDANTE,

ASHLEY MAYFIELD,

FELLOW SWIM-TEAM MEMBER
LAUREN SHAY.

AND EVEN THOUGH SHE DIDN'T
MAKE CHEERLEADING THIS YEAR,

BERNADETTE PROTTI MAKES
THE POPULARITY CUT.

I THINK BERNADETTE
AND KIRSTEN

AND A LOT OF THOSE
OTHER GIRLS GREW UP TOGETHER.

ALL BLONDE,

ALL IN PROPER UNIFORM.

IT WAS IZOD,
AND PEOPLE FLIPPED THEIR COLLARS

AND WORE THE LITTLE
ALLIGATOR AND TOPSIDERS.

IT WAS IMPORTANT
TO LOOK A CERTAIN WAY

BECAUSE IF YOU DIDN'T,
PEOPLE DIDN'T ACCEPT YOU.

KIRSTEN, ASHLEY,
LAUREN, BERNADETTE.

THEY WERE WHO YOU
WANTED TO IMPRESS.

THE COOL KIDS RAN THE SCHOOL.

THEY COULD DECIDE
IF YOU WERE LIKED

OR IF YOU WEREN'T LIKED.

THEY COULD MAKE
YOU FEEL BAD.

OR THEY COULD
MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD.

ONE VALENTINE'S DAY,

I BOUGHT A WHOLE
BUNCH OF LOLLIPOPS

AND GAVE THEM
TO SOME OF THE GIRLS.

AND I REMEMBER,
VERY DISTINCTLY,

A YOUNG WOMAN TAKING IT,
LOOKING AT ME AND GOING,

"WHATEVER," AND JUST THROWING IT

IN THE TRASH CAN
RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME.

LIKE, I FEEL LIKE I LEARNED

HOW TO FEEL INSECURE
ABOUT MYSELF IN HIGH SCHOOL.

BUT TO KIRSTEN
AND HER FRIENDS,

IT ALL SEEMS TO COME NATURALLY.

AND IN THEIR SOPHOMORE YEAR,

THEY HIT ANOTHER MILESTONE
ON THE ROAD TO SUCCESS

WITH AN INVITATION TO JOIN
A HIGHLY SELECTIVE CLUB --

THE BOB-O-LINKS,
BETTER KNOWN AS THE BOBBIES.

THE BOB-O-LINKS WAS ALMOST
LIKE A HIGH-SCHOOL SORORITY.

AND IT WAS VERY SNOBBISH,
VERY ELITE ORGANIZATION.

THEY WERE PICKED BECAUSE
THEY TENDED TO COME

FROM THE MOST AFFLUENT FAMILIES,
YOU KNOW, THE --

THE STARS OF THE SCHOOL,
THE MOST POPULAR KIDS.

ONE BOY SAID
ABOUT THE BOBBIES,

"IT'S A SOCIALITE GROUP.

IF YOU DON'T FIT
THE SOCIALITE MODEL,

YOU'RE NOT ASKED TO JOIN.

THE MAJORITY OF THE GIRLS
ARE PRETTY STUCK UP."

THE BOBBIES RAISE
MONEY FOR CHARITY.

BUT IT'S THE MEMBERS' WEALTH
THAT MAKES THEM STAND OUT.

IT WAS WHATEVER CAR YOU DROVE,
HOW YOU DRESSED,

HOW MUCH MONEY YOUR DAD MADE.

EVERYTHING WAS PRETTY
MATERIALISTIC.

WHEN YOU BELONG TO THE BOBBIES,
YOU'RE A PART OF THE IN CROWD.

BEFORE THE END
OF THE SCHOOL YEAR,

THE BOBBIES INITIATE
THEIR LATEST RECRUITS,

INCLUDING KIRSTEN
AND HER FRIENDS

LAUREN SHAY
AND BERNADETTE PROTTI.

ALL THESE GIRLS
WERE RECRUITED,

I GUESS, AS SOPHOMORES.

AND THEY WOULD START
IN THEIR JUNIOR YEAR.

THAT INVITATION
IS JUST STEP ONE.

NOW THE RECRUITS
ARE PUT TO THE REAL TEST.

THEY HAD SOME KIND OF UNUSUAL,
INITIATION RITES

THAT THE KIDS WERE ASKED TO RUB
MAYONNAISE OR EGGS

INTO THEIR HAIR

AND PUT ON THEIR
MOTHERS' OLDEST,

UGLIEST CLOTHES
AND THEN GO OUT,

YOU KNOW, TO THE CLOSEST
STOPLIGHT AND --

AND TRY TO SELL KISSES
FOR A DIME.

IF KIRSTEN AND
HER FRIENDS PASS THE TEST,

THEY'LL BE BOBBIES.

AND COME SEPTEMBER,
THEY'LL RULE THE SCHOOL.

BUT FOR THE NEW BOB-O-LINKS,

THE ACTIVITIES BEGIN
ALMOST TWO WEEKS

INTO SUMMER VACATION

WHEN CALLS GO OUT
FOR A SURPRISE EVENT.

KIRSTEN'S MOTHER
GOT A CALL

INVITING HER TO A DINNER

FOR THE INITIATION
OF THE BOB-O-LINKS.

AND APPARENTLY, SIMILAR CALLS
WERE MADE TO SEVERAL OTHER GIRLS

WHO HAD BEEN INVITED
TO THE BOBBIES.

KIRSTEN'S MOM,
BERIT COSTAS,

TAKES IT ALL DOWN.

SOMEONE WILL PICK
KIRSTEN UP ON SATURDAY.

IT WILL BE A DAY THE COSTAS
FAMILY NEVER FORGETS.

IT'S A QUIET SUMMER EVENING
ON ORCHARD STREET IN ORINDA.

ARTHUR HILLMAN
IS RELAXING AT HOME...

HERE, THE AERIAL CRIES
OF WINGED BEAUTY

CUT ACROSS THE PLAIN,

THE CRIES ANNOUNCING
THE MIGRATION

TO THEIR ANCESTRAL
BREEDING GROUNDS.

...UNTIL HE HEARS
SOMETHING BONE-CHILLING.

HE LOOKS OUT TO SEE
A HORRIFYING SIGHT.

IT'S HIS NEIGHBOR
KIRSTEN COSTAS.

ARTHUR CAME OUT
AND SAW THIS GIRL,

WHO HE KNEW,
VERY BADLY INJURED

AND TRIED TO ASSIST HER.

SHE HAS MULTIPLE
STAB WOUNDS.

HE CAN'T STOP THE BLEEDING.

ARTHUR HILLMAN
IS HOLDING ON TO HER.

SHE'S SERIOUSLY INJURED.

HE SEES A VOLVO PULL AWAY.

COULD THAT BE
HER ASSAILANT?

KIRSTEN IS TOO FAR GONE
TO ANSWER.

KIRSTEN, WHO WAS
BLEEDING PROFUSELY,

SHE COULDN'T SPEAK.

SHE WAS DYING.

KIRSTEN COSTAS COULD
BE HEARD SCREAMING FOR HELP

ON A DRIVEWAY ACROSS
FROM HER ORINDA HOME.

WHEN THE NEWS SPREAD
THAT THOSE SCREAMS

CAME JUST BEFORE HER DEATH,

FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS
WERE SHOCKED.

WHO WOULD BRUTALLY
STAB THIS YOUNG GIRL

IN THE SPRING OF HER LIFE?

WAS THIS A RANDOM ACT
OR SOMETHING MORE SINISTER?

THE ANSWER WILL TEAR APART
THE TOWN OF ORINDA.

THE WEALTHY ENCLAVE OF ORINDA,
CALIFORNIA, IN 1984

IS ISOLATED FROM CRIME
AND VIOLENCE...UNTIL NOW.

SOMEBODY HAD SNUFFED
OUT THE LIFE

OF THIS BEAUTIFUL, YOUNG GIRL.

STEPS AWAY FROM HER HOME,

15-YEAR-OLD
KIRSTEN COSTAS

HAS BEEN SAVAGELY STABBED
ON HER NEIGHBOR'S FRONT LAWN.

AS ARTHUR HILLMAN
HELD THE DYING GIRL,

HIS SON CALLED 911.

911, WHAT IS
YOUR EMERGENCY?

A GIRL.
MY NEIGHBOR.

SHE'S --
SHE'S BLEEDING.

PLEASE HURRY.

KIRSTEN'S PARENTS COME HOME

TO POLICE LIGHTS AND SIRENS.

THEY'RE WITH KIRSTEN
IN THE HOSPITAL WHEN SHE DIES.

THE COSTASES WERE
IN COMPLETE SHOCK.

IT WAS JUST TRAGIC
FOR THEM BEYOND MENTION.

I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE
THE FEELINGS THEY --

THEY WENT THROUGH.

WHAT'S THE JOB YOU HAVE
AT THAT LOCATION, JOE?

LAW ENFORCEMENT
SWARMS THE CRIME SCENE,

GATHERING EVIDENCE AND SEARCHING
FOR A MURDER WEAPON.

AS THE SHERIFF,
I WAS NOTIFIED.

AND ASSIGNED,
OUR HOMICIDE INVESTIGATORS

TO WORK ON IT IMMEDIATELY.

THEY START INTERVIEWING
THE WITNESSES IN DEPTH

AND TRYING TO GET AS
MUCH INFORMATION AS QUICKLY

AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN.

ARTHUR HILLMAN
IS THE NEIGHBOR

WHO FOUND KIRSTEN BLOODY
AND SCREAMING FOR HELP.

HE DIDN'T SEE THE ASSAILANT,

BUT HE SPOTTED
A CAR LEAVING THE SCENE.

HE IS GOING TO BE
THE MOST IMPORTANT WITNESS

AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME.

OBVIOUSLY, THEY'RE
GOING TO ASK HIM

EXACTLY WHAT HE HAD SAW,

A GOOD DESCRIPTION OF THE CAR,

SEE IF THEY GOT A LICENSE-PLATE
NUMBER ON THE CAR.

THAT'S WHEN
ARTHUR HILLMAN SEES IT,

THE SAME CAR PULLING UP.

WE HAVE
A SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE

THAT'S ARRIVED
AT THE SCENE.

POLICE WANT TO TALK
TO THE DRIVER.

HE INTRODUCES HIMSELF
AS ALEX ARNOLD.

ALEX ARNOLD,
WAS A GENTLEMAN

WHO LIVED IN MIRAGA,
WHICH IS A --

AN ADJACENT COMMUNITY TO ORINDA.

I'M SURE IT CROSSED
A NUMBER OF PEOPLE'S MIND --

"WAS THIS GUY INVOLVED?"

POLICE QUESTION ARNOLD.

AND HE'S GOT
AN INCREDIBLE STORY TO TELL.

HE WAS HOME ON THAT
PARTICULAR SATURDAY NIGHT.

AND HE HEARD
A KNOCK ON HIS DOOR.

HE OPENED THE DOOR.

AND HE WAS LOOKING AT THIS GIRL

WHO LOOKED VERY UPSET,
VERY SCARED.

HE SAID, "DO YOU NEED ANY HELP?"

AND SHE SAID, "YEAH."

IT'S KIRSTEN COSTAS.

SHE TELLS ARNOLD SHE HAD
BEEN OUT WITH A FRIEND.

BUT NOW SHE JUST WANTS
TO GET AWAY FROM HER.

KIRSTEN SAID THAT HER FRIEND
HAD GOTTEN WEIRD.

AND SHE ASKED TO USE A PHONE,

TRIED TO CALL HER PARENTS.

WHEN THEY DON'T ANSWER,

ARNOLD SAYS HE OFFERED
TO DRIVE KIRSTEN

TO ORINDA IN HIS VOLVO.

SHE SAID,
"I NEED A RIDE HOME."

AND HE AGREED TO DO THAT.

BUT ARNOLD TELLS
POLICE SOMETHING WAS OFF.

HE SAID THAT AS HE
BACKED OUT OF HIS DRIVEWAY,

HE NOTICED
A BATTERED FORD PINTO.

AND IT STARTED FOLLOWING THEM.

ARNOLD TELLS THE POLICE

HE ASKED KIRSTEN WHO IT WAS.

SHE TOLD HIM
NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT.

THE PINTO TAILED THEM
ALL THE WAY TO ORINDA.

WHEN ARNOLD PULLED UP
TO KIRSTEN'S HOUSE,

HER PARENTS STILL WEREN'T HOME.

SO KIRSTEN WALKED UP
TO THE NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE...

...AND WAS GONNA ASK THEM
TO TAKE HER IN.

THAT'S WHEN
ARNOLD SAW THE DRIVER

OF THE PINTO
RUN TOWARDS KIRSTEN.

HE DESCRIBED A TEENAGE GIRL.

SHE APPROACHED KIRSTEN.

AND KIRSTEN STARTED
YELLING AT HER TO GO AWAY,

"YOU'RE WEIRD."

AND THAT'S WHEN SHE WENT UP
TO HER AND BEGAN STABBING HER.

AND THAT GIRL GOT IN HER FORD
AND DROVE SOMEWHERE.

ARNOLD TELLS THE POLICE

THE REASON HE LEFT SO QUICKLY

WAS TO PURSUE THE ATTACKER.

IT WAS LIKE A --
A SCENE OUT OF A HORROR MOVIE.

HE TRIED TO FOLLOW HER
FOR A WHILE...

...BUT APPARENTLY LOST HER.

SO HE DECIDED
THAT HE NEEDED TO GO BACK

AND TRY TO ASSIST KIRSTEN.

IT'S A FANTASTIC TALE.

POLICE ARE SKEPTICAL.

ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS

THAT THE HOMICIDE INVESTIGATORS
WOULD LOOK AT IS,

"IS THIS A WITNESS
OR IS THIS A SUSPECT?"

THAT WAS KEY.

IT'S GOING TO BE
A LONG NIGHT

FOR THE INVESTIGATORS.

AT 2:00 A. M.,

THEY INTERVIEW HER
GRIEF-STRICKEN PARENTS.

HER MOTHER SAID
SHE HAD GOT A CALL,

INVITING KIRSTEN TO A DINNER

FOR THE INITIATION
OF THE BOB-O-LINKS.

BUT IT'S REAL IMPORTANT
THAT SHE DOESN'T TELL ANYBODY.

IT'S A BIG SURPRISE.

BUT WHEN INVESTIGATORS

CALL OTHER MEMBERS
OF THE BOBBIES,

THEY GET A SHOCK.

THERE WAS NO DINNER
FOR THE BOBBIES THAT NIGHT.

THE CALL WAS A PHONY.

THE COPS BELIEVE
THAT WHOEVER MADE THAT CALL

SET KIRSTEN UP.

THE CALL INVITING KIRSTEN

TO THE INITIATION DINNER,
CAME FROM A FEMALE.

COULD I LEAVE
A MESSAGE?

AND SHE KNEW ENOUGH
ABOUT KIRSTEN

TO USE THE BOBBIES AS A LURE.

THE BOBBIES
ARE HAVING...

POLICE NEED TO FIND
WHOEVER MADE THAT CALL.

IN THE DAYS BEFORE
COMPUTERIZED SWITCHBOARDS,

TRACING IT IS NOT AN OPTION.

MEANWHILE, THEY'VE
CLEARED ALEX ARNOLD.

THERE WERE A BUNCH
OF FRIENDS AT HIS HOUSE.

HE WAS PLAYING BRIDGE

OR SOME SORT OF CARD
GAME THAT NIGHT.

SO HE HAD PEOPLE THERE
WHO COULD CORROBORATE HIS STORY.

NOW HE'S
INVESTIGATORS' ONLY EYEWITNESS.

HE GAVE A DESCRIPTION
OF THE SUSPECT --

A CHUNKY GIRL WITH STRINGY,
BLONDE HAIR

DRIVING A BEAT-UP, YELLOW
OR MUSTARD-COLORED PINTO.

A BLONDE GIRL
IN A CALIFORNIA TOWN.

THAT DOESN'T NARROW THEIR LIST
OF SUSPECTS BY MUCH

OR ANSWER
THEIR PRIMARY QUESTION --

"WHO PICKED HER UP THAT NIGHT?"

KIRSTEN AND HER FRIEND,
WHERE DID THEY GO?

WHAT DID THEY
DO THAT NIGHT?

OUR HOMICIDE INVESTIGATORS
IMMEDIATELY STARTED TALKING

TO AS MANY PEOPLE
AS THEY POSSIBLY COULD.

POLICE HAVE ONE SOLID
LEAD -- THE FORD PINTO.

HE SAW THE DESCRIPTION
OF THE CAR

BUT DIDN'T HAVE A LICENSE PLATE.

THEY HAVE
TO CALL OR VISIT

EVERY VEHICLE ON THE LIST

SO THAT THEY CAN CHECK THEM
OFF AND SAY, "YES.

THAT IS A POSSIBILITY,"
OR "NO. IT ISN'T."

THEY'D FOUND OUT THERE WERE,
LIKE, 500 OF 'EM

OR SOMETHING IN THE AREA.

IT WAS CRAZY.

ORINDA WOKE UP
TO TRAGEDY TODAY.

THE MORNING AFTER
THE MURDER, THE NEWS BREAKS.

KIRSTEN COSTAS COULD
BE HEARD SCREAMING FOR HELP

ON A DRIVEWAY ACROSS
FROM HER ORINDA HOME.

WHEN THE NEWS SPREAD
THAT THOSE SCREAMS

CAME JUST BEFORE HER DEATH,

FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS
WERE SHOCKED.

AND IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM
LIKE IT WOULD HAPPEN TO US.

IT SEEMS LIKE IT'D HAPPEN
TO SOMEBODY ELSE.

JOURNALIST
JACK CHEEVERS COVERED THE CASE

FOR THE "OAKLAND TRIBUNE."

IT WAS A SENSATIONAL CRIME

IN A PLACE WHERE
THOSE KIND OF CRIMES

JUST NEVER HAPPENED.

PEOPLE IN ORINDA
WERE TERRIFIED.

THERE'S A KILLER
LOOSE OUT THERE.

IN THE ORINDA COMMUNITY,

THEY KNOW ONE THING --

IT COULDN'T BE ONE OF THEM.

PRINCIPAL BRAN YAICH SAYS

IT'S UNLIKELY THE CLEAN-CUT GIRL
HAD ANY DOUBLE LIFE

THAT WOULD GET HER
IN TROUBLE.

WAS SEEN WITH
THOSE KIDS IN SCHOOL

WHO WERE GENERALLY THOUGHT OF
AS BEING THE TOP KIDS IN SCHOOL.

THE PERSON WHO HAD DONE IT

MUST HAVE BEEN SOMEONE
OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL.

BUT INVESTIGATORS
ARE LOOKING CLOSER TO HOME.

POLICE INTERVIEWED ABOUT
A HUNDRED GIRLS AT MIRAMONTE.

THEY START WITH
THE GIRLS BELIEVED

TO BE IN HER INNER CIRCLE.

ONE BY ONE, THEY ASK
ABOUT THEIR WHEREABOUTS

DURING THE MURDER
AND LOOK FOR ANY MOTIVE.

BERNADETTE
DIDN'T MAKE CHEERLEADING.

WAS SHE JEALOUS?

ASHLEY AND KIRSTEN WOULD
CRANK-CALL LESS POPULAR KIDS.

DID SOMETHING HAPPEN?

DID LAUREN AND KIRSTEN
FIGHT ABOUT SWIM TEAM?

LAUREN SAYS NO.

BUT ANOTHER BOBBIE
HAS HER OWN THEORY.

KAREN BORIS ACTUALLY SAID

THAT KIRSTEN
HAD BEEN ATTACKED

BECAUSE SHE SYMBOLIZED
THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY

AND ALL THE THINGS
IT STOOD FOR.

COULD A CLASSMATE ALIENATED

BY THE POPULAR GIRLS
BE BEHIND THIS?

I ABSOLUTELY THINK

THAT THERE WAS JEALOUSY
AROUND THE BOBBIES.

I MEAN, WHY WOULDN'T THERE BE?

HIGH SCHOOL IS A BREEDING
GROUND FOR INSECURITY.

ONE WEEK LATER,
POLICE HAVE FEW LEADS.

IT TAKES SO MUCH TIME
AND SO MUCH WORK.

YOU'RE LOOKING FOR ANYTHING

THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE
MISSED THE FIRST TIME.

THEY DEVELOPED A NUMBER
OF "SUSPECTS"...

...MANY OF WHICH
THEY POLYGRAPHED.

NONE OF THE LEADS PAN OUT.

BUT AS THE POLICE
DIG DEEPER,

SOME GIRLS PRESENT
A DIFFERENT PICTURE

OF THE POPULAR CHEERLEADER.

SHE WAS JUST VERY OUTSPOKEN.

AND SHE KIND OF TOLD IT
LIKE IT WAS, IN HER OWN WAY.

I CAN REMEMBER HER JUST BEING,

LIKE, DENIGRATING,
VERY DISMISSIVE.

SHE COULD BE MEAN, DEFINITELY.

I THINK SHE COULD
BE CONDESCENDING.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS ALWAYS
TALKING BEHIND YOUR BACK,

TALKING ABOUT YOU WHEN
YOU'RE WALKING IN THE HALL.

IT WAS ALWAYS IN A LOOK.

BUT THOSE LOOKS...ARE KILLERS.

MAYBE SOMEONE DIDN'T
HAVE IT OUT FOR ALL THE BOBBIES.

MAYBE IT WAS JUST KIRSTEN.

HER CLASSMATES
START TO THINK

SOMEONE HATED HER
ENOUGH TO KILL HER,

SOMEONE THEY KNOW.

SOMEBODY THAT WOULDN'T
BE POPULAR.

WHO WERE THE KIDS IN SCHOOL
THAT NOBODY LIKES?

THEY'D ZERO IN ON THESE GIRLS

AND DECIDED ONE OF THEM
WAS THE KILLER.

ONE NAME KEEPS COMING UP.

SHE HAD HER HAIR
WHITE AND BLACK.

AND IT WAS SHORT,
KIND OF PUNK.

AND SHE WORE BLACK A LOT.

NANCY KANE.

I HAD MADE IT CLEAR THAT
I DIDN'T LIKE KIRSTEN.

"I DON'T LIKE
ANY OF YOUR FRIENDS.

I DON'T LIKE
WHAT YOU STAND FOR."

I WAS ANGRY
AT WHAT SHE REPRESENTED.

KIRSTEN COSTAS,

A TEENAGE CHEERLEADER
FROM ORINDA, CALIFORNIA,

HAS BEEN BRUTALLY MURDERED.

AFTER MONTHS,
POLICE HAVEN'T MADE AN ARREST.

INVESTIGATORS WERE PURSUING

HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF LEADS,

BUT THEY JUST WEREN'T
COMING UP WITH THE KILLER.

BUT THE COMMUNITY
IS CONVINCED

THEY KNOW WHO THE KILLER IS --

THE HIGH SCHOOL REBEL
NAMED NANCY KANE.

I DIDN'T WANT TO BE
THE SAME AS EVERYBODY ELSE.

TO ME, IT BECAME VERY BORING.

I DRESSED A LOT DIFFERENTLY
THAN EVERYBODY ELSE.

I COLORED MY HAIR.
I WORE A LOT OF BLACK.

I HAD A LOT OF EYE MAKEUP.

I DEFINITELY DID NOT WEAR
THE JEANS

AND BUTTON-DOWN SHIRT
AND TOPSIDERS.

I SMOKED A LOT OF POT,
DRANK A LOT OF BOOZE.

I WAS A REBELLIOUS TEENAGER
THAT WAS LOOKING FOR TROUBLE.

IT HADN'T ALWAYS BEEN THAT WAY.

FRESHMAN YEAR,
I WAS ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW,

A BIG PART
OF THAT POPULAR CROWD.

I MET KIRSTEN IN MIDDLE SCHOOL.
WE WENT TO DANCES.

WE DID SPORTS TOGETHER.

BERNADETTE AND I ATTENDED
THE SAME CATHOLIC CHURCH.

SO WE HAD CCD TOGETHER
EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT

AND LEARNED ABOUT BEING
A CATHOLIC.

WE ALL KIND OF HUNG OUT
WITH EACH OTHER

AND NOT ANYBODY ELSE.

IT WASN'T UNTIL HIGH SCHOOL
THAT OUR RELATIONSHIP CHANGED.

BY THE TIME
SOPHOMORE YEAR BEGINS,

NANCY'S SICK TO DEATH
OF THE CORE GROUP.

I STARTED TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THEM

AND TALK ABOUT
HOW LAME THEY WERE.

LIKE, "WHY WOULD YOU
WANT TO BE THAT WAY?"

ONE PERSON SYMBOLIZES

EVERYTHING THAT NANCY
NOW REJECTS --

KIRSTEN COSTAS.

AND I REMEMBER
LOOKING AT HER CURLY HAIR

AND BEING ANGRY AT HER

AND JUST BEING ANGRY
AT WHAT SHE REPRESENTED.

AND I WROTE IN MY NOTEBOOK...

..."I WANT TO SEE
HER BLOOD DRIP."

"DRIP, DRIP, DRIP."

POLICE HAVE PICKED UP
ON THE COMMUNITY CHATTER.

NANCY, MIND IF WE ASK
YOU A FEW QUESTIONS?

POLICE ASKED ME WHAT
I DID THAT PARTICULAR NIGHT.

I TOLD THEM I WENT
TO SEE "GHOSTBUSTERS."

THEY ASKED MY PARENTS
IF I COULD TAKE A LIE DETECTOR.

AND MY PARENTS SAID "NO."

THERE'S NO REASON FOR ME TO.

IF THEY REFUSE TO TAKE
A LIE-DETECTOR TEST,

YOU ALWAYS WONDER WHY.

THE INVESTIGATORS FELT
SHE WAS A KEY SUSPECT.

THEY'RE CONVINCED
NANCY KANE IS HIDING SOMETHING.

ENJOY YOUR DAY.

AND SHE IS.

I LIED TO THE POLICE.

I WASN'T AT A MOVIE.

WHILE RUMORS
ABOUT NANCY SWIRL,

KIRSTEN'S BEREAVED
PARENTS, ART AND BERIT,

CAN'T SHAKE A NAGGING SUSPICION

THAT THE LACK OF PROGRESS,

ALONG WITH RUMORS,
MEAN ONE THING --

GIRLS AT SCHOOL,
LIKE NANCY KANE,

KNOW MORE THAN
THEY'RE LETTING ON.

A FEW DAYS BEFORE SCHOOL
STARTS IN SEPTEMBER,

THEY HOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE.

TODAY, ART AND BERIT COSTAS

TALK TO THE PRESS
FOR THE FIRST TIME

SINCE THEIR DAUGHTER,
KIRSTEN, WAS MURDERED,

THEIR DECISION TO BE INTERVIEWED

BASED PARTLY ON FRUSTRATION.

IT'S TIME THAT WE GOT AN ANSWER

AS TO WHY THIS PERSON
OR PERSONS NEEDED

TO DO THIS TO KIRSTEN.

ART COSTAS SAYS
HIS DECISION IS BASED ON FEAR

BECAUSE THERE'S
A KILLER STILL LOOSE.

THE KILLER OR --
OR PEOPLE WHO WERE INVOLVED

IN THIS WHOLE SCHEME

COULD VERY WELL BE,
ENROLLING IN CLASS.

HE MENTIONS NO NAMES.

BUT SOME IN TOWN BELIEVE

THEY KNOW
WHO HE'S TALKING ABOUT.

ALL EYES ARE ON NANCY KANE NOW.

FOR HER CLASSMATES,

ALL THE PROOF THEY NEED COMES
ON SEPTEMBER 4, 1984,

THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.

NANCY ISN'T THERE.

YEAH.
IT WAS OBVIOUS.

"SHE MUST BE GUILTY."

WHAT THE COMMUNITY
DOESN'T KNOW IS THAT THE POLICE

HAVE ALREADY GOTTEN
A CONFESSION FROM NANCY KANE.

BUT IT'S NOT ABOUT THE MURDER.

I WENT BACK TO THE POLICE
AND SAID, "WAIT A MINUTE.

I DIDN'T TELL YOU THE TRUTH.

I WASN'T AT A MOVIE."

NANCY LIED SO HER
PARENTS WOULDN'T FIND OUT

WHERE SHE WAS THAT NIGHT.

I HAD BEEN WITH MY
CURRENT BOYFRIEND, AT HIS HOUSE.

AND WE WERE JUST HANGING OUT.

POLICE ARE STUNNED
BY HER TWISTED TEENAGE LOGIC.

BUT SURE ENOUGH,
HER STORY CHECKS OUT.

NANCY IS CLEARED.

THE ONLY THING I WAS EVER GUILTY
OF WAS BEING DIFFERENT.

THE INVESTIGATION
HAS HIT ANOTHER WALL.

AT THIS POINT, THEY HAD SORTED
THROUGH ABOUT A THOUSAND LEADS.

THEY INTERVIEWED
ABOUT 300 WITNESSES.

NOTHING REALLY PANNED OUT.

SHERIFF RAINEY HAS NO CHOICE

BUT TO REACH OUT
FOR HELP...FROM THE FBI.

BOB GAST IS ASSIGNED
TO TACKLE THE CASE.

I WAS SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE

OF THE SAN FRANCISCO
OFFICE OF THE FBI.

SHERIFF RAINEY CALLED ME
AND SAID,

"CAN YOU GIVE US
A HAND ON THIS THING?"

I SAID, "SURE.
WE'LL DO WHAT WE CAN."

AGENT GAST HAS AN IDEA,

A CRIME-SOLVING METHOD

THAT'S JUST GAINING TRACTION
IN THE 1980s.

I DECIDED TO ASK
OUR CRIME UNIT AT QUANTICO

TO DO A CRIMINAL PROFILE
OF THE CASE.

THAT WAS
A FAIRLY NEW PHENOMENON

IN THE EARLY '80s, THIS --

THIS, CONCEPT
OF PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILING.

THE FBI DEVELOPED THE PROFILES

BY HAVING THEIR AGENTS
ACTUALLY GO INTO PRISONS

AND INTERVIEW,

CONVICTED KILLERS
ABOUT THEIR CHILDHOOD,

THEIR PERSONALITY.

THE WEAPON USED IS
ALWAYS VERY IMPORTANT

BECAUSE USE OF A KNIFE INDICATES

A GREAT DEAL OF ANGER.

AND IT'S QUITE A BIT DIFFERENCE,
FROM A PSYCHOLOGICAL STANDPOINT,

THAN SHOOTING SOMEBODY.

SO THAT TELLS THEM SOMETHING.

THE REPORT TAKES THREE MONTHS.

WHEN IT ARRIVES,

IT APPEARS TO POINT
THE HOMICIDE TEAM

RIGHT TO THE KILLER.

AND IT'S THE LAST PERSON
ANYONE EVER IMAGINED.

FOR SIX MONTHS,

WHOEVER STABBED 15-YEAR-OLD
KIRSTEN COSTAS

HAS GOTTEN AWAY
WITH MURDER.

NOW POLICE HAVE A NEW WEAPON
IN THEIR ARSENAL --

THE FBI'S PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE
OF KIRSTEN'S KILLER.

IT WAS ABOUT 14 PAGES LONG.

IT WAS VERY DETAILED.

AND THEY ANALYZED
ALL THE INFORMATION

AND TRIED TO MATCH IT AGAINST
VARIOUS CRIMINAL PROFILES

THAT THEY HAD IN THEIR DATABASE
OF CONVICTED KILLERS.

THEY SAID THAT THE PERPETRATOR

WOULD COME FROM A FAMILY
WITH SIX CHILDREN,

A CATHOLIC FAMILY.

AND THE CRIME HAD PROBABLY
BEEN COMMITTED

BY A FRIEND OF THE VICTIM.

INVESTIGATORS TURN BACK

TO THEIR LIST
OF KIRSTEN'S FRIENDS,

CHECKING ONE GIRL AFTER ANOTHER
AGAINST THE FBI DESCRIPTION.

ONE NAME MATCHES.

THEY ALL SAID,
"THIS IS BERNADETTE PROTTI."

BERNADETTE PROTTI IS
A TYPICAL HIGH SCHOOL KID.

SHE'S 15 YEARS OLD.

SHE COMES FROM A LARGE FAMILY,
UPPER-MIDDLE CLASS HOME.

THEY -- THEIR HOUSE
IS NEAR THE ORINDA COUNTRY CLUB.

HER DAD IS AN ENGINEER.

BOTH OF HER PARENTS
WERE RELIGIOUS.

TO ORINDA,

THE FBI'S INTEREST
IN PROTTI MAKES NO SENSE.

I KNOW THAT BERNADETTE
WOULD NEVER DO THAT.

BERNADETTE AND KIRSTEN
WERE FRIENDS.

THEY BOTH WENT
TO THE SAME SCHOOL.

THEY WERE THE SAME AGE.
SO THEY'RE IN THE SAME CLASS.

THEY WERE BOTH BEING
RECRUITED INTO THE BOBBIES.

BERNADETTE FIT IN.
SHE WAS SMART AND KIND,

MILD-MANNERED
AND NONTHREATENING.

SHE WENT TO THE FUNERAL
AND WENT BACK TO MIRAMONTE

AND STAYED IN THE BOBBIES

AND MOURNED ALONG
WITH ALL THE OTHER KIDS

THAT WERE MOURNING.

THE POLICE
HAVE THEIR OWN DOUBTS.

BERNADETTE HAS BEEN
THE MODEL OF COOPERATION

WITH INVESTIGATORS.

SHE NEVER SHOWED
ANY EMOTION.

SHE WAS COOL AND COLLECTED.

AND SHE HAS A SOLID ALIBI.

AT THE TIME OF THE MURDER,
SHE WAS BABYSITTING.

SHE EVEN PASSED
A LIE-DETECTOR TEST.

THE INVESTIGATORS FELT,
IN TALKING TO HER,

THAT THIS IS A YOUNG WOMAN
WHO'S STRAIGHTFORWARD

ABOUT HER ANSWERS
TO THE QUESTIONS.

SHE CAME ACROSS AS TRUTHFUL.

THEY DISMISSED HER
AS A SUSPECT.

BUT THERE'S NO DENYING
THE FBI PROFILE POINTS TO HER.

THE POLICE HAVE
TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK.

AND WHEN THEY VISIT
THE PROTTI HOME,

THEY FIND A SURPRISE
IN THE GARAGE.

THE FAMILY HAD A CAR
THAT MATCHED THE DESCRIPTION.

A YELLOW PINTO.

BUT THERE'S A HITCH.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER
WAS SHE NEVER DROVE THE PINTO.

I DON'T THINK SHE HAD
A DRIVER'S LICENSE.

BASED
ON BERNADETTE'S COOPERATION

AND HER POLYGRAPH RESULTS,

THE INVESTIGATORS HADN'T YET
BOTHERED TO CONFIRM HER ALIBI.

BUT NOW, THEY CHECK
AND GET A SHOCK.

THE FAMILY SHE CLAIMED
TO BE BABYSITTING FOR

HADN'T ACTUALLY
USED HER SERVICES FOR A YEAR.

THEY CALLED HER IN
FOR A FIFTH INTERVIEW.

AND THERE WAS AN FBI
AGENT THERE WHO,

APPARENTLY,
WAS THE LEAD INTERVIEWER.

AND HE GRILLED HER AND GRILLED
HER AND GRILLED HER.

BERNADETTE MAY HAVE
LIED ABOUT HER ALIBI.

BUT THE POLICE DON'T HAVE
ANY PHYSICAL EVIDENCE

TYING HER TO THE MURDER.

AND THEY HAVE NO MOTIVE.

TO PROVE SHE DID IT,
THEY'LL NEED A CONFESSION.

THIS WAS A HORRIBLE,
BLOODY CRIME.

AND THEY THOUGHT THE KID
WOULD BREAK DOWN AND --

AND CRY AND SHOW SOME
KIND OF EMOTIONAL REACTION.

AND SHE WAS COOL
AND COLLECTED.

THEN SHE'S SHOWN
THE FBI PROFILE.

TAKE A LOOK INSIDE.

HE SAID, "YEAH.
THIS PROFILE REALLY FITS YOU."

AND SHE SAID, "WELL,
DO YOU THINK I DID IT?"

AND HE SAID, "YEAH. I THINK --
I THINK YOU DID."

BERNADETTE DENIES IT.

SOUNDS LIKE ME, BUT...

THEY GRILLED HER AND GRILLED
HER AND GRILLED HER.

AND SHE MAINTAINED
HER INNOCENCE.

- NO.
- THERE WERE NO ADMISSIONS.

SUPPOSED TO BE
HER FRIEND...

THEY HAD SORT OF
COME TO A DEAD END.

BUT A COUPLE DAYS LATER,

BERNADETTE WROTE A LETTER
TO HER PARENTS.

AND SHE TOLD HER MOM, YOU KNOW,
I -- I JUST WROTE YOU A LETTER.

I DON'T WANT YOU TO READ IT
FOR 30 MINUTES.

AND THEN SHE LEFT THE HOUSE.

AND HER MOM SET A TIMER...

...AND READ IT EXACTLY
30 MINUTES LATER...

...AND WAS HORRIFIED.

BERNADETTE PROTTI HAS A SECRET

SHE'S BEEN HIDING
FOR SIX MONTHS.

TAKE A LOOK.

NOW, AFTER
A GRUELING INTERROGATION,

SHE LEAVES A NOTE
FOR HER MOTHER.

IT SAYS, "THE FBI MAN
THINKS I DID IT.

AND HE IS RIGHT."

HER PARENTS
IMMEDIATELY DROVE HER

TO THE SHERIFF'S
DEPARTMENT IN MARTINEZ.

AND SHE FINALLY
DID CONFESS.

AND SHE FINALLY
SHOWED SOME EMOTION.

SHE FINALLY BROKE DOWN
AND CRIED AT THAT POINT.

BERNADETTE PROTTI IS CHARGED

WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.

THE WAIT IS NOW OVER
FOR THE PARENTS OF THIS GIRL.

TODAY, ART AND BERIT COSTAS

SAID THEY WERE RELIEVED
THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT

HAD FINALLY ARRESTED SOMEONE

FOR THE MURDER OF THEIR
15-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER.

IT FEELS LIKE A THOUSAND POUNDS
OF,

FRUSTRATIONS HAVE BEEN
ELIMINATED FROM US.

ORINDA AND THE HIGH
SCHOOL BOB-O-LINKS CLUB

ARE STILL STRUGGLING
TO UNDERSTAND.

WHEN WE FOUND OUT
IT WAS BERNADETTE,

THERE WAS JUST A LOT OF SHOCK.

THERE WAS A LOT OF SHOCK.

BERNADETTE WAS JUST
A REGULAR STUDENT IN SCHOOL.

AND THERE WAS NOTHING
IN HER BEHAVIOR

THAT WOULD HAVE LED ANYBODY,
DURING THOSE SIX MONTHS,

TO THINK THAT
SHE MIGHT HAVE DONE IT.

THREE MONTHS LATER,
THE TRIAL BEGINS.

MANY FELT IT HAD
CLASSIC STORY MATERIAL.

MURDER AND JUSTICE

WITH ADOLESCENT PASSIONS
AND FEELINGS AND PRESSURES.

AND IT DEALS
WITH THE COMMUNITY,

HOW A COMMUNITY RESPONDED.

NOW THAT COMMUNITY

WILL CONFRONT THE UNTHINKABLE
QUESTION --

WHETHER ONE OF THEIR OWN

COULD BE GUILTY
OF MURDER AND WHY.

IN AN OVERFLOWING
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY COURTROOM,

THE PARENTS OF KIRSTEN COSTAS

ARE FORCED TO LISTEN AGAIN

TO THE DETAILS
OF THE DAUGHTER'S DEATH.

BERNADETTE
ADMITTED TO POLICE

SHE'S THE ONE WHO LURED KIRSTEN
OUT OF THE HOUSE

WITH THAT PHONE CALL,

THE FAKE INVITATION
TO A DINNER FOR THE BOBBIES.

BUT IT'S REAL IMPORTANT THAT
SHE DOESN'T TELL ANYBODY.

IT'S A BIG SURPRISE.

ON THE NIGHT OF THE MURDER,

BERNADETTE PROTTI
PICKED UP KIRSTEN AT HER HOUSE.

AND, THEY DROVE ONE TOWN
OVER FROM ORINDA.

AND THEY SAT THERE TALKING.

THE DETAILS
OF THAT CONVERSATION EMERGED

FROM THE SHOCKING CONFESSION
BERNADETTE MADE TO POLICE.

BECAUSE SHE'S A MINOR,

THE RECORDINGS ARE BARRED
FROM THE MEDIA.

BUT REPORTER JACK CHEEVERS
TRANSCRIBED THEM.

WHEN HER TAPE WAS PLAYED

IN THE COURTROOM,
THERE WAS A --

A HUSH THAT FELL
OVER THE PEOPLE THERE.

I HAD A LOT
OF INFERIORITY FEELINGS

AND REALLY BAD FEELINGS
ABOUT MYSELF.

BERNADETTE WAS PART
OF THE POPULAR CLIQUE,

BUT SHE DIDN'T SEE IT.

AND HER SELF-ESTEEM WAS RIDING
ON KIRSTEN'S APPROVAL.

I JUST THOUGHT, YOU
KNOW, IT WOULD BE OKAY

IF WE WERE FRIENDS.

I LOST FOR CHEERLEADER.

AND I DIDN'T GET
ON THE YEARBOOK STAFF.

ALL THAT STUFF, SHE JUST SEEMED
TO SORT OF REPRESENT IT, LIKE,

LOSING AT THINGS
OR LOOKS OR MONEY

OR POPULARITY OR THINGS
THAT ARE STUPID.

BERNADETTE SAYS SOON
AFTER SHE PICKED KIRSTEN UP,

THEY GOT INTO AN ARGUMENT.

KIRSTEN JUMPED OUT
OF THE CAR AND SAID,

"YOU'RE REALLY WEIRD.

I'M OUT OF HERE."

THAT'S WHEN KIRSTEN
KNOCKED ON ALEX ARNOLD'S DOOR

TO ASK FOR HELP.

WHEN KIRSTEN GOT THAT
RIDE HOME WITH HIM,

BERNADETTE PANICKED
AND FOLLOWED.

I WAS AFRAID
SHE WAS GONNA TELL EVERYBODY

I WAS REALLY WEIRD.

AND I THOUGHT,
"MY GOD.

EVERYTHING'S GONE WRONG.
SHE'S GONNA TELL EVERYBODY."

BERNADETTE DESPERATELY
NEEDED TO HEAD KIRSTEN OFF.

AND SHE CAME PREPARED
FOR A CONFRONTATION.

BERNADETTE HAD TAKEN
A KNIFE WITH HER,

A 12-INCH KITCHEN KNIFE.

BUT SHE INSISTS
THERE WAS NO PREMEDITATION.

DURING THE TRIAL,
ONE OF HER SISTERS TESTIFIED

THAT SHE MIGHT HAVE
LEFT IT IN THE CAR.

SHE TRAVELED
QUITE A BIT ON HER JOB.

AND SHE SAID THAT SHE'D USED
THIS 12-INCH KITCHEN KNIFE

TO PEEL FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
FOR HER LUNCH

WHILE SHE WAS ON THE ROAD.

I JUST GOT OUT OF THE CAR,

AND SHE STARTED TELLING ME
TO GO AWAY.

AND I JUST GOT ANGRY.
AND I DID IT.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT
I WAS DOING, REALLY.

AND I RAN.
AND I GOT IN THE CAR.

AND I JUST THREW
THE KNIFE IN THE BACK.

AND I JUST DRIVE AWAY.

AND I WENT HOME
AS FAST AS I COULD.

I REMEMBER THAT HER ENTIRE
FAMILY WAS CRYING,

HER PARENTS, HER THREE SISTERS,
HER BROTHER AND HER.

ALL OF THEM WERE IN TEARS.

NOBODY ELSE FROM ORINDA,
IN THE COURTROOM,

WAS SHOWING ANY KIND
OF EMOTION LIKE THAT.

CLEARLY, THERE WAS
A LOT OF ANGER

AND RESENTMENT
AND HOSTILITY TOWARD HER

IN THAT COURTROOM THAT DAY.

AFTER THREE DAYS
OF TESTIMONY,

THE JUDGE FINDS
BERNADETTE PROTTI GUILTY

OF SECOND-DEGREE MURDER.

SO SHE WAS 16 AT THE TIME.

THE MAXIMUM SENTENCE
WAS 9 YEARS.

SHE ACTUALLY SERVED JUST
A LITTLE MORE THAN 7 YEARS.

IN 1994, 10 YEARS
AFTER KIRSTEN'S MURDER...

WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN
REALLY NICE TALKING TO YOU.

...HER STORY BECAME THE BASIS
OF A MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE

CALLED "DEATH OF A CHEERLEADER."

I LOOK BACK NOW.
AND I JUST THINK, "WHAT?

HOW DID THAT ALL HAPPEN?

YOU KNOW, HOW -- WHERE --
WHAT..."

IT'S CRAZY.
ONE GIRL DIED.

ONE GIRL WENT TO JAIL
FOR SEVEN YEARS.

IN THE 1980s,
IN A TOWN LIKE ORINDA,

TEENAGERS WOULD GIVE
ANYTHING TO FIT IN.

KIRSTEN COSTAS
GAVE HER LIFE.