Bernadette Protti is an American woman who murdered 15 year old Kirsten Costas as a teenager.
Bernadette was born on September 20, 1967 to Elaine and Raymond Protti. She had several older sisters, including Virginia Protti (who later became known as Virginia Varela). Bernadette’s family were devoutly Catholic and she was raised by a loving family. Though Bernadette’s family was Middle-Class, she was jealous of her wealthier friends, including Kirsten Costas. Bernadette and Kirsten knew each other as they were part of a Clique called the Bobettes, however Kirsten did not regard Bernadette as a friend and the pair were not close. Both girls were very popular, though Bernadette was insecure and felt like she was not well-liked. On a Ski-trip, Bernadette had a good time, however she had with her an old pair of ski’s, unlike the other girls expensive ones. Kirsten made a comment about it, which humiliated Bernadette and upset her. Bernadette had hoped to become a member of the Yearbook Committee but was not chosen. She also tried out for Cheerleading but didn’t make the Squad. Kirsten however did. Bernadette believed that she could become more popular (she believed that she wasn’t popular) if she became best friends with Kirsten Costas.
While Kirsten was away at Cheerleading camp, Bernadette anonymously called Kirsten’s mother to tell her that a dinner was organised for the Bobbies. On June 23, Kirsten met Bernadette in Bernadette’s family Pinto. Bernadette had been dropped off by her father, and asked him to let her keep the car for the night because she was meant to be babysitting and felt safer with a car on the drive. Though she only had a Learner’s Permit, her father allowed her to keep it and let her drive home. Kirsten was surprised to see that Bernadette was the one picking her up, expecting it to be one of her close friends. Bernadette confessed to Kirsten quickly that there was no dinner with the Bobbies but that she had instead been invited to a party being held by an older boy. Kirsten agreed to go to the party with her, however decided to smoke some Marijuana first. Bernadette asked her not to smoke in the car because her parents might smell it. This angered Kirsten, and the girls quarrelled. Kirsten called Bernadette weird and got out of the car. Bernadette followed Kirsten to a house, where Kirsten asked a couple named Alex and Mary Jane Arnold to use their telephone. Kirsten tried to call her parents, but remembered that they were out with her younger brother Peter doing something with his Baseball team. Kirsten said that she would walk home, however she was offered a lift home by Alex Arnold. As they were driving, Arthur noticed that the Pinto was following him. Kirsten assured him not to worry.
Kirsten was dropped off home by Mr Arnold. He watched her go in, but noticed a Blonde girl following her to her doorstep. As Kirsten got out her keys, Bernadette (panicking about what Kirsten would say about her) stabbed Kirsten with a butcher knife out of fear. Mr Arnold believed he was watching a fist fight, but when he saw the blood he went after Bernadette who had got in her Pinto. Kirsten went to her neighbours, her called an Ambulance, however she died at a nearby hospital soon after.
The crime went unsolved for 6 months. All of the Bobbies were questioned and Bernadette seemed normal, passing a lie detector test and claiming to have been babysitting won the night of the murder. Originally, it was believed that a goth girl named Nancy Kane (a girl Kirsten had allegedly bullied) was the culprit. Her parents refused to let her do a lie detector test and her alibi was proven false. Nancy claimed she was out watching a movie on the night of the murder, but was really meeting her boyfriend. Bernadette’s alibi was proven false and, consumed by guilt, she wrote a letter to her parents before leaving the family home and surrendering herself to the police. In the police station, she confessed and agrees to plead guilty for the murder of Kirsten. Bernadette claimed that she found the knife by chance and had not intended to kill Kirsten that night, but merely befriend her. She said that her older sister, Virginia, was a Vegetarian and kept knives in the car to chop vegetables which Virginia confirmed.
At the trial, Bernadette apologised to Kirsten’s family for what she did. Bernadette was sentenced to 9 years in prison. Bernadette was paroled after 7 years and Kirsten’s family criticised the parole heavily. Bernadette changed her name to "Jeanette Tomanka" and hoped for a fresh start. Today, she has moved to the town of Oklahoma and now works as a nurse. She is married and has children. She also runs a Blog. Her sister Virginia is now the CEO of a company. Kirsten’s family now live in Hawaii.
