My interview with Nancy Kane Mark

Let me start off by saying, Nancy is truly an amazing woman and soul. I reached out to her several days ago. And ever since any questions I've had for her she answered them. So thank you Nancy for giving all of us who have followed this case some answers we have been wanting to know. 

So for starters here is how Nancy describes her look at the time: "Just to set the record straight, I was not goth, I was new wave. I liked Madonna, culture club, flock of seagulls, duran duran etc bands like that. "

Do you feel like the atmosphere at Miramonte was cruel and very competitive? 

I wouldn't call Miramonte cruel but it was hard to keep up with the joneses. It was super competitive in every way. I was lucky my dad was a doctor and we had money. Middle class didn't work in Orinda. Orinda wasn't super rich but it was definitely a town where most people lived a comfortable life. I think a lot of what was going on was simple teenage angst. We are all discovering who we are or who we think we are. There were so many cliques and were not told to be nice to each other like they do in school now. Everyone played a sport or had a thing, skiing, tennis, golf. I rode horses along with another very wealthy friend. There was also The Orinda Country Club, not everyone belonged and it was super prestigious to belong. 

And how was your relationship with Kirsten? Would you describe her as "mean"?

Kirsten and I did not interact that much because I didn't like her. I don't think she liked me either. I had changed so much and had kind of a druggy dark reputation (that I created cause I thought it was cool). We had a few classes together but there was no war being waged. She was popular, chatty, cute and social. That whole scene bored me. I just rejected it which wasn't normal for an Orinda girl. 

We were all mean at some point. So yes she was mean and snotty and thought she was better than other people. We were taught to be that way, conceited. I thought I was better than them. Bernadette was just beaten down, couldn't catch up from the beginning. I think her trying to be somebody she wasn't is why Kirsten gave her such a hard time. 

Have you seen the movie based on the case? If so do you think it got it right?

A friend to die for? I have seen it many times. Its pretty accurate except for my portrayal and Kirsten's. A little over done.

We're you shocked that Bernadette admitted to it? Did she seem like she was ever about to explode? Was she really bullied?

Yes I was shocked and mad. We had gone through Catechism together the whole time I was being blamed. She never appeared any different. I wasn't allowed to come back to Miramonte that year so I don't know how she acted at school. Everyone was bullied by someone, thats how life is.

Do you still talk to any old classmates? And was kirsten mean to everybody?

I only catch up with people through Facebook so not a lot of contact with anybody I went to school with. I don't think Kirsten was mean as much as she was cocky. She just had a lot of self esteem, some kids are like that. She did well in everything she tried. She wasn't mean to everybody. 

What's the main thing people get wrong about you? 

That I could really kill someone

Do you think the punishment Bernadette received fit the crime? 

Not really, She got a college education and was completely protected while she was in custody. Then she escapes off to a new life