Or both explanations could be right. Bernall's story is compelling. She had fallen in with the wrong crowd, dabbled in the occult and experimented with drugs - then had a religious experience and was changed. Several young people in Littleton say Bernall's bravery encouraged them to turn their own lives around. That makes sense.
Heroism often inspires others.
It really doesn't matter whether the martyr was Bernall or one of the other two. The point is that many people died, and at least one faced death rather than disclaim her faith. If it was that important to her, maybe it could be of value to others. Christianity teaches that murder is wrong. So does Judaism, Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism and Baha'i.