Could you love somebody so much that you would kill for them? Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka did. Since the first time they met, they knew they were meant for each other. Once kindled, their lustful relationship grew into one that led them deeper into sexual experimentation. They both had manipulative personalities, but Paul’s would eventually overpower Karla’s. Their fantasies grew stronger, and then family and friends began dying at the hands of these two, Paul and Karla. They thought they were smart enough to get away with it, but soon enough, all their dreams of an escape came crashing down.
Karla was born in Ontario, Canada on May 4, 1970. She was the eldest of three, and grew to be smart, popular, pretty, and well-loved by her friends and family. Karla pursued a job at a veterinary clinic. She adored animals. While at a pet convention in Toronto, she met her prince charming, Paul Bernardo, at just age seventeen. And Paul was twenty-three. The relationship between the two rapidly advanced. They both clicked instantly, sharing pathological desires in their sex life, binding them closer. This led to quirky foreplay, where Paul played the master and Karla the slave.1
Paul loved the feeling of dominating women. And Karla was wrapped around so tightly on his finger that she would do anything to please him. Bernardo often complained that when he met her, she was not a virgin. Karla, willing to satisfy Paul’s needs, offered her younger sister Tammy as a sex sacrifice to him because Tammy was still a virgin. Both planned to force Tammy into being a younger and purer version of Karla. To do this, Karla stole an animal anesthetic from her workplace for later use. On December 23, 1990, at a Christmas party at their home, the couple drugged Tammy’s drink with halcyon, and soon took her down into the basement. Karla pulled out the animal anesthetic and drenched a cloth with it to cover Tammy’s mouth, and knock her unconscious. Bernardo raped her, but Tammy unexpectedly began gagging on her own vomit and suddenly died. When her death was officially declared, it was labeled as an accidental death, as the drugs in her body went undetected.2
Paul continued his killings in the Scarborough suburbs of Toronto. He raped women and then murdered them. Some women fortunately escaped with only an attempted rape. No one could pin down who was committing these crimes. So this mysterious figure became known as the Scarborough Rapist. He usually attacked females outdoors, but occasionally he would break into their homes and severely beat them along with strong verbal harassment. Soon, the Metropolitan Toronto Police created an investigation to capture and arrest the Scarborough Rapist. It was only a month later that the Forensic Science Center matched Bernardo’s DNA with the Scarborough Rapist.3
A search of Bernardo’s home revealed numerous tape recordings of the rapes upon the women. Lots of the tapes showed the women being strangled and killed by Paul by their end. Karla decided to testify against Bernardo, and in return was to be granted a reduced sentence. Karla was interrogated for four days. She blamed Paul for her sister Tammy’s death, and described many of Paul’s kidnappings and rapes that resulted in women’s deaths. Two victims during the reign of the Scarborough Rapist were two schoolgirls Mahaffy and Kristen. Karla accused Paul of committing these crimes, and her accounts were later found to be true by forensic evidence. She said she lived in terror of Paul and was forced by him to partake in his crimes. On February 17, Bernardo was arrested and brought to the Toronto detention center where he awaited trial. At his trial, he was charged with first degree murder, found guilty, and subsequently sentenced to life in prison with possibility of parole in twenty-five years. Karla was sentenced to only twelve years in prison.4
Now what did the future hold for these two who eventually turned on each other? As for Paul, he will be eligible for parole in 2018 at the age of fifty. But surprising news has surfaced, Paul is planning to get married while serving his term! Apparently a woman from London, Ontario, who requested to remain anonymous, has been charmed by this “innocent” man. She has said to her friends that Bernardo was just a bystander to the rapes and murders of the two schoolgirls. She was so determined to wed this convicted killer that she tattooed one of her ankles “Paul’s girl.” On the other hand, the woman’s father rejects her plans and says he hopes she will abandon this ill-thought idea. Many other news reporters and even the lawyers who represented Kristen and Mahaffy have all commented on how appalling they found it to be for anyone wanting to wed a man after his horrific crimes.5
As for Karla Homolka, she was released in 2005 after a short twelve year sentence. She thereafter resided in Quebec and married Thierry Bordelais, gave birth to a son, and later had two other children. She was found volunteering at an elementary school in Montreal. Breakfast Television Montreal has confirmed that she often went to the elementary school where her children also attend. Many parents of other children were displeased to see this, and red flags were raised. Parents commented that they did not want her to be on the school’s property and that they believed it wasn’t right for a former serial killer to be around children, especially volunteering. Disturbed parents complained to the school, but they weren’t answered until the Quebec Conference of Seventh-day Adventists sent out a letter. They stated that their priority was to provide quality education to the students and that while they arrange the complaints from the parents, they encourage parents to communicate with the Quebec Conference Office of Education. They also say that they were aware of who Karla is and that it is the law for Canada to conduct background checks on any personnel associated with the school. Karla, tired of the social media, moved away in the year 2007. Nobody heard of her again until a journalist, Paula Todd, came across her in Guadeloupe in 2012.6
- Charles Montaldo, “The Crimes of Karla Homolka and Paul Bernardo,” ThoughtCo., (May 2017). ↵
- Charles Montaldo, “The Crimes of Karla Homolka and Paul Bernardo,” ThoughtCo., (May 2017). ↵
- Historica Canada: The Canadian Encyclopedia, June 2016, s.v., “Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka Case,” by Edward Butts. ↵
- Nick Pron, Lethal Marriage: The Unspeakable Crimes of Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka (Canada: McClelland-Bantam Inc., 1995), 9-16. ↵
- Irene Ogrodnik, “Convicted killer Paul Bernardo set to marry: report.” Global News, July 4, 2014. Accessed December 6, 2017. ↵
- Fazioli, Domenic. “EXCLUSIVE: Karla Homolka occasionally volunteers at Montreal elementary school.” CityNews, May 26, 2017. ↵
139 comments
Alyssa Garza
I have never heard of this case before today, but this article was very interesting. I can’t understand why she would willing help him to rape her own sister. I’m surprise that they were both mentally unstable most of the time it’s one or the other that’s unstable not both. I can’t imagine how she dealt with watching Bernardo rape and murder all those women.
Eloisa Sanchez Urrea
When I saw the picture of Paul and Karla I didn’t expect to read such a disturbing story. Paul Bernardo was a manipulative man who was even willing to rape his wife’s sister. Karla Homolka took part in her sister’s rape and death. When we think there will finally be justice we are introduced to a woman claiming to be charmed by Paul’s “innocence.”
Robert Freise
I never heard of the Karla and Paul before this article. It is really disturbing that a couple would be ok with committing these violent and disgusting crimes against humanity. It is crazy that a girlfriend would watch Paul commit sexual assault and go through with it without helping the victim. It is heard to believe people out their exist. I guess that the given mental illness that both individuals had matched and that’s why they were compatible I guess.
Stephanie Silvola
Giving your little sister to your boyfriend just because he wanted a virgin that wasn’t you is disgusting. The poor younger sister had to endure pain and later choked on her own vomit is heartbreaking, I can only imagine what the family and friends had went through. I agree with the parents of the school that Karla volunteered at, she shouldn’t have been around kids when she basically helped raped her little sister. As for the lady who wants to wed Paul, I hope she realizes that it is an ill-idea that needs to go away. In no way is that man innocent.
Kacey Diaz
This story took a complete turn from what I was expecting by the title. It’s sad to read about what happened to those girls that became victims to Karla and Paul. But this article does show how your mistakes in you past have consequences and in Karla’s case, everyone around her knew who she was and what she did which made it hard for her to keep a job and forced her to move away.
Janelle Larios
This article was very disturbing to read, as I could never imagine myself willingly giving up my younger sister as a sexual sacrifice. I was so surprised that Karla did just that and she even obtained drugs and anesthetics to allow her younger sister to be raped by her boyfriend. I was astounded that Paul would be getting out this year and that he would be marring someone even before he gets out. I find it really disturbing that the lady was okay with his past and even went as far as to call him innocent in regards to the rapes and murders.
Crystal Baeza
The title caught me off guard but can see where the innocent looking couple were definitely partners in crime. How sickening to be a part of a marriage where you husband is literally killing innocent women right in front of your eyes and feeling trapped to leave. I’m glad Karla received her happy ending but at the same time can understand the angry parents. I wouldn’t want an ex-killer be near my children, she did lead her own sister to the basement with a rapist.
Tessa Bodukoglu
I never knew about Karla and Paul. I’m very glad I read the article because this is very interesting to me. the first opening line in this article is, “could you love someone so much you would kill for them” and I find that very interesting because so many people have the mindset that they would kill for there loved one. I could never imagine being in love with someone and having them kill for their own pleasure. but overall this is one of my favorite articles.
Maxx Arizmendi
I never knew who this serial killer couple were until I read this article. It was disturbing to read how Paul Bernardo committed the rape and murder crimes, and how his wife Paula witnessed them happening, especially the rape and murder of her younger sister. It was also disturbing that they were both mentally unstable and that they thought they were perfect for each other. Besides all the disturbing stuff, this article was very attention grabbing and interesting.
Karina Cardona Ruiz
You did a great job at making the article both captivating yet disturbing. I can’t believe there are people in this world who are willing to kill other human beings for the sake of pleasing someone else. It’s so sad how Karla offered Tammy to Paul with no regard for Tammy’s safety. Karla failed as a big sister to protect her little sister and honestly it makes me sick to think about how she had no problem drugging her sister so that her boyfriend could have his way with her which consequently lead to her death. I don’t think Karla was simply coerced into helping Paul rape and kill women. I feel as though Karla just played down her role so she could a lesser sentence, but I think she is equally as responsible. I was shocked that the elementary school allowed Karla to be on the premises and I think the parents were justified in their complaints.