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
Mo
Stockholm Syndrome and trauma bonding. Victims of psychopaths can actually start to act like their twisted counterpart. She had zero history of violence until meeting him. He was already raping.
Katherine Watson
Love can be blinding, but when it gets to the point that you are willing to do anything to please your partner, you have crossed the line. It is regrettable to see that this ill man took so many innocent lives and that his partner Karla was too blind by her love for him to set her foot down and intervene. This (although very extreme) should serve as an example to those young women who feel that they need to do anything to get a man to stay with them and love them. After everything she had been through with Paul, Karla was able to leave the relationship, and she is now happily married with children. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, and no darkness should cloud any man or woman’s happiness. Do not fall victim to history, leave while you can still see the red flags people.
Jocelyn Moreno
This article had me in disbelief. I can’t believe what was done to Karla’s sister and to all the other girls, I’m truly disgusted. I’ve never heard of this case before and wow I have no words; This story is crazy. I can’t believe that Karla drugged her sister just to please Paul’s desires, that is sick. How could she just stand by as she saw him rape her and watch her die. This was so disturbing but the story was so intriguing I couldn’t stop reading. Also who in their right mind believes a man who raped and killed multiple of women was “innocent” and wants to marry them. The whole story is crazy, I can’t believe it’s not as known as Bonnie and Clyde. This has been the most interesting and mind-blowing article I have read so far.
Gloria Baca
This article was one of the best ones I have read so far. It is very informative and it handles a wild topic very properly. Personally, I have never heard of Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka. Upon reading this I think the lengths certain individuals are willing to go for live, are crazy. Karla was willing to sacrifice her sister just to keep Paul. Astonishing. Although the thought of Karla being able to live her life a free woman is crazy, I’m glad at least Paul Bernardo is behind bars. Great article.
Suvesh Vasal
It is crazy how easy a strong man can manipulate people. These two were disgusting and it is incredible that they went so long without getting caught. People who do things like this are not right in the head. Nevertheless, this article was extremely interesting and was well told. The title was great and made the article so much better. I could never imagine giving up a family member just to make a significant other happy.
Maria Mancha
It think its so crazy what someone will do for “love”. I had never heard about this couple and you would think they’d be a popular topic especially with the crimes Karla and Paul committed. The fact that she sacrificed her own sibling was insane, I love my sister I don’t think I would be ever in love with someone that much to allow them to her hurt. What drives me even more insane is that he is up for parole this year, even after hurting all those women. However I am glad that Karla cleaned up her life. I could go on about the interesting things I learned in this article. But it was an overall great article and I learned something completely new.
Isaac Saenz
This story definitely did not turn out the way I expected. I imagined two passionate lovers committing crimes together and going down the same way instead of one snitching on the other and living a semi-normal life afterward. It is clear that both of these people have some serious mental issues and it is sad how Karla was able to walk after twelve years when she deserves a life sentence as well for the murder of her own sister.
Max Lerma
This is without a doubt the most intense article I have read so far. The writing is incredible and the subject matter absolutely horrible. It is almost inconceivable to imagine what would drive two individuals to be able to commit these macabre and terrible acts. I suppose it was good to read that Karla has changed and was able to have the semblance of a normal life, however, it still challenging to wrap my mind around all of the things she was party to with Paul.
Anthony Robledo
This was disturbing and wild, yet i couldn’t stop reading it. When i think of crazy couples who kill i usually think of bonnie and clyde. I have never even heard of Paul Bernardo or karla Homolka. There story is insane. To think that Paul had Karla wrapped around his finger so much that karla would even sacrifice her sister. This article was great. Keep up the good work and i hope to read an article similar to this.
Kayla Lopez
There was so many facts that were placed into this article and I really enjoyed reading every single one of them. This article was structured very well and made it easy to follow the story. I enjoyed how there was a shocking point towards the end of this article when a woman fell in love with Paul Bernardo and plans on marrying this “innocent man.”