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
Maricela Guerra
So Ken and Barbie are both crazy people, thinking that this was all ok. Also the fact that Karla just threw Paul under the bus like that was totally not loyal. I can see why she did it but the fact that the people believed her is stupid. I would have given both Paul and Karla a life sentence. They both shouldn’t even be allowed to have parole or even be let out.
Hanadi Sonouper
This was infidelity one of the most disturbing stories I have read in regards to crime. The interesting factor was how the characters actually resembled the dual couple of Ken and Barbie. Both criminals were eminent and insane, because to complete such terrible crimes that had to feel no mercy for the murdered individual. It is definitely brutal how these murderers were able to get away with these crimes, especially considering that a woman has interest in him. On the other hand, I commend the author for choosing a very controversial topic, she was able to portray a story very well and did an excellent job to illustrate the story.
Arianna Kennet
This was an intensive and interesting story. I believe both Paul and Karla deserved more time. Rape & murder are unacceptablele acts. I do not like the idea that she was given a second chance so quickly out of jail due the fact that there are and were so many other looking for a job for them to give it to her out of sympathy. I also believe his ruling was unjust. People have done or are doing more time in prison for a lot worse and I do not like the idea now he can get out of prison
Robert Flores
Really horrific article. I can not believe anybody would let that happen to their innocent little sister. There are no words to describe how terrible that is. I also can not believe that a woman could be swayed by a serial rapist and murderer serving a life time in jail. These two do not deserve a happy ending karla or Paul.
Tyler Sleeter
Interesting article. I have never heard of these people before reading your article, but I found the story an interesting read. It astounds me that a man can be so brutal to young women, but it surprises me even more that he could get his wife to assist them in brutalizing these young women. I cannot understand how a woman could stay with a man that had such a low opinion of women, even if he did abuse her as well. I am not at all shocked that the school did not want Karla around their children even though she was a mom like them. It was my understanding that criminals are not allowed to be on school property, but maybe that is just a Texas law. This is a sad story, but I am glad the perpetrators were caught.
Jose Figueroa
It is pretty disturbing to know that Paul is keeping up his manipulative ways all these years later with an anonymous woman. Some people really never learn there lessons for the actions they did. It was sick how he first would sexually assault these woman and then kill them. The thing I found most saddening was the death of Karla’s little sister. Just for some crazy dude she let him take advantage of an innocent girl. For the story telling, you did a great job connecting one event to another without making it seem clustered, great article!
Elias Garza
Love can make a person behave improperly sometimes. It is crazy to think that as soon as they met everything just started going downhill. I just hope the next lady Paul decides to marry, they both do not end up going satanic all over again. Overall, the structure of this article was great. I like how you spoke about both of them together then separated the paragraphs as they separated from each other.
Luis Morales
This was a disturbing story of love between Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka. Before reading this article, I never knew of Paul Bernardo, Karla Homolka, or the Scarborough Rapist. What shocked me the most in this article was that a woman would want to marry a serial rapist. How she fell in love with Paul does not make sense to someone with a working brain. As for Karla, I feel she got what she deserved, and if I was a parent at that middle school I would be concerned as well.
Fumei P.
Well this was disturbing. I don’t blame the parents for their concerns, after all she was an associate of a serial killer, and she willingly sacrificed her sister. Who knows what this woman is capable of. The actions of Paul Bernardo is even worse, he’s the scum of human kind. I can’t believe any sane woman would even consider being his wife. Especially after he raped and killed all those women, and lets not forget, filmed them being, murder.
Ana Gonzalez
It is frightening to even think that a person can hold such influence over you, as did Paul over Karla. The impression I get after reading this article, is that these two were not in love; Paul took advantage of the Karla’s infatuation over him. Karla should have reported him and all those other attacks could have been avoided. Anyways, this was a very interesting article! I like how the author included the current whereabouts of Paul and Karla, but still can’t believe someone wants to marry a serial rapist.