Karla Homolka, a Canadian serial killer, was born May 4th, 1970 in Ontario. Homolka seemed like a normal child: pretty, popular, and loved by everyone around her. She loved animals, and worked at a vet’s office. This passion for animals led her to a pet convention. She was 17. Paul Bernardo, 23, was there as well. The two met and had sex almost immediately, discovering their shared passion for sadomasochistic sexual acts, with Homolka willingly acting submissive to Bernardo. Bernardo, whose sexual proclivities were extremely perverse, asked Homolka if she would be alright with him raping women. She agreed. Bernardo became the Scarborough Rapist, but was not caught.
Bernardo soon became obsessed with Homolka’s younger sister, Tammy. At a Christmas party, they served her drinks spiked with halcyon, then used a rag with Halothane on it to keep Tammy unconscious while they raped her. Tammy vomited during the rape and choked on her own vomit, leading to her death. Drugs in her system were somehow overlooked, and the case was classified as an accidental death. However, the ordeal was not over between Bernardo and Homolka. Bernardo was unhappy with Tammy’s death, and blamed Homolka for it. As a present, Homolka brought a girl named Jane as a replacement, and they raped her as well.
Next, they kidnapped Leslie Mahaffy and raped her, killed her, put her body in cement, and then threw the cement in the lake. They married, with Bernardo writing their wedding vows. He refused to be called “husband and wife,” instead selecting “man and wife” to assert his dominance, as well as noting that Homolka would “love, honor, and obey” him. Next, they kidnapped and tortured, humiliated, and raped Kristen French. They separated in 1993 because of physical abuse. Soon after, Bernardo was identified forensically as the Scarborough Rapist.
Homolka soon realized she would be caught, and confessed to a family member the truth about her and Bernardo’s relationships. She got a lawyer and entered a plea bargain for a twelve-year sentence; the government agreed that she could be eligible for parole after three years with good behavior. In exchange, Homolka would testify against Bernardo. Later, videotapes of her and Bernardo’s sexual exploits were discovered, and it was clear that she was not the victim she had painted herself to be – she seemed to enjoy their illicit sexual activities. Bernardo received a life sentence. Homolka was released in 2005 with many conditions. Today, she lives in Guadelope under the name Leanne Bordelais.
