One of my pet cases has been Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka. I wrote a long article about them here .
As an update, Karla was released from prison and is living in Montreal allegedly. She has given birth to a baby boy and is either married or getting married. (Note: What type of guy would marry Karla Holmolka let alone reproduce with her? Serious squee factor there.)
Bernardo, in the meantime, has been designated as a "dangerous offender" and will likely be incarcerated for the rest of his life. In 2005, he confessed to at least 10 additional assaults occurring between 1986 and 1991 as the Scarborough Rapist.
In 1991, Elizabeth Bain, a beautiful 22 year old University of Toronto student, disappeared. Her body was never recovered although her blood soaked car was found several days later in the Scarborough neighborhood. Her boyfriend, Robert Baltovich, was convicted of second degree murder. The Crown's theory was that Baltovich was an obsessed boyfriend who murdered her in a fit of rage after she broke up with him.
Baltovich never confessed to the crime, denied any involvement in it and successfully appealed his sentence when a higher court ruled that the Justice on the case "unduly promoted" the prosecution's theory and ignored Baltovich's defense completely. Baltovich's legal team also introduced new evidence that they said pointed to Bernardo as the actual killer. The high court overturning Baltovich's conviction never commented on the new evidence, but did release Baltovich on bail in 2000. His case is set to be retried this fall.
Some striking coincidences: Bernardo and Elizabeth Bain both attended the University of Toronto on the same campus. Paul's earlier crimes as the Scarborough Rapist were in the same neighborhood, one that both Bain and Bernardo were very familiar with. A woman recalled seeing a man fitting Bernardo's description around campus the day Elizabeth disappeared. Her car was seen after her disappearance outside a restaurant Bernardo was known to frequent. The radio was tuned to the station he routinely listened to. His brand of cigarettes were evident in the car. She fit his preference for victims: long dark hair and very attractive. Elizabeth's disappearance occurred after the rash of Scarborough rapes but before Bernardo and Karla's Schoolgirl killings.
In addition, when Bernardo and Karla were on their honeymoon in Hawaii, a young woman was snatched from her car, raped and murdered. The crime was never solved, but police later found newspaper clippings about it when their house was searched during the Schoolgirl Killings investigation.
Originally, I had read an article that claimed that Bernardo requested to speak to investigators about the case. Not true. He did not request the meeting. The Crown and the Toronto detectives interviewed Bernardo at the Kingston Prison yesterday. According to Bernardo's attorney, Tony Bryant, Bernardo claims he didn't know Elizabeth, had never seen her or met her and had nothing to do with her presumed murder.
I have to wonder if Karla Holmolka will also be questioned about Elizabeth's disappearance? What would that do with the sweet plea deal she wrangled that stood, even though it was later revealed that she concealed evidence and didn't give true testimony, leaving out many things in a most self-serving way.
Hell, if Paris Hilton can be escorted back to jail and be made to serve her original 45-day sentence, I believe the same is true of Karla and Paul (who is nothing to lose since he is serving a life sentence) if the Canadian police investigate enough and find a link there.
Maybe they just liked to collect news-worthy articles on cases like that, and there is nothing to it. Then again, I put NOTHING past those two.
Great article, Lis--vrey thorough :)
Posted by: Michelle | June 08, 2007 at 03:57 PM
I think both Karla and Paul would have been perfect candidates for the death penalty. Pure evil.
Posted by: Nadine | June 08, 2007 at 04:56 PM
Waste of air.
Posted by: vero | June 08, 2007 at 11:44 PM
There is now a
[email protected]
for anyone who thinks Karla Homolka should be in prison with Paul. Come by and tell us why you think she's not, and what went wrong with this horrifying case.
Thanks
Posted by: Audree | August 25, 2007 at 02:03 AM
Hey, I'm a high school student doing a study on this case for school and I've been using books, newspapers and the internet to gather research. Currently my portion is looking at the privilages that prisoners recieve during their jail time. Now I am well aware that Karla Homolka recieved a university degree while in prison. But I am hearing "rumours" that Paul Bernardo also earned a second degree while in Solitary confinement. Which from my understanding would be impossible as their restricted from all contact with the outside world excluding interaction with prison staff when necessary and that they also only get 1 hour a day to either shower or be under heavy guard out doors. Can anyone help me verify this claim regarding Bernardo?
Posted by: Randal | March 15, 2008 at 07:46 PM
My coments is 'one I do thhink paul bernardo killed elizabeth bain un intenchinly.What I Mean I think she agreed to go out with him that day and he thought he had scord however some time later on the date she told wanted try and path thing up with her boy friend.And then i think in bit of ragae at time paul hit with somthing hard a tire jack perhaps and then in panic trying to give her mouth to mouth but being unsecessful.And disposing in place nobudy would ever likly find it perhaps a lake or a heavly wooded area.After all he had everything to lose he new after piture came out he would be called in for questioning by metro police and couldt afford iny loose ends.Meaning he ever cought for the rapes and if they found the body of elizabeth bain and his found on remains to his rape vctims he new the police and crown atternys would in the that the was unintenial.
Posted by: Von Philip Schindler | March 31, 2008 at 01:58 PM
These two are the reason I believe in the death penalty. The fact that their victims families have to live with their horrific memories of what happened to their daughters is a crime in itself but every time these two move or speak it makes headlines and puts the families in more pain and grief. Why is this allowed? Ending their lives will end the media's fascination with them both.
Posted by: Vicky | July 10, 2008 at 09:21 PM
I dont know how Karla was able to have a child and keep it., I find that to be child endangerment... if she was capable to kill her own sister what makes anyone think she wouldnt kill her own child.... something is seriously wrong with our justice system..
Posted by: Monica | July 28, 2008 at 01:30 PM