Finding Karla: How I Tracked Down an Elusive Serial Child Killer and Discovered a Mother of Three

by Paula Todd

In the early 1990s, Karla Homolka and Paul Bernardo became known around the world as the “Ken and Barbie Killers” after the young lovers were convicted of crimes related to the rape and murder of two teenage girls. Homolka later struck a deal with prosecutors to serve twelve years in prison for manslaughter. When she was released from prison in 2005, Homolka lived briefly in Montreal, where she was hounded by the press. By 2007, she had disappeared. Some said Homolka had changed her name and left Canada for Haiti, France, or the Czech Republic. Others said she was living in the Bahamas with a bisexual porn actor named Luka Magnotta. In the spring of 2012, investigative journalist Paula Todd embarked on a mission to find Homolka, knowing that other reporters around the country were doing the same. But Todd was certain she’d found where Canada’s most notorious female serial killer was hiding, trying to make a new life for herself. What she discovered was both unexpected and incredible—the woman who had killed three children now had three of her own.

Genres: Nonfiction, True Crime, Crime, Canada

40 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 18, 2012

About the author

Paula Todd is a Canadian journalist, investigative author, broadcaster, and lawyer. She is a professor of broadcast journalism and digital media at Seneca College, and is a frequent speaker on cyberabuse.

Reviews

[Chantal Saville · Rating 4 out of 5]

The other night, I downloaded Paula Todd’s e-book: “Finding Karla”. Call it morbid curiosity, or like when you slow down to look at the detritus that remains after a multiple car crash, but I wanted to know.

I wanted to know how a woman who actively participated in the torture, rape and murder of three young women and then pulled off the deal of the century by getting only 12 years in jail for those crimes, was living her life.

I had read snippets over the years. Some said she had moved toEurope. Some said a quiet, beachside life in the Caribbean. Others mentioned that she was a teacher. To quote Ms. Todd: “If there was a chance she was teaching children, many Canadians would want to know. And the only way to know was to find her.”

So while Paula Todd was being criticized online for opening up an old wound, or meddling where she didn’t belong, I was downloading the book. I wanted to read what she found out, for myself. People who feel that Karla Homolka should be left alone because she has served her time are, to me, plain wrong. She didn’t serve her time. She served a little time and because of a very wily plea bargain, she is free from jail. Not free to live a carefree life, but free. Her victims, however, are not free. Nor are the families who live without them but do have to live with the memories of what happened to them.

With the astute nature of a legal mind combined with her journalism background, Paula dug and found her. Leanne Bordelais, or as we knew her: Karla Homolka. Not living in the lap of luxury but rather in a backwater apartment block in rural Guadeloupe. So it was the Caribbean, after all. Just not the jazzy, flashy, pretty side that we all think of when we think of such a place.

I read the book in one sitting and was completely entranced by Todd’s bravery. Flying to Guadeloupe on a whim, travelling the countryside chasing a few thin leads and then, by a total coincidence, walking into a small apartment and finding herself face to face with Karla Homolka. Riveting to read. At the end of the book, I was left of two minds.

On the one hand, I would love for Karla’s life to become a living hell because of this book. I would love for her to have to run for her life, scared and tortured. A little of what her victims endured.

On the other hand, I feel wretched for her three children. What a horrible thing they are going to find out one day. And make no mistake: they will find out. According to Todd, the children seem happy and well-adjusted, living a quiet life with their mother and father (Thierry Bordelais is the brother of Karla’s lawyer, Sylvie Bordelais).

As I read the book, I wonder why she had them, knowing the life she was going to end up leading? While free from actual jail, Karla Homolka will always live in a virtual prison, in fear of who might be watching her. And while that gives me some satisfaction, I am sure that one day her kids will become innocent casualties of her world.

As Todd leaves in a taxi, after her encounter with Homolka, she notes: “Darkness deepens as we drive through the cooling streets. The music of a thousand night frogs envelops us. Tammy, Leslie and Kristen are in my head. They are dead. Their families walk wounded. Their killer has moved on, from manslaughter to motherhood.” Well said.

[Shawn Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Karla Homolka is a prisoner in her own home.

Unlike those she jumped in to torture and murder, she has a family. She has three beautiful children and a husband and has tried to remove herself from the eyes of the world that sees her as a monster who was barely slapped on the wrist for her horrible crimes. She left quietly and covered nearly all her tracks.

Except the one that led Paula Todd to her.

The voyeur in me was fascinated with the descriptions of how Homolka now lives. But the meat of the story - the whys and hows and how do you live with yourself now? - was never delved into. Homolka herself never answered them, although Todd certainly did try to encourage her to say something to that effect.

As a single this worked very well. There simply wasn't enough for a full length book. And there is no doubt that people have questions about Homolka.

But anyone reading this book hoping to find some kind of justice will be disappointed. Homolka managed to escape real justice and live the life she denied others. She may never leave her home, but being self-imposed imprisonment on an island surrounded by family is far more than anything her victims (including her own sister) were allowed to have.

[Lee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Todd gave no credit to the people who did the actual research of the majority of her book. She mostly relied on info from the website "Watching Karla Homolka" and merely had enough money to take a vacation and "find" Karla in it. She describes sitting outside her house, in the bushes when she could have just snapped a pic of Karla while she was in her house. Not much of an investigative journalist. Anyone looking for info on the case, or anything new and interesting; take a pass on this book.

[Sheryl · Rating 1 out of 5]

Track the already hunted, convicted, freed...?

There just wasn't enough content to warrant the build up, nor purpose really either. This wasn't a man hunt. Todd wasn't trying to hunt down an Elusive Serial killer. That is very misleading to anyone unfamiliar with the case.
Karla had been convicted but took a deal for a 12 yr sentence, so as to turn on her husband. Regrettably, video tapes showing her as a participant in the most heinous behavior were discovered after the deal. She wasn't manipulated, she was as evil as her husband.

This information is nothing unveiled by Todd, it's a recap of what happened to innocent young girls, including her own sister.
Tracking down a serial killer, who hasn't made a huge attempt at hiding, has used her boyfriend's last name, which is on their mailbox sounds like a case for Maxwell Smart.
Why is she tracking down a freed serial killer? Not because of a manhunt, Canada's most Wanted Criminal at large, she claims she wants only to discuss "life after being incarcerated".

Finding Karla didn't come after an extensive search, no twists & turns, Todd's took one week off to go to Guadeloupe. Other than one woman who was a black school teacher, there was no wild goose chase. No weapons, no threats, what she does find is an unexpected domestic scene.
Karla states that doesn't Mr a v she will not discuss the past. So that doesn't leave much room for anything further than, "do you think people hate you even though you served your 12 years."
Rather a low expectation for anything less obvious than "damn straight".
And while Todd admits this observation will not be met with "ah, ain't that special" when she puts it to text, she says that Karla appears to be a good mother to her THREE kids.
While there is a gate to a stairway to the 2nd floor flat, where Todd comes face to face with a serial killer through her kitchen window, the gate remains open for her departure. A taxi waits outside for her.
In return for this non planned, quasi interview with the kids pretty much in the bedroom with them, during which time Karla breast feeds the youngest three times, Todd says she'll tell Karla how it was so easy to track her down. Given the fact that Karla & her hubby were able to pull off these kidnappings, murders & disposals of bodies, it seems odd -or is it just me? - that Karla would use her middle name & boyfriend's last name, and also paint it on a mailbox, if intent on hiding, & need a journalist to point out the faux pas? Oh, and the fact Karla's lawyer in Canada is the sister of the now boyfriend, did they not think using his last name, might have been the first name someone tracking down an Elusive Serial child killer might try?
I just can't help but think, the endeavor to hide was that intent. After all, the killers had already been tracked down over 12 years ago. You might conclude that Karla just wasn't that keen to live in her old neighborhood, or possibly, her birth country.
The title is bogus, .needless to point out at this juncture. The elusive serial killer, has served her sentence, so that changes the tracking down to a checking up on where she went next.

Maybe "Guess who I ran I into while vacationing in Guadeloupe?" would make more sense...(okay, so you didn't hit the beach till day 4) than tracking down an already tracked, tried, sentenced, sentence of twelve years fully served, mother of three, residing with her boyfriend, father of her children who carry his name -as does she. Who might even be married.
It might explain the mailbox.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short story about the author successfully tracking down Canadien serial killer Karla Homolka. Amazing how she actually found her after Homolka disappeared when she was released from prison. Interesting to find out what her life became after she helped her exhusband rape torture and kill three young women in Canada (one of whom was her own younger sister).

[Rob Tripp · Rating 2 out of 5]

The climax that every reader knows is coming is disappointing (as virtually every other reviewer notes), since Karla ending up giving Todd very little substance during their meeting. She would not answer any questions. Despite this, I was fascinated by Todd's account of tracking a paroled killer.

[Amie's Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I stumbled upon this short novella-length non-fiction story written by Canadian journalist Paula Todd and knew that I HAD TO read it right away.

Any Canadian who was a teenager or older in the early 1990s will vividly remember the serial killer couple that became known as the "Ken and Barbie killers," or the "Schoolgirl Killers."

Paul and Karla Barnardo lived in Ontario, Canada. They kidnapped, raped, tortured, and killed Kristen French, 15, and Leslie Mahaffy, 14, and Homolka also set up the fatal drugging of her sister Tammy, 15, so that Bernardo could rape her. She "gave" her unconscious sister to Paul as a "Christmas present.

After a beating by her husband, Karla decided to go to the police and she conned the authorities into believing that she was an unwilling participant in the murders. Based on her information she agreed to a sentence of 12 years in exchange for testifying against her husband.

That deal has been referred to as "A Deal With The Devil." Her husband received a life sentence but she walked free as of 2005. After the media and community found her residence she eventually disappeared and noone knew where she had gone. Until ..... Paula Todd tracked her down in the Carribean. This is that story.

I am rating this as 4 out of 5 Stars. I wish the author had published her exact location. Karla does not deserve to be raising children. In my opinion, she should still be in prison. I feel sorry for her children. When they grow up they will eventually find out the specifics of what she did and those poor children will be traumatized by their mother's actions.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this as part of research for a forthcoming non-fiction book that I'm working on. Todd creates an intriguing and troubling perspective of this horrifying serial killer living a completely new life as a loving mother, peppered with startling glimpses at the cunning and shrewd woman who was convicted of such atrocious crimes.

[Gord Mcnaughton · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short book (I finished it in less than 24 hours) focusing on the search for, and short time with, convicted murderer Karla Homalka.

[Dawn Sutter]

I wish I would have read the preview better since this was a very short book. I think only 42 pages.

[Karen Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

An OK read to pass 10 minutes but has no real depth

[Lesley Korna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting but didn't learn much. Not particularly well written or worth the read.
Don't bother as life has moved on for Karla, like it or not, that's how the law works.

[Mark Blei · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you're looking for a starter book about Karla Homolka, this isn't the one you should read. The case is certainly worthy of reading about, and there is no lack of interesting material, and books published on the subject.

The author essentially goes looking for the notorious killer and finds her, inserting a bunch of overdramatising about how scared she was for her safety .

Homolka isn't an escaped convict, she made a deal with Canadian government that duped them, but that they were forced to honour.

The idea that Homolka and her lawyer husband would attempt to harm the author given that the entire Canadian government and public would like to find a reason to put her back in prison is hooey. The author was in more danger driving around the Caribbean island where she eventually found her subject

Eventually when found the author and her subject sit down for a few hours of uncomfortable discussion and she leaves. Then after Homolka refuses to pose for a photograph , she send a photographer to stake out her house and essentially wait for her wonder into his lenses view in her own back yard so he can grab his picture.

While the logic and reasoning the author uses to determin where her subject is living and under what name is interesting and an impressive piece of work. I found it disturbing how the author decided that though the Canadian government and obviously the island where she lived recognised her right to live as a private citizen, the author decided she was the final arbiter of who deserved privacy, and under what circumstances. I find the crimes and the duplicity that Homolka used with the government disgusting, and the end result a perversion of justice. I understand the governments position of needing to stand by the deals that they make, so that others can feel comfortable making deals with the government in exchange for valuable information that they give, to not only protect life, but national security . The author deciding that the deal wasn't good enough to morally prevent her subject from being stalked and then stalked again after she does talk to her pursuer is however, wretched in its own right , and a further perversion . This book is paparazzi schlock.

There was nothing gained by this book. No information uncovered. No admission by Homolka that called for an entire book made from what was first a newspaper piece. What the author sought to do was hunt down her quarry, and force her into a discussion that revealed nothing by saying essentially if you won't talk to me, others will come.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

So being Canadian and really having a boring country when it comes to criminals (thank goodness - lol!) this story was HUGE here and what made it so much more for water cooler discussions was the deal that was brokered with regards to Karla (wife of the murdering duo) - what became even bigger was a tidbit of an interview of her a couple of years, I think before she got out of prison and then of course her release. Then there was the mystery of where and how she disappeared and of course lots of rumours. This reporter in my opinion did an EXCELLENT job of locating and interviewing her - granted she does take a bit of time to get to that part of the story and it is a quick read, but it was interesting to see how Karla lives as a prisoner to this day.....

[Ally · Rating 1 out of 5]

Kind of disappointed in this book, to be honest. I suppose I should have read the page numbers. This book is REALLY short. But it does say "How I Tracked Down An Elusive Serial Killer." So let me save you a whole 40-some page read: Google. This book is basically the author patting herself on the back for being so clever as to find someone who didn't want to be found. She spends a small portion of the book on her "interview" with Karla, which consists of them mostly watching her children playing. Most of the book is spent reviewing the trial. Which we already know about. Which is why we read the book in the first place, isn't it?

All in all, huge disappointment.

[Gregg Rowe · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a big disappointemnt for those looking for answers into one of Canada's most notorious murder couples.

There are no answers from Karla herself, though she is portrayed as a woman living in a prison on the outside world.

For me, that is not punishment enough for her involvement in the murders of children.

And the shocker of it all, she has three healthy children of her own. The reader is left wondering if she even thinks about the three she helped kill.

The book was definately written for the curious and voyeuristic audience member.

[Manda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brief but fascinating, this is a nicely written look at how a journalist tracked down serial killer Karla Homolka to her new home in Guadeloupe and uncovered the lonely and paranoid life of a mother of three trapped in her own home.

There isn't a lot of substance to this book, but for the curiousity seekers like myself, it gives some sort of closure to the "where are they now?" question that comes up in cases like this.

[Barbara McVeigh · Rating 2 out of 5]

The title sums up the booklet. You won't find any new revelations about Homolka; instead, it is remarkable that Paula Todd found her using sparse facts and by following rumours on the Internet.

Is it a worthwhile read? The text is short & it isn't expensive. Although, I don't want to dwell on her life, upon some reflection, the booklet does answer the question: How does Karla now live?

[Williams91 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember losing sleep over these crimes back when they were first exposed. I find it horrifying that this person ever got freedom after what she did. Unfortunately, this book doesn't reveal much about her, other than the facts that she remarried and has children. Disturbing.

[Michelle Szarka · Rating 4 out of 5]

creepy
but i expected way more details into how she found karla...since its titled FINDING Karla.
she also doesn't really tell us what Karla says during that time. its creepy to know This woman who killed three children , now has three children. i think she is a true psycho.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure what I was expecting....maybe slightly less melodramatic writing, and I do wish there was more information about what Karla Homolka's life is like today.

Re-read during an endless CLE and a NABCA meeting, not because it was good, but because it was there. May 2013.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, yes. But offers a follow up for those that wonder about the "where are they now" type questions. Interview with KH/LB doesn't offer much, as would be expected given the circumstances/person. But still found it an interesting and worthwhile read.

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not as informative as I thought it would be. HArd to believe she is out of jail and has children!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

chilling . to think she is living the kind of life she helped steal away from her victims, makes me feel a sense of disbelief And horror.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you believe Todd it is an OK read.

[Jenny Powell · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is poorly written & lacking substance in every way.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just wish it had been longer with more detail.

[Danielle]

Very short story, not really worth reading. Disappointing.

[Georgina Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book until just when getting into it , it ended. Very short story, not an actual novel. Was very disappointed!

[Vanore · Rating 2 out of 5]

I spent less than $3 on this and got my money's worth. It's a short story basically - that will be of interest to anyone who followed the Homolka/Bernardo case.