Mommy Don’t From Mother to Murderer: The True Story of Penny and Karissa Boudreau

by Sherri Aikenhead

On January 29, 2008, just days after a bitter winter storm, Nova Scotians watched with breaking hearts as a young mother in the small town of Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, pleaded on the supper-hour news for help finding her missing twelve-year-old daughter. For thirteen days, the country held its breath as the search for Karissa Boudreau continued. When, finally, frozen toes were found poking out of a snowbank, police confirmed Karissa was dead.
Shock quickly turned to anger when Karissa’s mother, Penny Boudreau, was arrested for the murder of her only child. A year later, Penny sat in the prisoner’s box in Nova Scotia Supreme Court. The moment seasoned journalist Sherri Aikenhead heard Penny confess to the killing, she knew she would write this story.
Aikenhead scoured official Bridgewater Police records, RCMP investigative records, court records, and Penny Boudreau’s Parole Board of Canada decisions to recreate what happened fifteen years ago. Through interviews with Karissa’s circle of family and friends, and including a first-hand account from a key undercover agent who reveals how the Mr. Big operation extracted Penny’s confession, Aikenhead skillfully builds a powerful and intimate narrative of what really happened to “Bridgewater’s daughter.” With fifteen black-and-white photos, some provided by Karissa’s family members, Mommy Don’t takes readers on a heart-pounding journey into the unfathomable question: how could a mother murder her own daughter?

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime, Canada

264 pages, Paperback

Published May 9, 2023

Reviews

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, I want to brag on the author. Apparently, this is a debut, but you'd never guess it because it was so thorough and formatted so well. I appreciate their dedication to spreading the truth about this heartbreaking case. They did a fantastic job.

Karissa was a young girl like many others. The adolescent years are some of the most difficult of our girl lives. I know that people say "it's the best time of your life!" and it's easy to look back on it fondly, with the privilege of hindsight, but it's really emotional as you're living it. This kid just needed support and stability and none of these jokers would offer her that.

Karissa had nowhere to turn. Of the many adults in her life that loved her, none of them would offer her the stability she desperately needed because they were too busy shacking up and worrying about getting their groove on. Her uncle was her stepfather? She was happy with her father but he had someone shacking up too? It's disgusting. She should have come first to SOMEONE and they should be ashamed of themselves. I know it's beating a dead horse now but I don't care. People need to hear it. After you have kids, it's not all about you wanting to lay pipe. Grow up. This is not a diss on blended families, this one was just irresponsible.

After a car ride heart-to-heart with her mother Penny, Karissa goes missing. Penny says she came out of the store to an empty car, implying that Karissa either ran away or was abducted. The facts just didn't align with this so Penny and her lazy loser of a man were immediately under suspicion. Penny isn't behaving how one would expect a mother of a missing child to behave, but everyone reacts differently so they were trying to be fair. What follows is worse than anyone imagined.

This also covers the Mr. Big stings in Canada which I'd forgotten about. They're questionable at best but that's not my country to judge and it didn't seem any more abusive than other things I've heard but it is definitely entrapment. I guess modern problems require modern solutions in Canada so my judgement is unclear on that.

I know this review is long and spicy but seeing adults treat kids this way leaves me fuming. She really was a candle in the wind and I hope she is at peace.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and most of all the author for the chance to read and review and I hope people will check this book out when it's released next week!

[Valerity (Val) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a jarring yet informative read about a woman who reports her 12 year old daughter missing. She later turns out to be the person who had hurt her, shocking everyone. The author tells the story in a compelling way, with sensitivity. The book is sprinkled with photos, which I like.

[BAM doesn’t answer to her real name · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just wrote my review and it disappeared. I’m angry right now. I don’t remember what I said. I’ll try again later

[Naomi's Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is gut wrenching. We follow all the events that happen around Karissa’s disappearance, Penny’s cover up and the trial about Karissa’s murder. It is so sad and impactful to read about a murder that happened in small town Maritimes. This is story you need to know if you are interested in Canadian true crime.

I received an arc via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, Mommy Don't, by Sherri Aikenhead, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Mothers are suppose to love and protect their children not kill them. Twelve year old Karissa Boudreau was killed by her mother Penny Boudreau, in 2008 in Nova Scotia. Karissa was a normal 12 year old girl, going through typical tween angst, her mother murdered her and reported her missing. Such a heart breaking story, Karissa has her whole life ahead of her, and it was cut way too short. A good read on a horrible event.

[Nicole Bourque · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Nimbus for the arc.

What a read!

It was very well written and despite the content I was hooked. I remember seeing on tv the new reports as I live in South West NS.

Some of the information I knew but a lot was new to me, parts of the book had me mad, anxious to find out what really happened.

Now that I’m done the book and now older I am wondering how the next few years will pan out.

[Sarah Krymalowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not proud of myself but this book was the first recommendation for the Halifax library on my reading app and actually it was more tasteful than the cover. And it’s interesting reading about court now that I go semi-frequently

[Nicole MacMillan]

I cannot give this a 'star review' . I'm heartbroken and hurt for Karissa. As a fellow nova scotian, I'm saddened by the lack of justice for that family.

[UnproductiveMother89 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such a heartbreaking read about 12 year old Karissa who was killed by her own mother.
This is the authors first book and it’s a really decent read. It was set out really well and gave us some plenty of information on the case. Just so shocking how a mother could do that to her own child.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC.

[SundayAtDusk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this may be Sherri Aikenhead's first true crime book, she writes like a pro, obviously realizing readers don't want to be buried under endless details, and don't want to get hopelessly confused by a complicated crime case. (Her journalism background is probably at least partly responsible for this book's readability.) There is a chart in the beginning of the book showing the names of family members, a list of major crime officials involved in the case, and a map of Bridgewater, Nova Scotia. There is even an epilogue that tells what has happened to some of the individuals associated with the crime victim.

The crime victim was Karissa Boudreau, who was only 12 years old, when she was murdered by her mother in 2008. Her death would affect many, many individuals for many, many years to come. Few suspected her mother Penny Boudreau at first and some still could not believe, after she was arrested and charged, that she could do such a thing. The horror of it all became even worse when Penny Boudreau said she killed Karissa because she feared losing her boyfriend, if her daughter continued living with them. There were other relatives her would have taken in Karissa, but her mother didn't want her daughter telling others she was a "bad mother".

What was even more horrifying to some was Penny Boudreau was considered to be a good mother and showed no signs of mental illness. Yet she simply took her daughter for a ride one early winter evening and strangled her to death. With no confession and no witnesses, there was no case, however. How the local police and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police got a confession was a bit of an unbelievable story in itself. Sherri Aikenhead covers it all in this true crime book, making readers feel they were there up in Nova Scotia as the story unfolded.

(Note: I received a free e-ARC of this book from NetGalley and the author or publisher.)

[Cassandra Barker · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

[Shawna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written and absolutely heartbreaking. Karissa deserved so much better. I can’t comprehend what type of monster could do what Penny Boudreau did to her daughter.

[Lydia Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sherri Aikenhead did a great job writing this, but no matter how you spin it, this story is still devastating 16 years later.

[d · Rating 4 out of 5]

the writing was ever so slightly clunky, but still did a good job sticking to the facts and avoiding a lot of the dramatization that true crime books often fall into. i feel like you could easily make a 1,000 page book about this case and i wish that it had gone more in-depth. still really good though.

[Cynthia Osborne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A disturbing true story, diligently and gently told.

The format of the book wasn’t my favourite and some details I didn’t feel were necessary. I prefer a less interview-based format since I find it hard to follow all of the individuals but the chronology helped me keep it straight.

My biggest issue is the title. I don’t think “she who shall not be named” deserves that space and recognition but I am even more disappointed that Karissa’s name wasn’t at least first.

[Brad Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-written story looking back at the high-profile murder of 12-year-old Karissa Boudreau back in 2008. The author did an outstanding job reflecting on Karissa’s life, the investigation that led to her mother eventually pleading guilty to her daughter’s death, and the impact the case had on the community. It was a difficult book to put down once I picked it up.

[Janessa Culleton · Rating 4 out of 5]

It reads like a university paper or thesis, but that’s not a bad thing. If you enjoy true crime, this one is easy to read and I enjoyed it. It was interesting to read a Nova Scotia case, but I don’t remember it happening in real time so this may be a lot of repeat information for those who do.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is chilling to read this story and know many of the places was eerie

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am surprised this is the authors first book. Well written and very informative.

[Lovetoread2023 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a heartbreaking story how could a mother be capable of such a unimaginable act?
Sherri Aikenhead has written a well researched difficult story and done so with such care and emotion.
The story shows how a small town its residents and a familys lives are changed forever after the death of a young girl with so much to look forward to as she grew into a young woman,she is forever remembered by all who cared and loved her as Bridgewaters Daughter.
Thanks to Nimbus Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC.

[Alex Bromley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tagic case that occurred very close to where I now call home. A mother in Bridgewater murdered her 12 year old daughter, Karissa, in 2008. This is the story of what happened, the court proceedings, and where everyone is now. Even though the title of this book tells you that the mother was responsible, I still somehow kept holding onto hope that a mother couldn't have done this.

I wish I could give this book 3.5 stars, but I'll round up. This is Sherri's Aikenhead's first book. She's a former journalist and worked as the communications director for the Nova Scotia's Department of Justice at the time of this case. Her style of writing is clean, simple, and to the point, which I feel is appropriate for the subject matter of this book. As someone who is unfamiliar with legal jargon, I also appreciated the way that the court proceedings were explained in laymen terminology. I actually learned quite a bit about the legal aspects of criminal investigations in Canada, which was very interesting. (I don't want to give away any spoilers. All I want to say is I can't believe "Mr. Big" operations are legal in police investigations in Canada.) I also appreciate how well researched this book is, including interviews of many friends and family members that were conducted by the author.

That being said, I do have a couple of qualms. The first is that this book is probably longer than it has to be. Although I appreciate the importance of making it clear how well loved Karissa was and the devastation caused to her loved ones, it did drag a bit in the middle.

However, my biggest issue with this book is the strange, seemingly lazy errors. Was there no editor? As someone who is dyslexic and certainly wouldn't declare that I have excellent grammar, I usually miss these types of errors. This shows how glaring some of them were, and there are probably way more that I missed. For example: on page 41, "parking" is spelled "parling." On page 138, there is a sentence that makes no sense. It reads, "As he soon as her spit..."

And then other strange errors... For example, on page 48, the author is speaking about an officer who was born in Toronto, who she describes as "thousands of miles away" from Bridgewater. 1) This is a Canadian book, so why are we using miles? But more importantly, 2) This is simply not true! Even if you follow the roads, and not as the crow flies, it is still less than 1200 miles. Another example: Karissa's biological father was Paul. Paul's brother is Shane. After Karissa's mother got pregnant, she left Paul and married Shane. Paul was still involved as her father, but since Shane was married to Karissa's mother, he also helped raise her. On page 83, it reads, "Shane was not a suspect. His own brother, Paul, knew Shane loved Karissa as much as he did and had helped raise her as if she were his own flesh and blood." I get that the author is trying to say that Shane raised Karissa like his own daughter, but this is incredibly poor wording. Karissa WAS his flesh and blood because he was her UNCLE!

Perhaps I am being too nitpicky. But these errors feel sloppy, and they distracted me from Karissa's story. But even despite these errors, if you're interested in the case, it's worth a read. 

[Carolyn Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first true crime book written by journalist Sherri Aikenhead. She demonstrates her investigative and journalistic skills with thorough research into a horrific crime. The crime took place in a small town in Nova Scotia in 2008. The murder of a 12-year-old girl, the investigation, trial and the subsequent heartbreaking effects on the community, her extended family and friends are told in a detailed, straightforward manner. The amount of exhaustive research to describe a fifteen-year-old crime is admirable. The author avoids dramatic fillers and speculation often used to make true crime stories more appealing to the reader.

On January 28, 2008, a young mother, Penny Boudreau, went on TV to plead for help finding her 12-year-old daughter, Karissa. She stated that Karissa was a defiant, difficult child who ran away from her car parked outside Sobey's grocery store while Penny was inside shopping. They had been arguing while on the drive to the store. There was snow on the ground, and more to come, and Karissa was not dressed for the winter weather outside. The sympathetic community rallied around Penny, searching for the girl and raising money. The first theory was that Karissa had run away to return to her father's home, where she was happier. Karissa's diaries expressed discontent and stress while living with her mother and Vernon, Penny's new fiance. Penny was noticed to show a remarkable indifference to her daughter's absence, while Vernon, her new live-in boyfriend, became an emotional wreck and was drinking heavily.

Friends, family, numerous community members, and the police searched the woods and icy river for Karissa. All points bulletin with her photo alerted the rest of the province and its borders in case she had been abducted or was running away. Thirteen days later, Karissa's frozen body was discovered in a wooded area. Suspicion fell on Penny. Local police and the RCMP are described as doing an admirable and exhaustive investigation. Eventually, an undercover sting operation ( Mr. Big) was devised, targeting Vernon and Penny. Penny confessed in detail to the murder of her
daughter, and Vernon was absolved of any part in the crime.
The author states that in 50 years in Canada, only 25 cases involved a victim 12 years or older, where the mother was charged with the murder. The book follows the trial and how it impacted her extended family, Karissa's friends, the police, the legal team, and the entire community. The book is illustrated with well-selected photos.
Thanks to NetGalley and Nimbus Publishing for the ARC. Publication date is set for May 9.

[Terri Durling · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can still remember this event that occurred in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia just about one hour from my home town of Halifax. It was a bitter stormy day on January 29, 2008 when a 12 year old girl, Karissa Boudreau, went missing. It was the beginning of a story that would forever change that town and was broadcast around the world. It is a story so horrendous and one that made Karissa the “Bridgewater’s daughter”. It took several months to find the killer. Clues were found but not disclosed because they would have hindered the investigation for the real killer who would be the only one to know these facts. The investigation soon centered on Karissa’s mother, Penny Boudreau, and Penny’s live in boyfriend, Vernon Macumber. Penny put on a good show for the public but people were suspicious because she seemed detached after losing her only child. Vernon was a loose cannon, a man with a drinking problem who often used violence to deal with difficult situations. It came as a complete shock to most when, after a “Mr. Big” investigation that went on for months, it culminated with Penny confessing to Karissa’s murder. Her motive was that Vernon had said she had to make a choice “him or Karissa”. She chose Vernon. He was unaware of her premeditated plan to kill Karissa and he suffered a great deal of anxiety and pain that she did this because of him. Penny is an enigma - a woman who seemingly had a loving family and friends (although her mother committed suicide when Penny was 11). She appeared normal and never exhibited any tendencies to violence until the night she murdered her child. The story of Karissa’s last hours on earth are horrific. It is hard to fathom her terror at being murdered by the one person we should all trust, our mother. The murder had a profound effect on her family, the community and friends/classmates of Karissa. This is a deeply disturbing story that will haunt you and is not for the faint of heart.

[Teena in Toronto · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm originally from Nova Scotia so that's why this book caught my eye.

Twelve-year-old Karissa had recently moved in with her mother, Penny, and her mother's boyfriend, Vernon, after living with her father, Paul. Karissa didn't like living there and was acting like any twelve-year-old would. Penny had had enough and took her for a drive to have a heart-to-heart chat. Penny stopped in the grocery store to pick up some things and while she was there, Karissa took off. Because there was a snowstorm happening and Karissa wasn't dressed for the weather, Penny drove around looking for her. She eventually called the police to report her daughter missing.

But that's not happened. Penny was scared she was going to lose Vernon because of all the bickering so she murdered her own daughter to keep her man. So sad.

I hadn't heard about this case and it was interesting to read about it. I liked the writing style and the author obviously did a lot of research. It wasn't a happy story and it's crazy that Penny, despite pleading guilty to second degree murder in 2009, is already allowed out on supervised outings.

Blog review: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2023/05...

[Digitally Lit · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Mommy don’t” is honestly one of my favourite reads so far this year. The story is heartbreaking, and becomes even more so when you learn the context of the title. But I believe stories like this have to be told, and by having this story written, the memory of a young girl named Karissa Boudreau will live on for years.

A young girl named Karissa Boudreau up and disappears in a Sobeys parking lot when her mom pops in for a quick shop. They had been fighting, and it was believed that Karissa had “run away.”

But after a few days of searching and no luck, suddenly Karissa running away doesn’t seem like the answer. And people in the tight knit community of Bridgewater, NS, are starting to get suspicious.

I loved this book. I am a fan of reading true crime, and the fact that this case happened near me, as well as the fact that those around me remember this makes it all too real to me. This book was super interesting though, and even some things which is didn’t think I was interested in, like reading about police tactics on catching a criminal, was really interesting when featured in this book.

I never would’ve thought on of my favourite true crime books would be something that happened and hour from where I live. But here we are.

[Nancy Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Mommy Don't" is the true crime account of the murder of twelve year old Karissa Boudreau of Bridgewater Nova Scotia in 2008 by her mother Penny. The book chronicles the journey of both mother and daughter up to and beyond that fateful winter night. We learn about Penny's troubled past, her daughters struggles to cope with living with her difficult mother and emotionally distant boyfriend. We also become immersed in the communities efforts to find Karissa and their collective shock when her body was found and the anger they felt when Penny was finally charged. Aikenhead then details the search for evidence and witnesses - anything that will bring justice to Karissa. She also details the 'Mr. Big' sting operation that resulted in Boudreau confessing what she did to an undercover RCMP officer, the subsequent trial and a follow up to where the people involved are as of the writing of the book. All in all, 'Mommy Don't' is a good retelling of a horrific crime that robbed a small town of its innocence but at time I felt that it lacked an emotional depth that crime writers like Ann Rule gave her writing. Regardless, I do look forward to Sherri Akenhead's next book .

[Kasia Hubbard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karissa was just a girl trying to make sense of her ever shifting world, between growing up and spending time around her dad, stepdad, two sets of grandparents, and her mom, as well as their significant others. That's a lot for a kid, not to mention the fact that she was almost thirteen and hitting those ever troublesome years filled with the ever changing mood swings, her world was not a steady one. After spending significant time with her dad, and her stepdad, Karissa decided to move in with her mom, and it doesn't even take three months before the events of this story unfolds into what is known as Nova Scotia's missing daughter infamous case. What Sherri Aikenhead unfolds next is a story so disturbing, so shocking, that it's hard to really understand the motive behind Penny's heinous actions. Very detailed storyline of facts and figures that move along at a pace that is easy to keep track of.
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is my own opinion*

[Shannon Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is good debut for the author. She’s very thorough. Even though this a horrendous story, she weaves it in such a way as to be respectful to Karissa, those that loved her and even Penny, with her monstrous act. She doesn’t make the father/stepfather/uncle scenario sound salacious, just a matter of fact. She doesn’t delve into the father’s girlfriend aspect, seemingly willing to accept that blended families are difficult to navigate. But it would have been worth examining since Karissa herself describes in her diary, being very unhappy with her mother and Vern. Was moving back with her father not an option?
I feel bad for the situation she was in, through no fault of her own. Also, why didn’t Penny ask for help? She obviously felt overwhelmed with trying to juggle a selfish fiancé and a tween? But to commit this unforgivable act, it’s really hard to comprehend.

[Kalei · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a bit sceptical on reading this as I had already read John Elliot's novel on this tragic murder case from close to home. I was pleasantly surprised that this had some new information including some forensic evidence. It also was an easy read and captured my emotions just as before. After all of this time, the murder of this poor young girl still brings tears to my eyes and I vividly remember the days after she was reported missing, the snow, the drives I took and how I felt her mother did something to her when I saw the public plea. I remember seeing her walking with another woman into the mall near Sobeys and she was smiling and laughing. It made no sense to me that a mother could be laughing and smiling and going out to a mall while her daughter was missing. I'm so grateful that justice was brought to Karissa and her family.

[Jeni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aikenhead shares Karissa Boudreau's story in this moving book. She achieves the goal, which is to share the victim's story without adding additional dramatization or attention to the one who has cut their life short. In this case, Karissa lost her life at the hands of her mother. Aikenhead walks the line of exploring Penny Boudreau's history and the facts of the case without providing excuses for her or trying to portray her as a monster. When we lack nuance in profiling criminals who do the unthinkable, we don't learn how to prevent further tragedies. This book did a wonderful job of profiling Karissa as a person - her personality and passions shone - and sharing the impact her loss had on her community and the remainder of her family.