Paul Bernardo, born on August 27, 1964, in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, is one of Canada’s most infamous serial killers and rapists. Alongside his then-wife, Karla Homolka, he terrorized Southern Ontario in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Initially known as the “Scarborough Rapist” for a series of sexual assaults, he later earned himself the moniker “The Schoolgirl Killer”. The murderous couple were together penned “The Ken and Barbie Killers”.
Bernardo’s reign of violence began with the sexual assault of at least 24 women* in the Scarborough area between 1986 and 1991. These attacks were marked by extreme violence, as Bernardo would stalk, abduct, and assault his victims, often leaving them traumatized and fearing for their lives. His escalating behavior eventually led to even more horrific crimes, including murder.
*Initially thought to be responsible for 14 rapes between 1987-1990, he later (in 2006) confessed to at least another 10.
NAME: Paul Bernardo
ALIAS: The Scarborough Rapist, The Schoolgirl Killer
DOB: August 27, 1964
COUNTRY: Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
VICTIMS: 3 (Murdered)
ACTIVE: 1987–1992
ARREST: February 17, 1993
SENTENCE: Received a life sentence with no chance of parole for 25 years
IMPRISONED AT: La Macaza Institution, Quebec – a medium-security prison.
PARTNER: Karla Homolka (Ex-wife and partner in crime)
Where is Paul Bernardo now?
SENTENCE: Life sentence with no chance of parole for 25 years
Paul Bernardo is currently incarcerated at the La Macaza Institution, Quebec, a medium-security prison.
He was first incarcerated at the Kingston Penitentiary, Kingston, Ontario, a maximum-security prison. Where he was considered an “inmate in danger” and was involuntarily segregated for 18 years until the prison closed in 2013. He was then moved to the Millhaven Institution, a maximum-security prison in Bath, Ontario. Before being transferred to La Macaza Institution, Quebec, a medium-security prison.
- Feb 21, 2006 Confessed to more rapes.
- Sept. 11, 2013 Transferred to new prison.
- Oct. 17, 2018 Parole eligibility denied – declared ineligible for early release.
- June 22, 2021 Denied day and full parole.
- May 29, 2023 Transferred to medium security prison.
- Sept. 11, 2013 Denied day parole, full parole and temporary absences.
Feb 21, 2006 Confessed to more rapes:
Bernardo recently confessed to raping at least 10 other women (between 1986-1991) in attacks not previously blamed on him.[1]
Sept. 11, 2013 Transferred to new prison:
Transferred from Kingston Penitentiary (which is closing down) to Millhaven Institution, a maximum-security prison in Bath, Ontario. Bernardo was again deemed ‘in danger‘ and placed in segregation. He was however removed from segregation a few weeks later.
May 29, 2023 Transferred to medium security prison:
Bernardo has been transferred to La Macaza Institution, Quebec, a medium-security prison.[2]
The transfer sparked a widespread public outrage, causing the CSC (Correctional Service of Canada) to conduct a review and compile an 85 page report. The findings being that the decision to reclassify Bernardo and transfer him were in accordance with all relevant laws and policies.
The report highlighted details of his time in jail, some of the more interesting facts were:
- He was the instigator in nine incidents and faced nine institutional charges, being found guilty four times in 1999 for disobeying the rules.[3]
- He was the “victim” in a dozen incidents between 1995 and 2019.
- He has “been the victim of attempted and actual assaults but has not engaged in violence against other offenders or staff.
- Unauthorized items or contraband were found in Bernardo’s cells three times over the years, including a razor blade in 1995, and a weapon in 2018.
Previous Appeals:
Bernardo has made multiple attempts to appeal his sentence:
- Oct. 17, 2018 A request for a judicial review of his parole eligibility was denied. He was declared a “dangerous offender”, making him ineligible for early release.[4]
- June 22, 2021 Denied day and full parole.
- Nov. 26, 2024 Denied day parole, full parole and temporary absences.
Crimes Committed
Paul Bernardo – The Scarborough Rapist (1986–1991*)
Bernardo’s reign of violence began with the sexual assault of at least 24 women* in the Scarborough area of Ontario, between 1986 and 1991. Bernardo would stalk, abduct, and assault his victims, often leaving them traumatized and fearing for their lives.
*Initially Paul Bernardo confessed to 14 rapes (between 1987-1990), but later (in 2006) confessed to at least another 10.
The Murders of Leslie Mahaffy and Kristen French
In 1991, Bernardo, along with his then-wife Karla Homolka, kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and murdered two teenage girls: 14-year-old Leslie Mahaffy and 15-year-old Kristen French. The couple meticulously planned these abductions, luring the girls under false pretenses before subjecting them to unspeakable torture and violence. The couple videotaped their crimes, which later became key evidence in court.
Shockingly, Homolka actively participated in these crimes, though she later struck a controversial plea deal with prosecutors, painting herself as a coerced victim rather than a willing accomplice. The murders of Mahaffy and French were particularly gruesome, with evidence showing prolonged abuse before the girls were ultimately killed.
The murder of Tammy Homolka
Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of Bernardo’s crimes was the murder of Karla Homolka’s younger sister, Tammy Homolka, in 1990. Bernardo and Homolka drugged the 15-year-old with sedatives before sexually assaulting her while she was unconscious. Tammy died from asphyxiation after vomiting due to the drugs, a crime that was initially passed off as an accidental death. It was only years later, during investigations into Bernardo’s other crimes, that the truth about Tammy’s death emerged.
Capture & Investigation
The investigation into Paul Bernardo’s crimes began in the late 1980s when police in Scarborough, Ontario, linked a series of violent sexual assaults to a single offender, dubbed the “Scarborough Rapist.” Despite an extensive manhunt, the perpetrator remained elusive for years, leaving law enforcement frustrated and the community in fear.
A major breakthrough in the case came in 1993 when advances in DNA technology allowed forensic experts to match semen samples from the Scarborough rape victims to Bernardo. This crucial evidence connected him to at least 14 sexual assaults, confirming suspicions that the same offender was responsible. Paul Bernardo was arrested on February 17, 1993.
Police then uncovered videotapes in Bernardo’s home that documented the horrific abuse and murders of Leslie Mahaffy and Kristen French, providing irrefutable proof of his and Homolka’s involvement.[5] These tapes, which Bernardo had kept as sick trophies, became key evidence in securing his conviction.
Tammy Homolka’s 1990 death, initially ruled accidental. Was exposed as another murder during the investigation into Bernardo’s other crimes.[5]
Following a lengthy investigation, he was charged with multiple counts of sexual assault, kidnapping, and murder.
Karla Homolka’s plea deal
Karla Homolka’s cooperation with authorities played a controversial role in Bernardo’s conviction. After her arrest in 1993, she struck a plea deal with prosecutors, agreeing to testify against Bernardo in exchange for a reduced sentence of just 12 years (served in full by 2005) a decision that sparked public outrage given her active participation in the crimes. Homolka provided detailed accounts of the abductions, rapes, and murders, helping investigators piece together the timeline of events. However, many critics argue that her deal was unjust, as she was far more involved in the crimes than she initially admitted.[6]
Trial & Conviction
The trial of Paul Bernardo, one of Canada’s most notorious serial killers, was a landmark case in Canada. Alongside his then-wife, Karla Homolka, Bernardo faced multiple charges including first-degree murder, sexual assault, and kidnapping.
Bernardo’s trial began on May 17, 1995, in St. Catharines, Ontario, presided over by Justice Patrick LeSage. The case was highly publicized, leading to a publication ban to ensure a fair trial.
The prosecution presented overwhelming evidence, including DNA matches linking Bernardo to the Scarborough rapes, victim testimonies, Karla Homolka’s Testimony, where she portrayed herself as a victim of Bernardo’s abuse (though later evidence suggested she was a willing participant) and most incriminating of all, the hours of videotapes showing Bernardo and Homolka torturing and sexually assaulting Mahaffy and French.
Despite Bernardo’s attempts to shift blame onto Homolka, with defense lawyers Ken Murray and Tony Bryant arguing that Homolka was the primary instigator of the crimes, the graphic videotapes made it nearly impossible for the defense to sway the jury, who found him guilty on all counts.
Conviction
On September 1, 1995, after nine days of deliberation, the jury found Bernardo guilty on all counts, including:
- 2 counts of first-degree murder (Mahaffy and French).
- 2 counts of aggravated sexual assault, kidnapping, and indignity to a dead body.
Sentence:
- Life imprisonment with no chance of parole for 25 years (the harshest sentence possible in Canada at the time).
Appeals: Bernardo has repeatedly attempted to appeal his sentence, with all requests denied.
Note: Karla Homolka was freed in 2005, sparking national outrage.
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REFERENCES / CITATIONS:
- CBC: Bernardo confesses to more sexual assaults – 21 Feb 2006
- Public Safety Canada: Parliamentary Committee Notes: Security Reclassification and Transfer: Chronology of Events
- CBC: Bernardo’s prison transfer report offers rare insights into killer’s life behind bars – 22 July, 2023
- Toronto City News: Convicted rapist and killer Paul Bernardo denied parole – Oct 16, 2018
- Pron, N. (1995). Lethal Marriage: The Unspeakable Crimes of Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka
- Williams, S. (1998). Invisible Darkness: The Strange Case of Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka
BOOKs about Paul Bernardo
Invisible Darkness: The Strange Case Of Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka
Perfect for fans of Making a Murderer and The People v. O. J. Simpson, Invisible Darkness is the story of one of the more bizarre cases in recent memory—killings so sensational that they prompted the Canadian government, in the interests of justice, to silence its national press and to lock foreign journalists out of the court…
Lethal Marriage: The Unspeakable Crimes of Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka
The sensational trials of Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka for abduction, rape, manslaughter and murder caused widespread controversy, as did the twelve-year sentence Homolka received as part of her deal with government lawyers. Yet, even though the publication ban on the case has been lifted, there is much the Canadian public still has not been told…
Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka: The Horrific True Story Behind Canada’s Ken and Barbie Killers
This graphic account of convicted killers, Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka, shows that in some relationships, neither party is the “better half.” Both halves of this Canadian couple add up to one evil story…
TV Shows & Docs feat Paul Bernardo
Ken and Barbie Killers: The Lost Murder Tapes
Glamorous couple Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka fall in love and marry, but they become the most notorious killers in Canadian history after murdering three schoolgirls.
TV Mini Series / Documentary | 2021 | 4 episodes
Snapped: Killer Couples – S3.E9 – Karla Homolka & Paul Bernardo
A couple’s mutual passion for sex and torture destroys the lives of everyone they encounter.
TV Series / Documentary | 2013>
OXYGEN
Born to kill? – S5.E12 – Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka: The Schoolgirl Killers
Authors, attorneys, psychologists and a former detective recall the perfect “Barbie and Ken” couple who secretly scoured Toronto for underage virgins to victimize.
TV Series / Documentary | 2011
Murder Made Me Famous – S6.E5 – Ken & Barbie Killers
Paul Bernardo commits a 5-year spree of highly publicized sexual assaults, tortures, and murders with his wife, Karla Homolka in the Toronto area in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
TV Series / Documentary | 2015
REELZ
Twisted – S5.E4 – The School Girl Killers
TWISTED takes an in-depth look at some of the world’s most prolific serial killers through first-hand accounts and testaments of the people who knew them best.
TV Series / Documentary | 2010 >
Very Scary People – S4.E1/E2 – The Ken and Barbie Killers: (2 PARTS)
From 1987-1992, Ontario authorities join the FBI’s hunt for the monster responsible for s horrific crime spree. / A tip points to an unlikely suspect – a blonde, blue eyed accountant who lives with his wife in the suburbs.
TV Series / Documentary | 2019 >
YOUTUBE
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MORE ARTICLES ABOUT Paul Bernardo
A selection of interesting articles about Paul Bernardo, sourced and curated from around the web:
Paul Bernardo denied parole for a third time after victims’ families pleaded with parole board
CBC | Author: Catharine Tunney | Nov 26, 2024
Bernardo’s prison transfer report offers rare insights into killer’s life behind bars
CBC | Author: Ashley Burke | Jul 22, 2023
Paul Bernardo: Canadian serial killer moved to lower security prison, sparking outrage
BBC | Author: Brandon Drenon | Jun 6, 2023
Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka Case
The Canadian Encyclopedia | Author: Edward Butts | Jun 21, 2016
Paul Bernardo to marry?
Toronto Sun | Author: Sam Pazzano, Randy Richmond | Jul 3, 2014
Sex killer admits to 14 other rapes
UPI Archives | Author: Aviva Boxer | Nov 3, 1995
