Making a Deal with the Devil

July 4, 2008 marked the 232rd annual celebration of our nation's independence from British rule, which gave way to the birth of Democracy. In 2005, July 4 became a day known to some as the day one in which one of Canada's most infamous female serial killers was released from prison after serving only 12 years. During my readings and research last week, while preparing to celebrate the July 4th holiday, I came across an extensive list of convicted female murderers. One in particular caught my attention.

Karla Homolka was born on May 4, 1970 in Port Credit, Canada. The oldest of three children, she was often described as attractive, well-adjusted, smart, and popular by family and friends. Karla developed a passion for animals and went to work at a veterinary clinic after she graduated from high school. In 1987, Homolka attended a pet convention where she met her future husband, Paul Bernardo. The two began dating and discovered that they had the same sado-masochistic desires and Karla became obsessed with fulfilling Paul's unusual fantasies. Soon, Karla began to drug young teenage girls - including her younger sister, Tammy - with medication stolen from the vet clinic and allowed Paul to rape the young girls. One teenager, named Jane, managed to survive the violent sexual attacks that were captured on videotape. Unfortunately, Leslie Mahaffy did not survive. Leslie was kidnapped, taken to the couple's home, and raped repeatedly over several days, were Homolka and Bernardo videotaped many of the assaults. They eventually killed Leslie, cut her body into pieces, encased the pieces in cement, and threw the cement into a lake. On June 29, 1991, a couple canoeing on the lake found Leslie's remains.

Kristen French, just 15-years-old, was kidnapped by the couple on April 16, 1992 from a church parking lot. For several days, the couple tortured, humiliated, and sexually abused the young girl capturing the horrible, inhumane events on camera. Her body was found on April 30.

(From left to right: Tammy Homolka, Leslie Mahaffy, and Kristen French)

Homolka was arrested and convicted in 1993 for her involvement in the drugging, raping, torturing, and murdering of the three teenagers, including her 15-year-old sister Tammy. Homolka's short 12 year sentence was the result of a plea bargain that was reached in exchange for her testimony. Some called it the worst plea bargain in Canadian history and the government was accused of 'making a deal with the Devil'. Homolka claimed to be a victim of domestic abuse at the hand's of her husband. Paul Bernardo on all counts of rape and murder and is currently serving a life sentence in a Canadian prison. This case serves as an important example that aids in substantiating the need for the study of female criminality, so that one day we can create prevention tools to stop similar tragic events from happening in the future.