The Ken And Barbie Killers Today: Where Are Paul Bernardo And Karla Homolka Now?

The case of the "Ken and Barbie Killers," Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka, remains one of the most chilling and controversial true crime stories in modern history, particularly in Canada. Their attractive, seemingly normal facade hid a shocking reality of serial sexual violence and murder that captivated and horrified the world in the early 1990s. As of December 2025, public interest in their fate continues to surge, driven by recent parole hearings and new media coverage.

The latest updates confirm that one half of the notorious duo remains behind bars, while the other lives freely under a new identity. The continued legal battles and the victims' families' fight for justice ensure that the details of their horrific crimes—the rapes and murders of three young women, including Homolka's own sister—are never forgotten. This article explores the complete biography of the killers, the full scope of their atrocities, and their current, shocking status.

Complete Biography and Profiles of the Killers

The media dubbed them the "Ken and Barbie Killers" due to their polished, all-American look, a stark contrast to the monstrous acts they committed. The names Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka are synonymous with a unique brand of depravity, rooted in a relationship built on sexual sadism and control.

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Paul Kenneth Bernardo

• Full Name: Paul Kenneth Bernardo
• Born: August 27, 1964
• Place of Birth: Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
• Parents: Kenneth Bernardo and Marilyn Bernardo
• Alias: Paul Jason Teale
• Prior Crimes: Before the murders, Bernardo was active as the "Scarborough Rapist," committing at least fourteen sexual assaults in the Toronto area between 1987 and 1990.
• Current Status: Serving a life sentence as a designated dangerous offender.

Karla Leanne Homolka

• Full Name: Karla Leanne Homolka
• Born: May 4, 1970
• Place of Birth: Port Credit, Ontario, Canada
• Aliases: Karla Leanne Teale, Leanne Teale, Leanne Bordelais
• Role in Crimes: Convicted of manslaughter for her role as an accomplice in the murders.
• Controversy: Received a controversial 12-year sentence after striking a "plea bargain" (often called the "deal with the devil") in exchange for testimony against Bernardo.
• Current Status: Released from prison in 2005 and living under a new identity.

The Horrifying Case: Victims and The "Deal with the Devil"

The couple’s crime spree began in the late 1980s and escalated dramatically following their marriage. Their victims were young women and teenage girls from the Ontario region. The full extent of their crimes was only revealed after Karla Homolka turned herself in and implicated Bernardo, claiming she was an abused victim forced into the acts.

The Three Murder Victims

The Ken and Barbie Killers were responsible for the deaths of three young women, a detail that remains central to the ongoing trauma of the case. The victims’ names are Leslie Mahaffy, Kristen French, and Karla's own younger sister, Tammy Homolka.

• Tammy Homolka: Karla’s 15-year-old sister, who died in December 1990 after being drugged, sexually assaulted, and suffocated by the couple. Her death was initially ruled an accident until the full truth emerged.
• Leslie Mahaffy: A 14-year-old girl from Burlington, Ontario, who was kidnapped in June 1991. She was held, tortured, sexually assaulted, murdered, and dismembered.
• Kristen French: A 15-year-old girl from St. Catharines, Ontario, who was kidnapped in April 1992. She was also held, tortured, sexually assaulted, and murdered.

The Controversial Plea Bargain

The turning point in the case was the discovery of incriminating videotapes that documented the torture and abuse of the victims. Homolka had agreed to a plea deal with prosecutors, testifying against Bernardo in exchange for a reduced sentence of 12 years for manslaughter. The tapes, however, revealed Homolka’s active and willing participation, contradicting her claim of being an unwilling accomplice. This sparked a massive public outcry across Canada, with many believing her sentence was far too lenient for her role as a serial killer accomplice. Bernardo was ultimately convicted in 1995 of first-degree murder and designated a dangerous offender, ensuring he would be held indefinitely.

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The Shocking Current Status of the Ken and Barbie Killers

Decades after the horrifying crimes, the question of the killers' current status continues to dominate true crime discussions and media reports. The fates of Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka have diverged significantly, creating two distinct and equally unsettling realities.

Paul Bernardo: Inside Prison and the Latest Parole Denial

Paul Bernardo remains incarcerated, serving a life sentence at a maximum-security prison. As a designated dangerous offender, he is subject to indefinite detention, with parole reviews occurring periodically.

The most recent major update occurred in 2024 when Bernardo was denied parole for the third time. During the hearing, the Parole Board of Canada heard emotional impact statements from the families of Leslie Mahaffy and Kristen French. The board cited his continued lack of insight, his diagnosis as a psychopath and severe sexual sadist, and his high risk to re-offend as primary reasons for the denial. The decision ensures that Paul Bernardo will remain behind bars, with his next parole eligibility review not expected until 2027.

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Karla Homolka: Life Under a New Identity

Karla Homolka was released from prison in 2005 after serving her full 12-year sentence. Her release was highly controversial, prompting fears and outrage among the public and the victims' families.

Since her release, Homolka has gone to great lengths to live anonymously, reportedly changing her name multiple times. She is now known as Leanne Bordelais and is believed to be living in the Montreal suburb of Châteauguay, Quebec. Reports indicate she is married and has children, a fact that has caused considerable distress in the quiet community and reignited public debate about the nature of her rehabilitation and the severity of her initial sentence. Her ability to integrate back into society, despite her crimes, is a painful and contentious element of this case.

The Legacy and Topical Authority of the Case

The case continues to be a major subject of study in criminology and a source of intense media focus. The discovery of the "murder tapes" was a key factor in the trial, providing undeniable evidence of the couple's shocking sadism and the extent of their crimes.

In recent years, the case has been revisited in several documentaries, most notably the four-part series, Ken and Barbie Killers: The Lost Murder Tapes. These productions have brought the horrific details to a new generation of true crime enthusiasts, ensuring the topical authority of the case remains high. The ongoing interest is not just in the sensational details, but in the failure of the justice system to adequately punish Homolka and the perpetual fear of a man like Bernardo ever being free. The names Leslie Mahaffy and Kristen French remain a powerful and tragic reminder of the true cost of the "deal with the devil."