Penny Boudreau

Background

Twelve-year-old Karissa Boudreau was reported missing from Bridgewater on January 27, 2008. Her body was found on the bank of the LaHave River two weeks later. Penny Boudreau was the mother of Karissa.

The offence

Penny Boudreau killed her only daughter Karissa. Investigators learned she strangled her daughter because she believed the child was in the way of her relationship with her boyfriend. Penny Boudreau’s boyfriend told her, “It’s the child or me,” and the relationship conflict was described as involving Vernon MacCumber, who issued an ultimatum that either Karissa went or he would end the relationship.

In court, prosecutors described Penny Boudreau driving Karissa to a deserted wooded area, knocking her to the ground, and strangling her with a length of twine (described as a rope). Karissa struggled and made her last words, “Mummy, don.” Penny Boudreau later drove to a spot along the LaHave River and pulled down Karissa’s pants partly off to give the impression the girl had been sexually assaulted. She then rolled the body down an embankment, and later tossed several pieces of Karissa’s clothing in a garbage can at the local swimming pool.

Penny Boudreau later claimed Karissa had gone missing after they had an argument. She made TV and public appeals for Karissa’s return and told police the child had run away.

Investigation

A four-month investigation followed Karissa’s disappearance and body recovery. Police initially treated the case as a missing person case and later became involved in homicide investigation after confirmation of Karissa’s identity from the body found on the LaHave River bank.

Police executed search warrants connected to the case, but did not release details. Police also performed extensive searches and investigative steps during the missing-person period, including ground search and rescue, divers probing the LaHave River, and helicopter searches over Bridgewater-area locations and along Highway 103.

Undercover investigators later learned details of the murder through an undercover sting operation in which officers posed as organized crime bosses offering to destroy evidence held by police. Penny Boudreau provided details to the undercover officers and began talking, leading to charges.

Police said the homicide was not a random act and that Karissa knew her killer. Police also said there was only one person responsible for the homicide and they did not expect anyone else to be charged.

Arrest

Police announced on June 14, following assurances that progress had been made, that they had arrested Penny Boudreau the previous evening and charged her with first-degree murder. Penny Boudreau had been arrested in Halifax. She was arraigned on June 16 on a single count of first-degree murder.

Trial

Penny Boudreau pleaded guilty on January 30, 2009.

In courtroom proceedings, she broke down in tears as she pleaded guilty and said, “I’m sorry.” Justice Margaret Stewart made sentencing remarks directly to Penny Boudreau including: “You can never call yourself mother. ”The words, "Mummy, don't," are there to haunt you for the rest of your life” and also “You can never call yourself mother in conjunction with Karissa's name again.”

Crown attorney Paul Scovil read out grim details of Karissa’s final moments in an agreed statement of facts.

Paul Scovil said Penny Boudreau had two motives: to save her faltering relationship with Macumber and keep Karissa from publicly calling her a bad mother. He also said he agreed to the lesser charge of second-degree murder to give the family some closure and avoid the uncertainty of a trial. Court also heard that both the Crown and defence recommended parole eligibility after 20 years.

Scovil said there was no evidence that Macumber wanted his girlfriend to kill her daughter and that there was no evidence to suggest he had either concrete evidence or assisted in any way. Scovil stated Boudreau made it clear that she was solely responsible.

Sentencing

On January 30, 2009, Penny Boudreau was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 20 years after pleading guilty to second-degree murder.

The court heard that Penny Boudreau killed Karissa because the child was in the way of her relationship with her boyfriend.

The articles also noted that, despite being sentenced to life with no eligibility for parole for 20 years, Penny Boudreau could apply for early parole after 15 years under what was described as the “faint-hope clause” of the Criminal Code.

Appeals

No appeals were described in the provided material.

Outcome

Penny Boudreau pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and received a life sentence with no chance of parole for 20 years.

Aftermath

Karissa’s relatives sobbed in court during the proceedings. Paul Boudreau, Karissa’s father, later made a statement that his account of Penny Boudreau’s apology included: “Crocodile tears.” He also said, “Justice has been served,” when “Justice has been served” was described as his reply to the apology.

During the missing-person period, Penny Boudreau made a first tearful plea to her daughter to come home at a press conference at the Bridgewater Police station on January 29, 2008. On February 1, she made a second emotional appeal.

The timeline of public search and investigation included public announcements and extensive searches. A funeral service for Karissa occurred in Shelburne County. She was buried in a cemetery in Clarks Harbour. Bridgewater held a memorial service organized by nine churches, where she was described as “Bridgewater’s daughter.” A candlelight memorial at Shipyards Landing marked the one-year anniversary of Karissa’s reported disappearance and death.

Timeline

• January 27, 2008 — Penny Boudreau reported her 12-year-old daughter, Karissa, missing; she told police Karissa waited in the car outside the Bridgewater Mall Sobeys store following an argument and when she returned Karissa was gone.
• January 28, 2008 — Bridgewater Police contacted other police agencies and alert the media as they extended the search for the missing 12-year-old.
• January 29, 2008 — Penny Boudreau made a tearful plea to her daughter to come home at a press conference at the Bridgewater Police station, asking Karissa to make contact.
• January 30, 2008 — Reports continued that Karissa was missing as her photo was plastered in stores and businesses around Bridgewater and beyond.
• February 1, 2008 — Penny Boudreau made a second emotional appeal to her daughter or anyone who knew where she was to make contact.
• February 6, 2008 — Searches on the ground and from the air turned up no sign of Karissa.
• February 9, 2008 — A passerby discovered Karissa’s frozen body on the bank of the LaHave River below Highway 331 just outside Bridgewater town limits in Conquerall Bank at 11:30 a.m.; forensic investigators descended on the scene.
• February 14, 2008 — The RCMP and Bridgewater Police held a press conference to confirm that the body found on the riverbank was Karissa and that the missing person case had become a homicide investigation.
• February 15, 2008 — Two Bridgewater residents known to Karissa were released after being held for 24 hours for questioning.
• February 17, 2008 — Police warned the murder investigation could take days, weeks or months to complete.
• February 18, 2008 — Bridgewater Police Chief Brent Crowhurst urged the community to feel safe and asked residents to trust investigators.
• February 19, 2008 — Hundreds of people attended a funeral service for the slain 12-year-old in Shelburne County; she was buried in a cemetery in Clarks Harbour.
• February 23, 2008 — Bridgewater mourned Karissa at a memorial service organized by nine churches.
• June 14, 2008 — Police announced they arrested Penny Boudreau the previous evening and charged her with first-degree murder.
• June 16, 2008 — Penny Boudreau was arraigned on a single count of first-degree murder.
• June 24, 2008 — A court date was affected when Penny Boudreau did not appear; a Halifax defence lawyer appeared and the case was bumped to July 15.
• July 15, 2008 — Defence lawyer Pat Atherton appeared for Penny Boudreau again; the case was adjourned until September 3.
• September 3, 2008 — The case was adjourned again without Penny Boudreau’s attendance; she remained in custody in the Burnside correctional centre.
• October 22, 2008 — Penny Boudreau did not appear for her latest court date; defence lawyer Pat Atherton waived the client’s right to a preliminary hearing, moving the case to the Supreme Court.
• December 4, 2008 — Penny Boudreau made her second appearance in a Bridgewater courtroom for arraignment in the Supreme Court.
• January 27, 2009 — About 200 people attended a candlelight memorial at Shipyards Landing marking the one-year anniversary of Karissa’s reported disappearance and death.
• January 30, 2009 — Penny Boudreau pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 20 years.

Other details

Karissa had been described as a Grade 6 student. Police and family members initially searched believing she had run away from home. Authorities stated there were no other suspects wanted in connection with Penny Boudreau’s death.

Karissa’s attire at the time of her disappearance was described as a black hoodie, black vest and blue jeans with pink Crocs. Police said they reviewed surveillance tapes from businesses around the Bridgewater Mall and determined Penny Boudreau was in Sobeys as reported, but that there were no surveillance cameras on the parking lot to confirm that Karissa was there or what direction she might have taken if she left.

During the investigation, police described a report of an attempted abduction in Liverpool two weeks before Karissa’s disappearance, but said there was nothing to connect the two events. Police also said they considered interviewing family members and determining when Karissa was last seen by someone outside the immediate family.

Religious and community events took place following the case, including memorial services and candlelight vigils.