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She Killed Her Sister When She Gave The Teen's Virginity to Her Boyfriend

One of the worst crimes in Canadian history

By Criminal MattersPublished 5 days ago Updated 5 days ago 3 min read
She Killed Her Sister When She Gave The Teen's Virginity to Her Boyfriend
Photo by Jason Hafso on Unsplash

Any person who can rape and kill an innocent member of their family is truly depraved. One who later admits they enjoyed it is truly demonic. Yet, a woman who took her criminal behavior to the depths of depravity is not even behind bars.

Karla Homolka was described as a smart, friendly, and happy young woman. When she met Paul Bernardo, her entire persona underwent a significant transformation. Her boyfriend shared her strikingly good looks, but a far more sinister trait: a lust for violence. Soon, Karla's obsession with her boyfriend became clear. She’d do anything to keep him by her side, including rape and murder her own sister for his pleasure.

The media would give the couple the moniker the “Ken and Barbie Killers”.

Tammy Homolka, Karla’s sister, was the couple’s first victim. Just 15 years old, Tammy was a good student and an athlete who wasn't interested in boys. Paul wanted to know what sex felt like with a virgin. More specifically, he wanted to have sex with Tammy. Karla promised she would give Paul Tammy’s virginity for Christmas.

Karla worked as a veterinary assistant at a local vet’s office. She obtained a bottle of Halothane from the office. Halothane is a strong animal sedative.

The Murder of Tammy Homloka

On Christmas Eve 1990, eight days before Tammy’s 16th birthday, Karla and Paul invited Karla to drink alcohol with them. She agreed. All three hung out in the basement of the Homoloka family home in St. Catharines, Canada. Their parents slept upstairs. Once Tammy was intoxicated, Karla held a cloth coated in Halothane over her sister’s mouth, rendering her unconscious. Paul adn Karla took turns raping Tammy. The couple recorded the entire incident.

Tammy began vomiting uncontrollably during the attack. She stopped breathing. Karla and Paul got her dressed and carried her upstairs to her bedroom. The couple called an ambulance.

T Homloka

Tammy never woke up. She was pronounced dead at the hospital a few hours later. Medical experts believed her death was accidental; Paul and Karla were off the hook.

Seeing her sister die did not faze Karla. In fact, she enjoyed it and admitted as much to Paul. In January 1991, she and Paul recorded a video they titled “The Fireside Chat” from Tammy’s bedroom. Karla admitted on tape that she enjoyed the rape, but wanted to leave a rose on her sister’s grave. She then dressed up in Tammy’s clothes and had sex with Paul on her sister’s bed.

A few months later, she and Paul would marry and be on the prowl for another victim​.

Paul and Karla abducted, raped, and killed two more people before she left him due to severe domestic abuse. How ironic. She could inflict pain and torture other people to the extent of killing them to please her man, but wanted protection when he turned on her.

Arrest, Conviction & Release

Paul and Karla were arrested in February 1993 after Paul’s DNA was connected to several rapes in the Toronto area.

Police learned the truth behind Tammy’s death years later after Karla confessed.

Karla

Karla is now living her best life in Canada, thanks to a plea deal that freed her in 2005. She played the role of an abuse victim, pretending she was forced to participate in the crimes. Only later did the videos and other evidence come out, proving Karla had a much bigger role in the crimes than she admitted.

She married her defense lawyer’s brother after her release. Together, the couple had three children. Despite her horrid past, neither the courts nor children's services intervened in their custody.

Paul remains behind barsin a Canadian prison.

Sources:

https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/csj-sjc/ilp-pji/pb-rpc/pb4-rpc4.html

https://ca.vlex.com/vid/r-v-bernardo-p-681367033

https://archive.org/details/mag_00006740/mag_00006740_djvu.txt

https://allthatsinteresting.com/tammy-homolka

guilty

About the Creator

Criminal Matters

The best of the worst true crime, history, strange and Unusual stories.

Graphic material. Intended for a mature audience ONLY.

Follow me @ facebook.com/criminalmatterspage

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