N.S. mother who strangled daughter to death and dumped body gets 60-day unescorted leave

National Post

18-06-2025

A Nova Scotia woman serving a life sentence for strangling her own daughter to death has been granted a 60-day unescorted temporary absence from prison, but was denied day parole.
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Penny Patricia Boudreau will be living at a halfway house in an undisclosed location for the duration of the two-month release.
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'Your criminal history is limited, however that has very little mitigating impact in terms of the overall history because of the nature, the severity and the circumstances of your crime,' Francois Levert, a member of the parole board, said Wednesday.
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Boudreau murdered her 12-year-old daughter Karissa Boudreau on Jan. 27, 2008, later claiming it was to save her relationship with her then boyfriend, Vernon Macumber. The Crown later said he had no role in the crime.
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'Holding a position of trust, you strangled the young victim and disposed of the body in the snow (beside the LaHave River) with hopes it would not be discovered,' according to a written decision earlier this year from the parole board regarding Boudreau.
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'Moreover, you concocted a story that she might have been abducted and made public pleas for her return. An exhaustive police investigation involving undercover agents led to your arrest. It was your position that your decisions were taken to save your intimate relationship with your partner.'
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The 'paramount consideration' guiding Wednesday's decision is the protection of society, Levert said.
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Boudreau, now 51, has completed numerous escorted temporary absences from prison since they were first approved for her in 2018.
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'There's quite a bit of difference between a six-hour or seven-hour outing and a 60-day period,' Levert said.
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'The board believes that, at the current time, it is difficult to foresee … within two months … you'll be able to transition immediately' to day parole, he said.
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The parole board can't 'assume things will go well,' Levert said.
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While the board authorized the 60-day unescorted temporary absence for Boudreau, it wants to see how she does with that before giving her six months of day parole. On day parole, Boudreau would sleep at a halfway house, but she would be able to spend time in the community for work, education or treatment.
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During her 60-day release, Boudreau is to have no contact with several members of her victim's family that were identified only by initials at Wednesday's hearing. She must immediately report all relationships with men and disclose whether they have parental responsibility for children under 16. Boudreau must also follow a mental health treatment program.