Latest news with #PennyBoudreau
Global News
20-06-2025
- Global News
Penny Boudreau being given prison leave is a disappointment: ex-RCMP investigator
A former RCMP investigator who worked on the Karissa Boudreau murder case says he's disappointed with the recent decision to grant her mother, Penny Boudreau, unescorted leave from prison. Penny pleaded guilty in 2008 to killing her 12-year-old daughter and was convicted of second-degree murder. John Elliott, a former Southwest Nova RCMP major crimes sergeant, says the decision fails to recognize the nature of the crime. 'It was a horrendous crime. Let's face it, how often do we hear of this type of crime where a mother murders her child?' he said. 'It just hit home with a lot of people that the sentence she received … 20 years really doesn't seem like a lot. It's been 17 already.' Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Elliott was one of the officers called in back in 2008 to investigate when Karissa's body was discovered along the LaHave River in Bridgewater, N.S. Story continues below advertisement 'I witnessed, almost first-hand, when Penny gave her … confession. I was there watching that in another room, but via video,' he recalled. 'There wasn't any high fives or anything like that. There was more tears in the rooms to hear that confession.' 5:34 Mommy Don't book author talks Penny Boudreau At Penny's parole hearing in Truro, N.S., this week, the parole board granted her 60-day unescorted day parole — ruling she wasn't ready to be fully unrestricted in the community. 'These are more rare than a temporary day pass, day parole. There are more restrictions placed upon individuals who have an unescorted temporary absence,' said Michael Boudreau, a St. Thomas University criminology professor. 'But what it also highlights is that this individual in particular has been able to display to the Parole Board of Canada that they are making progress to transition out of custody.'
CBC
19-06-2025
- CBC
N.S. woman who killed daughter granted 60-day pass from prison, but not parole
A Nova Scotia woman who murdered her 12-year-old daughter in 2008 has been granted an unescorted pass from prison for 60 days. But the Parole Board of Canada denied Penny Boudreau's request Wednesday for day parole, saying she wasn't ready to live in a community for a more prolonged period with fewer restrictions. In January 2009, Boudreau pleaded guilty to second-degree murder after admitting she had used a length of twine to strangle Karissa Boudreau on the night of Jan. 27, 2008. Court heard that the woman from Bridgewater, N.S., now in her 50s, wanted the girl out of the way because she was interfering with Boudreau's relationship with a boyfriend. Boudreau was sentenced to 20 years in prison. But under federal law, she was allowed to apply for day parole or a so-called unescorted temporary absence (UTA) with three years left in her sentence. Day parole can be granted for up to six months and is less restrictive than a UTA. In both cases, offenders must return at night to a supervised setting like a halfway house, but there is closer supervision and more restrictions for those on a UTA. Those on day parole, for example, can apply to leave unescorted for a weekend, but those on a UTA can't do that. As the hearing in Truro, N.S., began Wednesday, Karissa's father, Paul Boudreau, read from a statement saying his daughter's death had left a huge void in his life. "Am I a failure as a father? Should I have seen this coming?" he said. "This turmoil has lowered my self-worth to a very low point.... Life will never be the same for many of us." The hearing, led by a two-member panel from the parole board, heard Boudreau had completed correctional programs and had received treatment from a mental health team while working as an assistant to the chaplain at the Nova Institution for Women in Truro. "You've made good use of the time," a panel member said. "You've led a productive lifestyle." As well, they were told Boudreau had been granted escorted day passes for the past seven years and participated in psychological risk assessments that determined she was at a very low risk to reoffend. Unhealthy, intimate relationships risk But the panel also heard she is considered a high risk for entering into unhealthy, intimate relationships. Throughout the hearing, Boudreau spoke barely above a whisper. At times, she struggled to answer questions about how she would cope in certain situations. And she lost her composure several times, dabbing her eyes with a tissue as she sobbed. When asked to reflect on the impact her actions have had on the broader community, she struggled to respond. "A great deal of consideration went into the impact on the community," she said, drawing a deep breath. "I have talked about it with several people.... And I feel like people are going to be hurting.... I don't know if there's anything I could do to mitigate causing more hurt or anger." She also mentioned how her unescorted day passes allowed for a gradual reintegration into society. 'There's still work to be done' "It would have been overwhelming to do this too much," she said. "It's allowed me to be gradually hopeful that I can do this." But when she was asked to rate her overall progress in prison on a scale from 1 to 10, she said she rated herself at 6 or a 7. "That means there's still work to be done," a board member told the hearing as it drew to a close. "The board thinks you're very conscious of the work that needs to be done on relationships, managing emotions and dealing with obstacles that can be highly stressful." The board member said Boudreau's limited criminal history was offset by the nature and severity of her crime. "The impact of your crime cannot be overstated," he said. "This impact remains very much alive ... And the board remains very mindful of the protection of society." UTA conditional The board members decided they would review Boudreau's case in six months. They also said her UTA was conditional on her continuing with mental health treatment, avoiding contact with the victim's family and reporting any new relationships with men, and confirming whether they have parental responsibilities for anyone under 16. When asked if she had any additional information to share, Boudreau sobbed again as she acknowledged that many people in Nova Scotia are still hurting because of her actions. "I realize that I can't undo it. I just want it known that I don't take this lightly at all."
Daily Mail
19-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Evil mother who murdered 12 year-old daughter with twine as girl screamed 'Mommy don't!' demands early prison release
A Canadian mother who strangled her daughter with twine as the girl screamed: 'Mommy don't' has asked to be released early from prison. Penny Boudreau, 51, of Nova Scotia, killed her daughter Karissa, 12, in 2008 and left her dead body in a riverbank, then claimed the youngster had been abducted and went on TV to plead for her safe return. Boudreau was seen on the news crying for her daughter's safe return, telling the public how much she loved the girl, and how desperately she wanted her home safe. Thirteen days after her mother reported her missing, her body was found on the LaHave riverbank, which is located less than five minutes from Boudreau's apartment. Police launched an investigation that focused on Boudreau's contentious boyfriend, who Karissa didn't like, after there were reports of yelling and fighting in their apartment. Months later, police staged a fake crime organization to elicit a confession from the mother-of-one, who admitted she strangled her daughter on a deserted road to people she didn't realize were police. Now, Boudreau is requesting to be released early from her life sentence at the Nova Institute for Women in Truro, The National Post reported. The mother was sentenced to life but is eligible for parole after 20 years. However, she can apply for unescorted day parole passes three years before her parole eligibility under the Corrections and Conditional Release Act. Her first request has to be reviewed at a hearing, which took place on Wednesday. Day release would allow the murderer to participate in community-based activity ahead of her potential release. It authorized a 60-day unescorted temporary release before it will reevaluate giving her six months of day parole. She will be required to report any relationships with men and disclose if they have parental responsibility of children under 16. She must also stay away from several members of the victim's family. She also has to follow a mental health program, as she was diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and has borderline personality traits, according to CBC. Offenders are required to return to a halfway house nightly. Boudreau toured one in December, The Post said. Boudreau works as a cleaner for her prison unit and is also in charge of ordering groceries for the women who live with her, The Post reported. She has also been given escorted temporary absences from jail to attend church and bible studies. However, her request has received some backlash from the public, who haven't forgotten about her heinous crime. 'I think she should serve what she was sentenced to,' Karissa's childhood friend, Courtney Sarty, 29, who now has a child of her own, told The National Post. 'I read that her assessment to reoffend is really low and that she's not probable to commit the same crime. Killing Karissa was unprovoked, so who is to say it wouldn't take the right situation for her to do something again. 'If she is given parole, I don't think she should have access to children whatsoever... I have my own son and my love is deep. He could curse me and put me down to the lowest, and I'm still going to look at him and say: "I love you."' However, Boudreau still has some in her corner, as an unidentified pastor at the church she attends said the organization is ready to continue supporting her while she works toward release. Boudreau has been described as having a low risk for day parole as she is no longer in an unhealthy relationship and has spoken about how she has 'work[ed] through the many emotions that come with accepting the offense you committed, daily feelings of guilt and shame,' The Post reported. When the time took place, Karissa had recently moved in with her mother and her boyfriend and the girl's diary revealed how she resented living with him. On January 27, 2008, Boudreau claimed she took Karissa on a drive to have a one-on-one chat with her. After a storm rolled in, she stopped at a grocery store to pick up a few items and left Karissa in the car. When she returned, the girl was gone. The mother would report her daughter missing two hours later, despite knowing that her story was false and her daughter's body was lying in a riverbank. While she strangled her daughter, the girl yelled at out: "Mommy don't,' as she knelt on her chest and strangled her with twine, the mother admitted. She then placed her daughter's body in the car and drove it to the riverbank, where she pulled down the girl's pants to make it look like she was assaulted, then rolled it down the bank. Judge Margaret Stewart told Boudreau at the time that she hoped those words would 'haunt you the rest of your natural life.' Prosecutors said Bourdeau murdered her daughter due to fear of abandonment from her boyfriend, whom she no longer talks to. Boudreau was charged with first-degree murder, but pleaded guilty to second-degree.
CTV News
18-06-2025
- CTV News
Nova Scotia woman who killed daughter granted day passes from prison, but not parole
Penny Boudreau is escorted from provincial court after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in the death of her daughter, Karissa Boudreau, in Bridgewater, N.S., on Friday, Jan. 30, 2009. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan TRURO — A Nova Scotia woman who murdered her 12-year-old daughter in 2008 has been granted an unescorted pass from prison for 60 days. But the Parole Board of Canada denied Penny Boudreau's request Wednesday for day parole, saying she wasn't ready to live in a community for a more prolonged period with fewer restrictions. In January 2009, Boudreau pleaded guilty to second-degree murder after admitting she had used a length of twine to strangle Karissa Boudreau on the night of Jan. 27, 2008. Court heard that the woman from Bridgewater, N.S., now in her 50s, wanted the girl out of the way because she was interfering with Boudreau's relationship with a boyfriend. Boudreau was sentenced to 20 years in prison. But under federal law, she was allowed to apply for day parole or a so-called unescorted temporary absence (UTA) with three years left in her sentence. Day parole can be granted for up to six months and is less restrictive than a UTA. In both cases, offenders must return at night to a supervised setting like a halfway house, but there is closer supervision and more restrictions for those on a UTA. Those on day parole, for example, can apply to leave unescorted for a weekend, but those on a UTA can't do that. As the hearing in Truro, N.S., began Wednesday, Karissa's father, Paul Boudreau, read from a statement saying his daughter's death had left a huge void in his life. 'Am I a failure as a father? Should I have seen this coming?' he said. 'This turmoil has lowered my self-worth to a very low point .... Life will never be the same for many of us.' The hearing, led by a two-member panel from the parole board, heard Boudreau had completed correctional programs and had received treatment from a mental health team while working as an assistant to the chaplain at the Nova Institution for Women in Truro. 'You've made good use of the time,' a panel member said. 'You've led a productive lifestyle.' As well, they were told Boudreau had been granted escorted day passes for the past seven years and participated in psychological risk assessments that determined she was at a very low risk to re-offend. But the panel also heard she is considered a high risk for entering into unhealthy, intimate relationships. Throughout the hearing, Boudreau spoke barely above a whisper. At times, she struggled to answer questions about how she would cope in certain situations. And she lost her composure several times, dabbing her eyes with a tissue as she sobbed. When asked to reflect on the impact her actions have had on the broader community, she struggled to respond. 'A great deal of consideration went into the impact on the community,' she said, drawing a deep breath. 'I have talked about it with several people .... And I feel like people are going to be hurting .... I don't know if there's anything I could do to mitigate causing more hurt or anger.' She also mentioned how her unescorted day passes allowed for a gradual reintegration into society. 'It would have been overwhelming to do this too much,' she said. 'It's allowed me to be gradually hopeful that I can do this.' But when she was asked to rate her overall progress in prison on a scale from 1 to 10, she said she rated herself at 6 or a 7. 'That means there's still work to be done,' a board member told the hearing as it drew to a close. 'The board thinks you're very conscious of the work that needs to be done on relationships, managing emotions and dealing with obstacles that can be highly stressful.' The board member said Boudreau's limited criminal history was offset by the nature and severity of her crime. 'The impact of your crime cannot be overstated,' he said. 'This impact remains very much alive ... And the board remains very mindful of the protection of society.' The board members decided they would review Boudreau's case in six months. They also said her UTA was conditional on her continuing with mental health treatment, avoiding contact with the victim's family and reporting any new relationships with men, and confirming whether they have parental responsibilities for anyone under 16. When asked if she had any additional information to share, Boudreau sobbed again as she acknowledged that many people in Nova Scotia are still hurting because of her actions. 'I realize that I can't undo it. I just want it known that I don't take this lightly at all.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 18, 2025. The Canadian Press
Global News
18-06-2025
- Global News
Nova Scotia woman who killed daughter granted day passes from prison, but not parole
A Nova Scotia woman who murdered her 12-year-old daughter in 2008 has been granted unescorted day passes from prison for 60 days. But the Parole Board of Canada has denied Penny Boudreau's request for day parole, saying she wasn't ready to live in a community even though she would be required to return to a supervised setting at night. Boudreau was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the Jan. 27, 2008, death of Karissa Boudreau, after pleading guilty to second-degree murder for strangling her only child. Earlier today, the parole board decided Boudreau's unescorted single-day passes from prison will be supervised in a way that ensures the safety of the community she chooses, while contributing to her reintegration into society. 7:58 Former RCMP Sergeant Writes Book On One of Nova Scotia's Most Infamous Murders During a hearing at the Nova Institution for Women in Truro, N.S., the board heard Boudreau had completed correctional programs and had worked with a mental health team while working as an assistant to the prison's chaplain. Story continues below advertisement But the panel also heard Boudreau admit that, on a scale from 1 to 10, she considered herself a 6 or a 7 when it came to assessing the progress she had made in prison. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'That means there's still work to be done,' a board member told the hearing 'The board thinks you're very conscious of the work that needs to be done on relationships, managing emotions and dealing with obstacles that can be highly stressful. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 18, 2025.
