Before he became known for two teenage girls' murders, he was already a serial rapist responsible for at least a dozen attacks -- and one innocent man had already served prison time for a crime that was actually his.
A Series of Attacks
Between 1987 and 1990, Paul Bernardo committed a series of escalating sexual assaults in and around Scarborough, Ontario, a suburb of Toronto, targeting young women and girls, some as young as 15. Police issued public warnings to women in the area, and media coverage of the unidentified attacker gave rise to the nickname "the Scarborough Rapist."
A Wrongful Conviction
In one of the attacks, a 15-year-old girl was assaulted in her own bedroom. Anthony Hanemaayer, 19 at the time, was wrongfully convicted of the assault in 1989 and served a prison sentence before Bernardo's own 2006 admission to the crime led to Hanemaayer's exoneration.
Escalation to Murder
In the early 1990s, Bernardo, together with his wife, Karla Homolka, escalated to murder, killing three people, including Homolka's own younger sister, Tammy, and two teenage girls, Leslie Mahaffy and Kristen French. We are not detailing the specific circumstances of these crimes, given the ages of the victims involved.
Arrest and Conviction
Bernardo was arrested and eventually convicted on numerous counts including first-degree murder, and was sentenced to life in prison. He was later formally declared a dangerous offender, a designation intended to ensure he is unlikely ever to be released. Karla Homolka, who testified against Bernardo as part of a plea agreement, received a significantly shorter sentence, a deal that has remained controversial given the full scope of her involvement that later came to light.
FAQ
How many rapes was Paul Bernardo connected to before the murders?
At least a dozen documented sexual assaults in the Scarborough area between 1987 and 1990.
Was an innocent person ever convicted of one of Bernardo's crimes?
Yes. Anthony Hanemaayer served prison time for an assault Bernardo later admitted to committing, leading to Hanemaayer's exoneration in 2006.
What happened to Karla Homolka?
She received a reduced sentence in exchange for testifying against Bernardo, a plea deal that drew significant public controversy.