Karla Homolka is a name synonymous with one of the most infamous criminal cases in Canadian history. Her involvement in the brutal crimes alongside her former husband, Paul Bernardo, captivated the nation and led to years of legal scrutiny and media attention. Yet, despite her notorious past, Homolka has managed to forge a new life after her release from prison, including finding love and getting remarried. This article delves deep into Karla Homolka’s husband, Thierry Bordelais, their family life, and how the past continues to influence their present.
Karla Homolka’s Notorious Past
To understand Karla Homolka’s current life, including her marriage to her husband, it is essential to revisit her dark past. Karla, alongside Paul Bernardo, was involved in the rapes and murders of several young women in the early 1990s, including her own sister, Tammy Homolka. Dubbed the “Ken and Barbie Killers” by the media due to their youthful appearance and seemingly perfect relationship, the couple’s heinous acts shocked the world.
Homolka’s role in the crimes was initially portrayed as that of a battered wife coerced by her domineering husband. However, videotapes later emerged that suggested she had been a willing participant. In 1993, Karla Homolka entered a plea bargain, pleading guilty to manslaughter in exchange for a reduced sentence of 12 years, which many critics labeled as the “deal with the devil.”
Homolka was released from prison in 2005, after serving her full sentence. Many expected her to fade into obscurity, but her life has continued to draw attention, especially after she remarried and started a family.
Life After Prison: Karla Homolka’s Second Marriage
Meeting Her Husband Thierry Bordelais
After serving her prison sentence, Karla Homolka did not waste time in starting anew. She relocated to the province of Quebec, where she quietly began building a new life for herself. It was there that she met her current husband, Thierry Bordelais.
Thierry Bordelais is not just any man who stumbled upon Karla Homolka. He is, in fact, the brother of Homolka’s former lawyer, Sylvie Bordelais, who represented her during her infamous criminal trial. The two reportedly began their relationship after Homolka’s release, and within a few years, they were married.
Bordelais’ decision to marry Homolka surprised many, given her notorious history. However, he has maintained a low profile throughout their relationship, avoiding the media spotlight as much as possible. Their marriage has largely remained private, though the couple’s attempts to lead a normal life have often been hampered by Homolka’s past, which continues to cast a long shadow over their family.
Building a Family Together
Despite the public scrutiny, Karla Homolka and her husband Thierry Bordelais have managed to establish a relatively normal family life. The couple has three children, and by all accounts, they have tried to shield them from the media attention surrounding their mother’s past. Homolka has lived under several aliases over the years, attempting to keep a low profile and protect her family from the prying eyes of the press and the public.
They initially settled in Châteauguay, a suburb of Montreal, where Homolka worked as a school volunteer for a time, sparking outrage from parents when her identity became known. Eventually, the family was forced to relocate due to the public backlash, and they have since moved to various locations, all in an effort to maintain their privacy.
Who Is Thierry Bordelais?
While much of the focus has been on Karla Homolka, little is known about her husband, Thierry Bordelais. Bordelais has largely avoided the public eye, but certain aspects of his life have emerged. As mentioned earlier, he is the brother of Sylvie Bordelais, who was part of Homolka’s legal team during her trial. His relationship with Karla began sometime after she completed her prison sentence, though the exact details of how they met are unclear.
Bordelais’ profession and personal life have remained largely out of the spotlight, which is likely intentional given the attention Homolka’s past still receives. He has managed to keep his identity relatively protected from the media, helping to provide a semblance of normalcy for his family.
Although little is known about Bordelais’ personal views, his decision to marry Karla Homolka speaks volumes about his loyalty and dedication to her despite the notoriety surrounding her past. While some may question his choice, Bordelais has stood by her side, helping her rebuild her life after prison.
Life in the Shadows: The Challenges of Marriage to a Notorious Figure
Public Scrutiny and Media Attention
Living with a controversial figure like Karla Homolka comes with significant challenges. Over the years, the family has been forced to move several times due to public outrage whenever Homolka’s presence is discovered in a community. Despite her efforts to live a quiet life, she remains a figure of intense fascination and disgust for many people, making it difficult for the couple and their children to live without interruption.
Media outlets continue to track Karla Homolka’s movements, reporting on her whereabouts, her activities, and the life she shares with her husband and children. This has resulted in numerous relocations, as Homolka and Bordelais strive to shield their children from the harmful impact of such attention.
The pressure of living in the shadows has no doubt affected the couple’s marriage. The relentless public scrutiny has made it difficult for them to establish a peaceful, private existence, which is the goal most families aspire to achieve.
Parenting and Raising Children
Karla Homolka’s past also complicates her role as a mother. She and her husband have reportedly gone to great lengths to protect their children from the truth about her history. Homolka has lived under aliases and has even taken on new names to conceal her identity. Nevertheless, incidents such as her volunteering at her children’s school have drawn unwanted attention, leading to public uproar.
In raising their children, both Homolka and Bordelais must contend with the challenge of balancing the desire to keep their family life private with the realities of Homolka’s past continually surfacing in the media. While they strive to raise their children in a normal environment, the specter of Karla’s criminal history inevitably complicates their efforts.
Public Reactions to Karla Homolka’s Marriage
Karla Homolka’s marriage to Thierry Bordelais has not been without controversy. Many people continue to hold strong negative feelings toward Homolka, viewing her as an unrepentant criminal who should not have been allowed to reintegrate into society, much less marry and start a family. Public sentiment around her remains intense, with some questioning Bordelais’ decision to marry her despite her past.
Some members of the public have even expressed anger and frustration that Homolka was able to move on with her life in ways that her victims were denied. These sentiments have made it difficult for the couple to live openly, as they constantly face backlash when Homolka’s identity becomes known.
Even so, there are others who believe that Karla Homolka has paid her debt to society by serving her prison sentence and that she deserves a second chance. This perspective emphasizes rehabilitation and the belief that people can change, though it remains a minority view.
The Current Life of Karla Homolka and Thierry Bordelais
Relocation to the Caribbean
In recent years, reports have surfaced that Karla Homolka, her husband Thierry Bordelais, and their children have relocated to the Caribbean. This move was likely motivated by a desire for privacy and anonymity, which have proven to be difficult to maintain in Canada. The family’s decision to relocate was met with renewed media interest, though details about their life in the Caribbean remain scarce.
It is believed that the couple has found relative peace in their new location, though they continue to take measures to ensure their safety and privacy. For Karla Homolka and her husband, the move likely represents another attempt to escape the constant scrutiny they have faced since her release from prison.
Attempts to Lead a Normal Life
Despite the challenges they have faced, Karla Homolka and Thierry Bordelais continue to pursue a quiet and private life together. Their focus is on raising their children and maintaining as normal a lifestyle as possible under the circumstances. While Homolka’s past may never be fully forgotten or forgiven by the public, she and her husband have committed themselves to moving forward, creating a stable environment for their family.
Conclusion
Karla Homolka’s marriage to Thierry Bordelais is a fascinating chapter in her life post-incarceration. Their relationship underscores the complexities of moving on after serving time for heinous crimes, and how the past continues to shape the present. Despite the public outrage and media attention that persistently follow them, Karla Homolka and her husband have managed to build a life together, albeit one that is far from ordinary.
While their marriage may forever be shadowed by the notoriety of Homolka’s past, Thierry Bordelais has remained a steadfast partner in her journey toward building a new life. For better or worse, their union serves as a testament to the resilience of both individuals in the face of overwhelming public scrutiny.
FAQs About Karla Homolka’s Husband
1. Who is Karla Homolka’s current husband?
Karla Homolka’s current husband is Thierry Bordelais, the brother of her former lawyer, Sylvie Bordelais.
2. When did Karla Homolka and Thierry Bordelais get married?
Karla Homolka and Thierry Bordelais married after her release from prison in 2005, though the exact date is not publicly known.
3. How many children do Karla Homolka and Thierry Bordelais have?
The couple has three children together.
4. Where do Karla Homolka and her husband live now?
Recent reports suggest that Karla Homolka and her family have relocated to the Caribbean in an attempt to escape public scrutiny.
5. How has Karla Homolka’s past affected her marriage?
Karla Homolka’s past has significantly affected her marriage, as public outrage and media attention have forced the couple to move several times and live under aliases to protect their privacy.
6. What is Thierry Bordelais’ profession?
Little is known about Thierry Bordelais’ profession, as he has largely remained out of the public eye to avoid media attention.