HALIFAX — A Nova Scotia woman serving a life sentence for strangling her own daughter to death has been granted six months of day parole.
Penny Patricia Boudreau murdered her 12-year-old daughter Karissa on Jan. 27, 2008, later claiming it was to save her relationship with her boyfriend. The following year, Boudreau pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. A judge sentenced her to life in prison with no chance of parole for 20 years.
“The board believes that you are on a journey of observable and measurable positive personal changes which have evolved over time,” said the decision granting Boudreau day parole, which was released Monday.
“It is of the opinion of the board that you have gained insight (into) why you committed the crime as well as its consequences on the victim’s family and the community. While there continues to be challenges with anxiety, you have shown that you are willing to challenge yourself and you have gained confidence while facing these challenges. Your high assessed levels of accountability and motivation show that you are ready to continue to put in the work necessary to continue your progress. The board believes that you are realistic in accepting that this will continue to be a slow and gradual process.”
Boudreau, now in her early 50s, has completed numerous escorted temporary absences from prison since they were first approved in 2018.
She has “made the necessary progress and (has) acquired greater insight so as to benefit from a longer absence in the community, which made this a desirable step in the evolution of your case,” said the decision granting her day parole.
During her escorted absences from prison, Boudreau has “interacted with members of the public through a church and visited the home of a close personal support,” said the decision. “There were no security concerns.”
The body of Karissa Boudreau, 12, was found in the snow along a riverbank in Bridgewater, N.S., about two weeks after she was last seen in her mother’s car Jan. 27, 2008. Penny Boudreau went on television to make a tearful plea for her return.
“You strangled her and disposed of her body in the snow, as you hoped it would not be discovered for a while. You then reported the victim missing to the police,” said the decision.
A psychological risk assessment for Boudreau completed in October 2024 indicates her “overall risk within the community on (unescorted temporary absences) and/or day parole was noted as generally low, while (her) global risk for future recidivism, whether violent or general, was estimated in the very low range,” said the parole decision.
The decision doesn’t indicate where Boudreau is serving her sentence.
The parole board acknowledged “significant community concerns regarding (Boudreau’s) reintegration under conditional release.”
The board fielded an emailed “threat to (Boudreau’s) personal safety” in January 2025, said the decision. “The threat was investigated by police; however, they were unable to confirm the identity of the person responsible.”
The Correctional Service of Canada notes Boudreau has “exhibited deficits in being able to solve interpersonal problems and (has) demonstrated poor decision-making in the past. It is also noted that (she has) previously struggled with feelings of insecurity, fear of abandonment, poor self-esteem and feelings of inadequacy.”
Killing Karissa “demonstrated an anti-social response to these negative feelings,” said the decision. “The board considers your lack of self-control when you committed the crime as aggravating to your risk to reoffend.”
Boudreau’s “emotions management” and her “relationships with others will need to be scrutinized and monitored,” said the decision, dated Dec. 4. “This is necessary to ensure that you have not fallen back to harmful thinking patterns that are similar to when you committed the crime.”
The board had previously granted Boudreau a 60-day unescorted absence at a halfway house from September to November.
“You were described as respectful, with a positive but realistic outlook. You participated in both individual and group program interventions, including courses on self-esteem and healthy relationships. You participated in a cooking program and other activities organized by peer supports. You were accompanied by staff most of the time for the first 30 days, after which you were permitted to go on short walks around the neighbourhood by yourself, which you said was very beneficial.”
Boudreau also met biweekly with a psychologist, who the board says is “supportive of day parole.”
During that recent leave, Boudreau “encountered anxiety issues around some of the challenges of communal living, namely a lack of hygiene and safe food handling by others, as (she is) used to budgeting and cooking for” herself, said her decision.
“However, after talking it through, you were able to adapt to your environment in a healthy way.”
Boudreau will return to the same halfway house, which is farther from Bridgewater and where she had connected with a religious organization. Local police didn’t object, the board said.
“You intend to continue your education through online webinars to update yourself with the latest information on nutrition,” said the decision.
“You intend to attend spiritual activities, and you have connected with local spiritual leaders which shows that you have begun to create a positive community support system.”
Boudreau must “immediately report all sexual and non-sexual relationships and friendships with males and any changes to the status of the relationships” to her parole officer, said the decision.
“This includes disclosing whether those (partners) have parental responsibilities for children under the age of 16 years.”
Boudreau won’t have leave privileges during her six months of day parole, said the parole board. “You must first demonstrate your ability to handle the challenges of day parole while your emotional regulation is closely monitored by (halfway house) staff. In addition, you must continue to strengthen and maintain a positive support network within the community.”
Boudreau must avoid contacting family while on day parole. “The victims deserve to live in peace without having any contact from you,” said the decision. “Any contact would force them to relive the events that forever changed their lives.”
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