Penny Patricia Boudreau, the Nova Scotia woman sentenced to life in prison for strangling her 12-year-old daughter Karissa in 2008, has been granted an additional six months of day parole after the Parole Board of Canada found she has demonstrated clear and measurable progress. The decision, released on June 18, 2026, notes that Boudreau is building skills and working towards paid employment.
Background of the Crime
On January 27, 2008, Boudreau drove around with Karissa for several hours, talking and arguing. After stopping for groceries, she drove to William Hebb Road in Bridgewater, N.S., ordered Karissa out of the car, and strangled her to death with a piece of twine. According to the Crown at her sentencing, Karissa’s last words were “Mommy don’t.” Boudreau then dumped the body prior to a snowstorm in hopes it would not be found quickly and reported Karissa missing to police. She later admitted the crime to an undercover officer and in an official interview.
Karissa’s remains were discovered on February 9, 2008, by a nine-year-old boy and his mother. Police began suspecting Boudreau two days later when neighbors overheard a disturbance in the apartment she shared with her then-boyfriend, Vernon Macumber, who was repeatedly saying “Penn, how could you do this.” Boudreau told the undercover officer that Macumber had given her an ultimatum to choose between him or Karissa.
Parole Board Decision
In its decision, the Parole Board of Canada noted that Boudreau “demonstrated an anti-social response to challenging emotions and acted violently without caring about others or the legal consequences.” The board cited a deficit of emotional regulation and problem solving, and considered her lack of self-control as aggravating to her risk to reoffend. Boudreau “went to extreme lengths, including taking the life of the victim, in order to avoid losing a relationship,” the decision stated.
However, the board acknowledged that Boudreau has not been in a new relationship since the crime, though she stayed in contact with Macumber for several years after her sentence began. “While you have made some progress in managing your risk, you still need support with emotional control and building healthy relationships,” the decision said. Her parole supervisor is required to monitor any future relationships to ensure they are healthy and include clear boundaries.
Progress and Conditions
The board highlighted that Boudreau has “demonstrated clear and measurable progress” while on day parole and is working towards paid employment. She was initially granted day parole in 2025 after serving 17 years of her life sentence. The new decision extends her day parole for another six months, with conditions including continued psychological counseling and restrictions on contact with victims’ families.
Boudreau pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in 2009 and was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 20 years. The Parole Board of Canada’s decision emphasizes that while progress has been made, Boudreau remains a risk and requires ongoing supervision.
