Nova ScotiaA Nova Scotia woman convicted of murdering her daughter in 2008 is being granted more escorted passes from prison.Boudreau, who killed daughter in 2008, granted more prison passes to help her prepare for eventual releaseBlair Rhodes · CBC News · Posted: Apr 23, 2025 4:45 PM EDT | Last Updated: 12 hours agoPenny Boudreau is escorted from provincial court in Bridgewater, N.S., in 2009 after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in the death of her daughter, Karissa. (Andrew Vaughan/The Canadian Press)A Bridgewater, N.S., woman who choked her daughter to death while the child begged for mercy is being granted more escorted passes from prison.Penny Boudreau was convicted of second-degree murder in the 2008 death of her 12-year-old daughter Karissa. The conviction carries an automatic life sentence and the judge set her parole ineligibility at 20 years.As she approaches the end of her sentence, the Parole Board of Canada has been granting her escorted temporary absences to help her adjust. The board notes this has been going on since 2018 without incident. The only disruption came during the COVID-19 pandemic when travel restrictions were imposed on everyone.”You have referenced experiencing low self-esteem, a sense of inadequacy, fears of abandonment and being generally inadequate,” the board wrote following a hearing on March 28.”Those aspects of your personality and social deficits have likely contributed to your involvement in what you characterize as unhealthy intimate relationships.”Boudreau, who turns 51 this year, has used her previous absences to attend church functions and spend time with a female friend.”You have no meaningful family supports other than those that have slowly developed through your involvement with a church and person who is an active member of the congregation,” the report notes.”All but abandoned by family and community, involvement with the chaplaincy service has been your primary social outlet.”The board granted Boudreau permission for up to 18 escorted absences to attend church-related activities, and four absences to visit her friend’s home. The board does not say where Boudreau is being held in Canada, or where the escorted absences would take place. The board said it appears the Correctional Service of Canada is looking at June of this year as a time to possibly grant Boudreau more freedoms, including unescorted absences from prison.ABOUT THE AUTHORBlair Rhodes has been a journalist for more than 40 years, the last 31 with CBC. His primary focus is on stories of crime and public safety. He can be reached at blair.rhodes@cbc.ca
Penny Boudreau, convicted in daughter’s death, granted more escorted prison passes
