Karly Curls 2.0

Karla Homolka honeymooning in Hawaii with Paul Bernardo

Like countless other teen queen's of yesteryear, Karla Homolka continues to evolve with the times. The woman who once dreamed of being showered with gifts and affection from "Big Bad Businessman" and serial rapist Paul Bernardo, now seems content in raising her three young children in relative anonymity. I use the term "relative" because I don't believe that it's possible for her to live completely under the radar, and not for the reasons that you might think.

Most who have followed the case know that Karla's unassuming life as a mother and teacher has received a lot of media attention following the release of Paula Todd's e-book Finding Karla. However, full credit for unearthing Homolka in Guadeloupe cannot be given to Todd, as she merely proved correct a number of long-standing theories that had been freely available online. Not even the savvy staff at the popular forum WatchingKarlaHomolka (now WKH2012), who first confirmed her new location, can lay exclusive claim to bragging rights concerning the scoop.

So who is really responsible for finding Karla? The answer is: Karla Homolka herself.

Although her murderous misdeeds resulted in the loss of most of her friends and caused her to go into hiding in fear of intense public scrutiny (or worse), it clearly has not diminished her ability to claw her way to the top of the figurative totem pole. Her real-life friends have been replaced with online communities in keeping with her decidely more mature interests. Nowadays, Karla (or Emily, as she calls herself) is like June Cleaver in Technicolour: she does everything your Mom did, and more! Did you know that she's taken up knitting?

I've been following her online activities for some time now, and I am often struck by how one-sided her contributions to the various sites appear. She seems more interested in giving advice than taking any, and I am utterly amazed by how quickly she has picked up "netspeak" and all the other little ins and outs of communicating online. Reading through pages upon pages of her commentary, it is easy to forget that she was still serving time in jail for her part in the murder of three teenage girls back when most of us were setting up our Facebook accounts.

Homolka continues to maintain her online persona, even after her exposure has led to curiosity-seekers rifling through her stuff like it's a clearance bin at the Pick n' Save. Given what I have come to know about Karla, I think she needs those online communities like most people need air. For someone who has always been so concerned with appearances, it must be like Hell on Earth for her to live so far from the centre of a thriving social scene. The woman who once revelled in being the envy of all her friends is now cut off from all that she knew to the point that she must feel all but invisible.

But she isn't invisible online. Online, she's not 50% of the Ken & Barbie Killers; she's a way better mother than you'll ever be. Or so she likes to think...

Here are some pictures for the curiosity-seekers to enjoy. Many thanks to L. for bringing these to my attention!

You'll notice that she has been careful not to show her face. While pictures of her kids were once carelessly plastered all over various public message boards, Karla has never posted images of herself (from the neck up, anyway).

Typical Karla, always looking out for her own best interest.