Boudreau had a strained relationship with her daughter. Boudreau claims that her former partner, Vernon Macumber, gave her the ultimatum that either her daughter went or he would go. However, Macumber has denied this, stating, "I asked them, 'You have to do something about this,' because this is not a productive family when they're arguing and fighting. I'd come home and hear them screaming and hollering as I'd come up the stairs." Crown Attorney, Paul Scovil, told reporters, "We were satisfied he did not mean ... that she was to kill Karissa." On January 27, 2008, she drove Karissa to the outskirts of Bridgewater, tackled her to the ground, and strangled her with twine while kneeling on her chest. Macumber remained at home and was informed by Boudreau that Karissa had vanished from her car after she'd left it unattended. At 8:35 that same evening, Boudreau reported her daughter missing and made an appeal for anyone with information to come forward: “Her eyes swollen from crying, her face pale and drawn, she said, ‘I'm trying not to think the worst. It's plain and simple hell. Not knowing where your kids are is horrible.’” A study by two researchers at
Dalhousie University analysed Boudreau's press conference; “We analyzed her facial expression right when she made the plea for help and before there were charges against her. There were some cues to suggest that she was not genuine.” On February 9, 2008, Karissa's body was found with her jeans and underwear pulled down along the edge of an embankment in
Conquerall Bank. This was intended to give the impression of sexual assault,
Arrest and murder charge Boudreau's neighbours subsequently overheard her arguing with Macumber. The couple was consequently arrested on suspicion of murder. Macumber claims, "I told them whatever I could to help them. I always tried to help them until they started looking at me and accused me. I couldn't co-operate then. I was scared to death for me." In June 2025 she applied for day parole, but was deined by the Parole Board of Canada However, she was granted an unescorted pass from prison for 60 days. In December 2025 Penny Boudreau was granted day parole following no incidents during her 60 day unescorted pass from prison == Media ==