Aug. 27, 1964
Paul Bernardo is born to Kenneth and Marilyn Bernardo, as a result of her affair with a former boyfriend, in Scarborough, Ontario.

May 1975
Bernardo becomes close friends with Van and Steve from his neighbourhood and the three begin to start fires.

June 1980
Bernardo is told by his mother that Kenneth was not his real father. Paul begins calling his mother a slut and whore. She begins to call him a bastard.
Bernardo’s mother becomes withdrawn from the family and lives in the basement. Bernardo’s father begins sexually molesting his sister.

1982
Graduated from Sir Wilfred Laurier High School.

Fall 1983

Bernardo begins classes at the University of Toronto, Scarborough campus, and tells his friend Van about his “Virgin Farm Fantasy” where he would keep women as sex slaves. The women Bernardo dates describe him as abusive and controlling.

1985
Bernardo’s father is arrested for peeping in neighbourhood windows.

Summer 1986
Bernardo receives two restraining orders: one from an ex-girlfriend and another from his friend Van’s ex-girlfriend to whom he had been making obscene phone calls.

1987
Bernardo graduates and becomes a junior accountant at Price Waterhouse in Toronto.

The Scarborough Rapist

May 4, 1987
Bernardo rapes a woman as she waits at a bus stop, dragging her at knife point into bushes.

May 14, 1987
Bernardo rapes another woman in front of her house.

July 27, 1987
Bernardo attempts another rape of a woman at a bus stop.

Oct., 1987
Bernardo met Karla Homolka, 17, at a Howard Johnson’s Hotel in Toronto where she was attending a pet convention.

Bernardo and Homolka have sex the first night and he takes her name and number.

Nov. 1987
Bernardo and Karla meet again. Paul drives to see Karla twice a week, and gives her love and attention as their relationship develops. Eventually, he starts to run every aspect of her life. He tells her what to wear, how to style her hair, what opinions to have and what to eat. He calls her fat and ugly. He learns that Karla is not a virgin and he is upset about this, although he is still very interested in her.

Dec. 16, 1987
Paul commits 3rd rape, age 15, getting off a bus, media coins the name “Scarborough Rapist”

Dec. 23, 1987
Paul commits 4th rape, age 27, stalked and attacked her with a knife

1988 Karla’s friends find handcuffs in her bedroom; Karla reveals that Paul enjoys “playing games” in bed

March 1988
The Scarborough Rapist Task Force is formed by Metro Police.

April 18, 1988
Paul commits 5th rape, age 19, getting of the bus

May 30, 1988
Paul commits 6th rape, age 18, 10 miles from Scarborough

Oct. 4, 1988
Paul attempts 7th rape, she fought him off, stab wounds on thigh and buttock, 12 stitches

Nov. 1, 1988
Bernardo meets a girl named Anna and begins dating her while he is in Toronto, and also continues to see Karla. Paul also begins to become attracted to Karla’s younger sister Tammy. He demands that Tammy not have sex with any guy.
Paul commits 7th rape, age 18, parent’s backyard

Dec. 27, 1988
Paul attempts 8th rape, chased him off by getting neighbour’s attention

June 20, 1989
Paul attempts 8th rape again, she screams for her neighbours, he flees

Aug. 15, 1989
Paul commits 8th rape, age 22, stalked her outside her window

Nov. 21, 1989
Paul commits 9th rape, age 15, at a bus shelter

May 26, 1990
Paul commits 11th rape, age 19, exiting a bus

Nov. 20, 1990
Detectives interview Paul for 35 minutes, Paul gives them hair, saliva, and blood samples for testing, swears that he isn’t the Scarborough rapist