Yearbook photo

Kristen Dawn French (May 10, 1976 – April 19, 1992) was a Canadian schoolgirl who resided in St. Catharines, Ontario until she was abducted, tortured, and murdered by Karla Homolka and Paul Bernardo. She was held captive and tortured for three days, until they killed her on April 19, 1992.^[1] Image File history File links Bernardo-Kristen. ... Image File history File links Bernardo-Kristen. ... May 10 is the 130th day of the year (131st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ... April 19 is the 109th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (110th in leap years). ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... Torture is defined by the United Nations Convention Against Torture as any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he... Karla Leanne Homolka, also known as Karla Leanne Teale (born May 4, 1970 in Port Credit, Ontario, Canada), is a Canadian serial killer who attracted worldwide media attention when she was convicted of helping her husband, Paul Bernardo, rape and murder teenage girls, including her own sister Tammy Homolka. ... Paul Kenneth Bernardo, (he later assumed the name Paul Teale) (born August 27, 1964 in Scarborough, Ontario), is a Canadian serial killer, known for the murders he committed with his wife Karla Homolka. ...

French was on her way home from Holy Cross Secondary School, a Catholic school in St. Catharines, Ontario when she was approached in a church parking lot by Homolka and Bernardo under the pretence of needing directions. While she assisted Homolka with the directions, Bernardo forced her into the car at knife point. ^[2] Nickname: The Garden City Motto: Industry and Liberality Location of St. ... Motto: Ut Incepit Fidelis Sic Permanet (Latin: Loyal she began, loyal she remains) Capital Toronto Largest city Toronto Official languages English Government - Lieutenant-Governor James K. Bartleman - Premier Dalton McGuinty (Liberal) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 106 - Senate seats 24 Confederation July 1, 1867 (1st) Area Ranked 4th...

Her naked body was found in a ditch several kilometres away in Burlington on April 30, 1992. There was physical evidence of torture and rape, and a videotape which Bernardo made of her captivity and torture later proved to be key evidence in his trial. Motto: Stand By Coordinates: Country Canada Province Ontario Region Halton Regional Municipality Established 1874 Government  - Mayor Cam Jackson  - Governing Body Burlington City Council  - MPs Mike Wallace (CPC), Garth Turner (Liberal)  - MPPs Joyce Savoline (PC), Ted Chudleigh (PC) Area  - City 187 km²  (72 sq mi) Population (2006)  - City 164,415 (Ranked... April 30 is the 120th day of the year (121st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... Torture is defined by the United Nations Convention Against Torture as any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he...

Her kidnapping was seen by eyewitnesses and was part of a perceived series of disappearances of Ontario schoolgirls (another kidnapping, that of Leslie Mahaffy, was also due to Bernardo and Homolka), and received very wide coverage in Canadian newsmedia. Her murder and the subsequent criminal trials remain one of the best-known criminal cases in Canadian history. Yearbook photo Leslie Erin Mahaffy (July 1, 1976 – June 14, 1991) was a Canadian girl who was murdered by serial killers Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka. ...

While French was missing, her fellow students, teachers and friends at Holy Cross Secondary School chose the Green Ribbon of Hope as the symbol for their search. French's school community also gave the name to the Green Ribbon of Hope Campaign, a national campaign continued to this day by Child Find Canada, governments, organizations and individuals to raise funds and awareness for missing children. The green ribbon is been used as a symbol for many campaigns, including various campaigns for environmental justice. ... In the United Kingdom, there are a number of unsolved murders. ...

The Green Ribbon Trail in St. Catharines was named in her honour. A monument to Kristen's memory stands at the beginning of the trail. The ribbon also gave its name to the Green Ribbon Task Force, the police group tasked with finding French and Mahaffy's killers, though they later found themselves embroiled in controversy over the role of media in police investigations.

Kristen French is remembered for the way she resisted her abductors. She declined cooperation with abductors in later period of abduction: "Some things are worth dying for." ^[3] She said to Bernardo:¨"I don't know how your wife can stand to be around you." On one of the memorials dedicated to her, it says "Her legacy proves an inspiration." ^[4]

References

1. ^ "Record of horror", People Weekly, 1995. Vol. 44, Iss. 12, Time Incorporated, New York, 1995-09-18, pp. 235 – 239. Retrieved on 2006-12-12. 
2. ^ Stephen Williams: Invisible Darkness
3. ^ Bernardo Trial Gets Underway
4. ^ Curriculum Vitae and virtual grave