(Newser) – Notorious "schoolgirl killer" Karla Homolka appears to have been doing volunteer work at a private Montreal elementary school. Homolka's children attend Greaves Adventist Academy, which is operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Notre-Dame-de-Grace neighborhood, and local media including CTV recently reported that Homolka had done volunteer work including chaperoning a field trip, bringing her dog in for show-and-tell, and coming to class to talk to students about knitting. Now, though the church has not mentioned Homolka by name, it issued a statement appearing to address the controversy, the Toronto Star reports.

story continues below

The church said it has "heard and listened to the concerns of parents and members of the community uncomfortable with recent reports in the media" and that the school will no longer allow anyone with a criminal record to volunteer on school grounds. Earlier this week, a church spokesperson told City News that Homolka was never allowed to be alone with students, and that she was not a regular volunteer. Homolka and then-husband Paul Bernardo, now her ex, raped and murdered at least three teenage girls, including Homolka's own 15-year-old sister, USA Today and the Sun report. Homolka ultimately made a deal with prosecutors and served 12 years in prison for manslaughter; she was released in 2005. (Read more serial killer stories.)

