10 Criminals Who Have Surprisingly Been Released

These infamous criminals committed shocking crimes, and yet, they walk among us. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most notorious convicted criminals who, for one reason or another, were unexpectedly released from prison. Our countdown of criminals who were surprisingly released from prison includes Aleksandr Rubel, Bill Cosby, Karla Homolka, and more! Did we miss any other notorious criminals who are walking free today? Let us know in the comments below.
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#Crime
#Criminal
#Prison
#Jail
#Released
#Prisoner
#SerialKiller
#Killer

[@WatchMojo]

Did we miss any other notorious criminals who are walking free today? Let us know in the comments below. For more content like this, click here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l6infpmffM11q5I Don't forget to play our Live Trivia (www.watchmojo.com/play) games at 3pm EST for a chance to win cash! The faster you answer, the more points you get!

[@King.Cinephile]

😮😮😮

[@Reaperguy67]

​@@King.Cinephile quit your spam

[@Tamalexandro]

In Brazil: Suzane Von Richstolfen, Eloisa Marsunaga, Maniaco do Parque and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

[@hardleecure]

you got the homolka thing wrong. she was a vet that took drugs meant for animal use and drugged the victims so they could be dismembered and then recorded necrophilic acts being performed with the parts. Then hid the tapes in the vents of the house to use as leverage to get a reduced sentence. Then she went on to marry her attorney, get a phd in psychology, write a book (all in prison) and be put on weekend release the entire time she was in prison. There's a reason why people are upset about her being out. She should be rotting in prison with her ex boyfriend.

[@FlyingCaesar316]

mitchell johnson killed 5 people in a school shooting with a friend

[@BuccaneerBruce]

Karla Homolka should still be in prison.

[@leobacelli3459]

I know what she did to get out of jail early. You can imagine her husband wants to take revenge on her probably do the same kind of damage he and her did to Tammy

[@kidz4p509]

Tell that to the Canadian Justice System.

[@leobacelli3459]

@@kidz4p509 is that Paul Bernardo is still being held in mr. Ken killer himself

[@TheBohemianStyle]

Why don’t the victim’s family go to her and take care of business of Karla? Why does the Quebec people not point the way of exactly where she is?

[@leobacelli3459]

@@TheBohemianStyle first of all, I feel like the best way you don’t find this woman and take care of her personally is Paul Bernardo. He was married to her at the time so if anybody knows anything about her, it would be him and I’m sure he wants revenge on her as much as we do, specially for what both of them didto Tammy her sister

[@price-singspuccini6124]

Homolka had lied about her involvement in the murders. She got a sweet deal of a light sentence which should’ve been overturned when her lies were found out. She should still be rotting away in jail with Bernardo. As far as I know she now has children of her own. Appalling!

[@nenarosebud658]

She's got such an emotionless dead look in her eyes that's so unsettling. No way was she an innocent victim.

[@siddaye]

@price-singspuccini yup she wound up marrying her defense lawyer's brother some black guy and they live in Montreal recently she was denied her kids attending a school there because of her past history of this crime

[@violentbryan21]

Lite

[@liztewliztew]

Such a terrifying time. I was a Toronto teen who lived in the west end during the 1990s. This is when we learned of the vicious east-end rapes and later the disappearances and murders of Leslie Mahaffy and Kristen French. I can still remember that a Metro Toronto Police Detective had visited my high school to talk about the rapes, 2 murders and the arrest of Paul Bernardo. We were thankful for the arrest. At that time, I worked at a local hardware store where a coworker told us that her brother’s friend had dated Karla Homolka. Luckily for that guy, things did not work out.

[@liztewliztew]

Pedro Lopéz kinda looks like Al Pacino’s character Tony Montana from the movie Scarface…

[@alexandrebrochu4265]

Homolka actually lives in the same city as me. At least at my knowledge. May have moved since, been a few years, kinda freaky knowing you got an actual convicted murderer running free around the same place as you ...

[@tamarak9393]

@@dianed2759it was her lawyer’s brother so he knew everything

[@cleocatra9324]

@@tamarak9393I heard that when her kids school found out who she was they banned her do you know if that’s true?

[@tamarak9393]

@@cleocatra9324 the school knew who she was but when the parents found out they made a big stink and she was banned from the school.

[@cleocatra9324]

@@tamarak9393 good. She doesn’t belong around kids at all

[@jadepixie2719]

James Bulger killers and Mary Bell should be on this list too.

[@joannaedssay5988]

and wee baby Ps "mother"

[@ginaperkins1088]

Leslie Van Houten was released in July of last year. She should have been on this list.

[@Definitely.Not.Shia.LaBeouf]

Your pronunciations are always really good if not perfect. Great vid! ❤

[@tracygutierrez5464]

Idk. Her saying pedro made me cringe.

[@EmmaAreli]

Dang. I hope Karla never has a peaceful moment of her miserable life

[@fanofpink]

Agreed it's bad enough she got to get married again and have children when her and ex-husband's victims including her own sister never got the chance.

[@Rockas360]

I'm from the town she is from she changed her name, and moved to Boucherville and started volunteering at her kids school until people figured it out. It was a scandal in Québec. I'm not sure where she is but I certainly feel bad for her kids who had to/have to grow up with what she has done and the consequences.

[@anthonystott46]

16 years maximum sentence for murder? Seriously?

[@kenrickeason]

Crazy.. I know people who are doing decades non-violent Offenders doing decades in prison for drugs..

[@ujmm]

It is probably repeatable, like in many other countries where the worst criminals get their sentence repeated after serving full time. But strange that his was not repeated.

[@williamslater-vf5ym]

A lot of countries have low max sentences. 16 years is definitely the lowest I've seen though.

[@theywouldnthavetocensormei9231]

​@@kenrickeasonanyone doing decades for drugs either had an entire Bible's worth of prior convictions, or they pled down from more serious charges.

[@Chocobear555]

Don't get me started on Karla Homolka. 😡 And it disgusts me that Bill Cosby isn't behind bars because someone screwed up ROYALLY.

[@peopleskarmasquad1042]

He was framed

[@jayh4911]

You just had to find a way to squeeze Cosby in the topic I see.

[@theywouldnthavetocensormei9231]

Cosby is a scumbag, but his "victims" are too. They knew what they were doing. It's messed up that he drugged them and all of that, but they weren't drugged when they started talking to him and drinking with him.

[@INFINITESYKOSIS]

wat hard evidence did they have on cosby or is it just a bunch of ladies saying he did this to me 🤔

[@christigmc]

Forgot Leslie Van Houten, Manson family member. Let the Manson family be a lesson to us all. Before you eliminate the death penalty, make sure everyone on death row at least has their sentences commuted to life without parole.

[@jayaCatLvr-ys5ix]

Shes out🤣🤣🤣

[@evanrosman9226]

I wonder if Dan Schneider will become a criminal in the future.

[@sourpatchkid394]

Carla being let out! Is horrible. They made a deal before all the evidence was in! I think it should be forfeited if they didn’t tell the truth

[@kenterminateddq5311]

Karla Homolka's release from prison surprised me since her and her ex-husband, Paul Bernado, took lives from two teenage girls and Karla's younger sisters, Tammy Homolka. Karla should've spent life in prison but, unfortunately, she got a plead deal to confess against Bernado for a less charge after being abused by him.

[@fanofpink]

Yeah then they later found the tape that showed she was very much a willing participant. Unfortunately was too late and they couldn't take back the deal. I think they should've because she lied to the to the police and the court saying she was abused that's why she helped. But I guess Canada works differently.

[@jonah.donohue]

“Abused”. She was in on it, as a matter of fact SHE PLANNED IT

[@kenterminateddq5311]

@@jonah.donohue I meant Bernado physically abused Karla and left her with black eyes.

[@Spooky_515]

@@kenterminateddq5311you really believe that? Or maybe she lied to get away with what she done?

[@adriana-km8dy]

flawed justice systems period

[@joshuamcneely3028]

I 100% agree.

[@IanSkeete-lj1mq]

What about Leslie Van Houten - Charles Manson follower?

[@user-sc9dv5ni7c]

The law system is trash these days

[@TK--cv1uz]

Ikr? Way too soft hearted.

[@eternus154]

I’m surprised Gertrude Baniszewsky didn’t make the list. She and her minions brutally tortured and murdered 16 year old Sylvia Likens in 1965, was given a life sentence only to be released in 1985 for “good behavior”. 😡

[@ThatGingerHannah]

Why do we convict these monsters if they aren’t going to be in prison for the time they are convicted for? The criminal justice system is so corrupt and messed up. Karla needs to stay in prison for what she did to her sister. Evil, disgusting monster.

[@jeremybowen6565]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="492">8:12</a> - Everybody get out your whistles and RUN!!!! It's Karla Homolka

[@LOLFIELDANDLOVE]

Claralyn ''Cricket'' Balazs (Leonard Lake & Charles Ng)

[@Rockas360]

I'm from the province next to whedd she is from she changed her name, and moved to Chateteguay and started volunteering at her kids school until people figured it out. It was a scandal in Québec. Apparently she is now in Sallebery-Valleyfield without her kids and husband. I feel bad for her kids because they had to/have to live with the consequences of what she has done

[@NiKiMa023]

Who is ‘she’?

[@Rockas360]

@@NiKiMa023 Karla Hammolcka

[@waittillfamewtf2385]

Clear and Present Danger

[@billsloan]

Yep.

[@BlazeYasilo205]

Murders gets a way with it because of money

[@Denbrr]

Oh God, I remember that bus crime. That was so disturbing. Unspeakable is an understatement and I cannot imagine the people who were stuck watching and hearing what he was doing. At the time, I thought it was the most depraved and disgusting thing I have ever heard in my life. The internet has since proven my very naive.

[@annabethchase4948]

Judge: You have been sentenced to prison for life Random police 10 years later: They’ve shown good behavior, they can be released Random police another year later finding out that same person is back in prison: Huh. I really thought they had changed their ways

[@dionmorray5933]

Vince li now goes by will barker and s marathons in Winnipeg, it’s screwed up

[@ROCKONplaceboforever]

None of them should of been released shocking

[@esparzacartoons2050]

Life imprisonment is a very underused penalty.

[@wardyward1897]

Brian Martin looks like Bill Burr 😳

[@RareRacks]

I scrolled for this comment

[@Overlord24]

Great list cause it went around the world. You missed patty hearse no??

[@multiyapples]

I wish these people hadn’t done the crimes they committed. Rest in peace to those that passed away.

[@isaacjohnson3384]

Living in Canada I heard about Vince Li when I was listening to a podcast about the Bentwood 5 in Calgary a man who was found not criminally responsible his name is Mathew de Grood

[@ottomattix86]

I lived in Portage at the time. It was shocking.

[@josephhernandez1885]

You left out Leslie Van Houten. She was released back in 2023

[@ROCKSTAR13133]

They should’ve never been released🤬

[@Sailorvive]

Vincent Li didn't just stab that man on the Greyhound bus. He straight up decapitated and then started eating him. That story was VERY much down-played. It is crazy that we have a cannibal roaming free in Canada.

[@Experio9091]

Karla Hamoka and Pedro Lopez should never have been released!

[@dawnh157]

They shouldn't change the name how are people suppose to protect themselves. What if they do it again?

[@tylergoodman3560]

The justice system sucks. 💯🎉

[@sterlinghowell6587]

The thing I think is ridiculous is that the guilty get out and the innocent stay in “what kind of justice is that?”

[@RadioLaPrincess]

also Shanda Sharer's murderers. They killed her in 1992 and now all of her murderers are released. Also, Leslie Van Houten of Manson.

[@Jeremiah_Rivers76]

Bill Cosby won’t escape justice in the next life.

[@raycenteno7698]

You know in the thumbnail. Was that Hila Klein?

[@MichaelLovely-mr6oh]

Nope. That was Karla Homolka; one of the deadliest women in Canada.

[@ApWhatever]

Sam gravano killed like 13-15 people and he’s chilling. Like what 😭😭.

[@Spooky_515]

Surprised Cindy Hendy didn’t make the cut

[@daviddorge1559]

For those who don’t know. Vince Li cut the guys head off. Held it up as he walked to the front of the bus

[@brennensanchez7692]

You guys should've added the three kidnappers of the 1976 Chowchilla kidnappings. They stopped a bus full of kids, took them and their bus driver hostage. And held them in a storage container underground. Thankfully they got out, and the kidnappers were arrested and sent to life in prison. But their lawyers got them eligible for parole, due to the victims not having any physical injuries. All three of them have been released, and the victims are still deal with the psychological damage to this day.

[@shrexlarry]

Really surprised not to see Issei Sagawa on here tbh

[@donaldbermudez7771]

Vince Li ........omg..........how in the world could anyone sane vote in favor of his release?

[@countrychic30]

After hearing about what Vince did to that guy on the bus he needs to stay in a high maximum mental health hospital for the rest of his days. Cause I can't imagine what all those people who escaped the bus and witnessed what Vince did to that guy. It absolutely shocks me that anyone would let this guy walk the streets after what he did, I feel terrible for the guy's family and all those who witnessed this horrifying act.

[@Glitteringmoonstone2022]

Karla Homolka case shows how flawed even The Canadian justice system is too. They could have locked her up long for an assault she committed on her own to another child but decided not to. The entire case showed how flawed from shotty police work, lack of communication and jutice. The only thing that was done correctly was the gage order it allowed the trial to be about facts and victums instead of sensationalism. Where ever she is, she deserves no peace for the horrible crimes that she helped commit.

[@jaredquinney204]

Interesting

[@user-em6ie2be7x]

Alternative Title: Top 10 Reasons America's Justice System is a Joke.

[@americanzero]

What country's isn't?

[@jimbo9208]

there more than just America on this list

[@philyoutuber7270]

Some of these happened in Canada

[@JoanRudith]

They’re not all in America.

[@avacatherine5646]

Ah yes, Estonia is my favourite place in America…

[@christigmc]

I know in some countries there’s a maximum amount of time you can spend in prison. However the prison system focuses more on rehab than punishment. I can understand talking the USA into that for non violent or lesser crimes but in my mind if you commit murder you automatically get a life sentence. I don’t believe in the death penalty but I believe in life without parole.

[@nimbly1693]

I watched a whole thing about that Canada Greyhound bus thing. I will say, I'm glad I live in Oklahoma where if you are allowed to have a gun, you're allowed to carry it. There have been 2 times in my life where I have stopped a criminal act.... by having a gun.

[@racheledwards2352]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="227">3:47</a>-- Bill Burr

[@vanillathunder3024]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="271">4:31</a> - Bill Burr is looking WILD!

[@brianm6117]

Say what you will and think what you think about Cosby, but whether you like it or not the American justice system worked just as it was supposed to in his case.

[@ruthdubb3274]

What about Kenneth McDuff, the broomstick killer? That’s a huge omission.

[@pjgrl2]

vince vi being out still bothers me.

[@Animeguy300]

I never know they're released

[@Mzgigglez702]

Gypsy rose lol

[@ottomattix86]

Vince li case happened near my home town. I later met the victims brother. Cops had to watch Vince mutilate a human body. Fucking terrible case.

[@sadem1045]

And yet, they still haven't released the innocent Leonard Peltier.

[@TK--cv1uz]

Leonard Peltier is far from innocent.

[@MichaelLovely-mr6oh]

​@@TK--cv1uzI will never understand why people believe that he was somehow framed for his crimes during the 1973 Wounded Knee massacre in South Dakota. From what I understand the 1973 Wounded Knee massacre is not well-known outside of South Dakota as it is overshadowed by the 1890 massacre in the same location.

[@JonnySuite13]

Oh yeah, you gotta love our justice system, even the international ones!!! "Perfect"!!! 👍

[@jack-a-lopium]

Sammy The Bull is currently the KZbinr with the SHORTEST criminal record on the entire platform :D That's admirable.

[@introvertsrock9843]

Next: Ppl who confessed or committed their crimes on social media Viewers could send in names of ppl from their state/country (could create multiple lists)

[@stephenumphress5705]

Caleb Hughes!!

[@nicolettegeiger3678]

‘He can be trusted to live out the rest of his life sentence outside of prison’ that’s NOT a life sentence anymore!! He gets drunk and kills 3 kids and gets out????

[@hudenough3475]

Karla Hamolka gamed the system better than anyone (besides OJ).

[@RoyShouriMustango]

Sean Seah, Chloe lying Lin and many many more

[@miggans21012]

Life just isn't fair isn't fair is it 😮

[@INFINITESYKOSIS]

wat evidence did they have on cosby again 🤔

[@user-sq4tm3oq7w]

Sorry but God will never tell you to murder

[@manoftheusajones5147]

TOP 10 Ugliest Robots

[@HBCOU]

Starr from University of Michigan Law School found that, controlling for the crime, "men receive 63% longer sentences on average than women do," and "[w]omen are… twice as likely to avoid incarceration if convicted", also based on data from US federal court cases.

[@kaylabee1473]

The Canadian judicial system is laughable... I mean... get real?!

[@kaylabee1473]

And as a sidebar.. so is America's and apparently, the rest of the world. Omg.

[@EricJae.]

All hope is gone

[@billsloan]

On this Planet it never was there.

[@OWTLAWSTAR63]

Gawddamn WatchMojo we get it you hate Bill Cosby...every single time

[@mycat2230]

I am still angry about Cosby.

[@sibahleziqubu4509]

I'm seeing a trend here

[@thealextrifier]

I’m angry that Abbott just pardoned a murderer. 😡😡😡

[@user-sc9dv5ni7c]

It really seems like the law protects bad people and not the innocent. The judicial system is trash these days.

[@ChristianFigredomuery]

The guy was pointing a AK-47 at them so it's kind of self-defense

[@Styxswimmer]

If you actually understood what happened, you wouldn't be mad. The fact that you're mad about it shows your ignorance

[@heatherpayne1995]

​@@ChristianFigredomueryso you think Kyle Rittenhouse is guilty then?

[@heatherpayne1995]

​​@@Styxswimmerif you understood what happened, you'd definitely be mad. That asshole ran a red light and was driving towards a crowd. The victim tapped on his window with the rifle. Open carry is legal in Texas. But a guess Abbott hates both the first and second amendments. The jury didn't buy it, he was rightly convicted of murder.

[@alexbuchholz7072]

Shelly Knotek, the most horrible person. Also released.

[@michellegonzalez2459]

I cannot stand when the narrator overdoes the accents when pronouncing names

[@stevinharper3551]

I enjoy Sammy The Bulls KZbin

[@DFWHerbie]

Cosby didn’t do it.

[@moose656]

In case you're wondering what Vince Li did, he sawed the guy's head off with that knife and partially cannibalized his severed head as we walked around the bus waiting for the police while still holding the man's head. He shouldn't have been released, in my opinion, for doing something that grotesque to somebody.

[@Burhanontheranch]

Sudden Estonian accent was odd

[@jigga115]

#freetheoldman.....

[@pastamama1990]

OJ Simpson

[@SoufBySoufeast]

Before even watching this i bet they are 95% ytfolk🤦🏿‍♂️😅 I was right😂😂😂

[@eddieq2189]

The right fully guilty always serve little time or are reléased early never serving they're full sentence's the courts give them

[@Ohrdak]

Salam🙂Alaikum*

[@irishledden4924]

Bill Co$by.

[@kenrickeason]

Donald Trump

[@irishledden4924]

@@kenrickeason Just wait till they grab your boy Fife-Biden.

[@conradsieber7883]

Trump

[@leonardolim8976]

If only my ex favorite teacher Mr Scott hooker is famous or infamous enough to make it on this list. I mean technically he didn't go to prison but the assault or battery is enough to get him fired from his teaching job and for his freedom to happen as long as he stay away like 20 ft from youths

[@Pepespizzeria1]

Sammy the rat

[@irishledden4924]

Today in CaliFAGnia, it's catch and release.

[@usuckthereturn]

OJ!!…oh….

[@emilys3458]

Cosby… ugh.. just disgusting

[@kenrickeason]

Roman Poliski lived a complete free life, so that's even more disgusting..

[@emilys3458]

@@kenrickeason Cosby was brought up in the this, not Polanski. There will always be people who had it better who did the same crime. But this was about Cosby. Hence my comment. Thank you for your input though

[@jayh4911]

@@emilys3458 yeah but Polanski escaped any form of punishment. If we’re going to discuss Cosby let’s discuss Polanski & even Stephen Collins (7th heaven)

[@jayh4911]

@@kenrickeason facts 🤣🤣🤣 people love to ignore him & rob lowe among others who’s escaped any types of punishment

[@emilys3458]

@@jayh4911 oh there are countless people who are guilty. We could even go into Kevin Spacey if we want to go in a different angle

[@jasondavidstapleton8337]

Cosby didn't do he is a super nice man

[@NoHate606]

Yes he did, to over 60 women.

[@kenrickeason]

​@NoHate606 Donald Trump hasn't seen a day in jail, and he did it to 30 women.. He was found him legally liable for one..

[@staceycollins7721]

With qualudes and benedryll

[@michaelgallagher3640]

Troll

[@jasondavidstapleton8337]

@@michaelgallagher3640 what ever

[@jorgeadairramos7469]

Hello good nights