It has been over a decade since the names Lucia and Leo Krim first hit the headlines, and honestly, the sheer weight of that story hasn’t lightened. You probably remember the basics. A high-profile family on the Upper West Side. A trusted nanny. A discovery in a bathroom that sounds like something out of a horror film. It was the kind of tragedy that made every parent in New York—and eventually the world—look at their childcare situation with a sudden, icy chill.
But if you only remember the "nanny killer" part, you’re missing the actual story.
Most people focus on the sensationalist trial of Yoselyn Ortega. They talk about the 2012 crime scene at the La Rochelle apartment building. They focus on the gore. But the real story of Lucia (lovingly known as Lulu) and Leo is about what happened after the cameras stopped flashing. It’s about how Marina and Kevin Krim didn't just survive; they basically rewrote the rules for childcare safety in the United States.
What really happened on October 25, 2012?
Marina Krim was doing what every busy mom does. She was at a swimming lesson with her then-3-year-old daughter, Nessie. The plan was simple: meet the nanny, Yoselyn Ortega, at a dance studio where 6-year-old Lulu was finishing up.
She wasn't there.
✨ Don't miss: Who Has Trump Pardoned So Far: What Really Happened with the 47th President's List
Marina went home, thinking maybe someone was sick. The apartment was dark. Quiet. You’ve felt that silence before—the kind that feels "off." She found Lulu and 2-year-old Leo in the bathtub. They had been stabbed multiple times with kitchen knives. Ortega then tried to take her own life right there in front of them.
The trial that followed years later in 2018 was brutal. Ortega’s defense tried the insanity plea, claiming she heard voices. The prosecution argued it was pure, jealous resentment toward Marina. In the end, the jury didn't buy the insanity defense. Ortega was sentenced to life without parole. Judge Gregory Carro didn't mince words, calling her "pure evil."
The legacy of Lucia and Leo Krim: It's more than a fund
A lot of families would have disappeared. Kevin and Marina didn't. They started the Lulu & Leo Fund, which eventually morphed into an initiative called Choose Creativity.
They used the 10 Principles of Creativity to rebuild their lives. It sounds kinda "artsy-fartsy" until you realize they were using these principles as literal survival tools. We're talking about:
🔗 Read more: Why the 2013 Moore Oklahoma Tornado Changed Everything We Knew About Survival
- Resilience through expression.
- Resourcefulness when your world is leveled.
- Intuition to trust yourself again after a massive betrayal of trust.
Today, their curriculum is in schools across New York City and beyond. It’s reached over 30,000 kids. They aren't just teaching kids how to paint; they're teaching them how to process trauma and build "creative confidence."
Lulu and Leo’s Law: What you need to know
This is the part that actually affects your daily life if you hire sitters. Before this tragedy, if a nanny lied on their resume about their experience or references, it wasn't necessarily a specific crime. It was just a "buyer beware" situation.
That changed in 2018.
Lulu and Leo’s Law (signed by then-Governor Cuomo) made it a felony to intentionally misrepresent caregiver qualifications in New York. It turns out Ortega had lied about her background. She wasn't the experienced professional the Krims thought she was. This law serves as a massive deterrent against the kind of deception that led to this nightmare.
💡 You might also like: Ethics in the News: What Most People Get Wrong
Why this story still matters in 2026
We live in a world of gig-economy childcare. Apps, quick hires, and "vetted" profiles. The Krim case is a reminder that "vetted" is a relative term.
The family has grown since then. They had two more sons, Felix and Linus. Kevin and Marina have been incredibly open about the fact that these new lives don't replace Lulu and Leo; they exist alongside them. They moved downtown. They started over. They stayed together—which is statistically rare for couples who lose children in such a violent way.
Practical steps for parents and caregivers
If you’re looking for a way to honor the legacy of Lucia and Leo Krim, or just want to keep your own home safer, here is how to handle the "human" side of the equation:
- Verify, don't just trust. Under Lulu and Leo's Law, you have the right to demand truthful documentation. Don't just call the number on the resume; cross-reference the person's history.
- Look for the "10 Principles." Visit the Choose Creativity website. Whether you're a parent or an educator, their curriculum is a goldmine for building emotional intelligence in kids.
- Support the cause. The annual Choose Creativity Awards (the next one is June 2, 2026) is the primary way they fund their school programs.
The tragedy was a moment in time, but the work the Krim family is doing is permanent. They took the "worst thing imaginable" and turned it into a framework for survival that thousands of children use every day. That's the real story.
Actionable Insight: Review your current childcare safety protocols. Ensure you have conducted thorough, independent background checks that go beyond "standard" app-based vetting. Consider integrating the 10 Principles of Creativity into your own family's emotional toolkit to build resilience before a crisis hits.