HOLIDAY SPECIAL: The Santa Claus Massacre Pt. 2
Serial Killers & Murderous Minds
Crime House
4.5 • 713 Ratings
🗓️ 18 December 2025
⏱️ 37 minutes
🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS
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Summary
On Christmas Eve 2008, the Ortega family gathered at their home in Covina, California, for their annual holiday celebration. Laughter, food, and music filled the night—until a man dressed as Santa Claus knocked on their door. In Part 2 of The Santa Claus Massacre, Carter Roy reveals the shocking and tragic events that unfolded that night, when 45-year-old Bruce Pardo—Sylvia Ortega’s embittered ex-husband—turned holiday cheer into unimaginable horror. What began as a festive family gathering ended in one of California’s deadliest crimes. This episode traces Bruce’s meticulously planned attack, the inferno that followed, and the chilling aftermath that left investigators searching for answers—and a surviving family struggling to rebuild their lives. But out of the ashes, hope emerged: a story of survival, resilience, and the enduring strength of the human spirit.
Listen to Murder: True Crime Stories wherever you listen to podcasts: https://play.megaphone.fm/zooymjyirj-p1yeorxgirwOn Christmas Eve 2008, the Ortega family gathered at their home in Covina, California, for their annual holiday celebration. Laughter, food, and music filled the night—until a man dressed as Santa Claus knocked on their door. In Part 2 of The Santa Claus Massacre, Carter Roy reveals the shocking and tragic events that unfolded that night, when 45-year-old Bruce Pardo—Sylvia Ortega’s embittered ex-husband—turned holiday cheer into unimaginable horror. What began as a festive family gathering ended in one of California’s deadliest crimes. This episode traces Bruce’s meticulously planned attack, the inferno that followed, and the chilling aftermath that left investigators searching for answers—and a surviving family struggling to rebuild their lives. But out of the ashes, hope emerged: a story of survival, resilience, and the enduring strength of the human spirit.
Listen to Murder: True Crime Stories wherever you listen to podcasts: https://play.megaphone.fm/zooymjyirj-p1yeorxgirw
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hi, Crime House community. It's Vanessa Richardson. Looking for another Crime House original podcast to add to your rotation, you will love Clues with Morgan Absher and Kalyn Moore. |
| 0:12.8 | Every Wednesday, Morgan and Kalin dig into the world's most notorious crimes, clue by clue, from serial killers to shocking murders. |
| 0:21.5 | They follow the trail of clues, break down the evidence, and debate the theories. |
| 0:26.3 | It's like hanging out with your smart and true crime-obsessed friends. |
| 0:29.8 | Listen to clues on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts. |
| 0:44.4 | Music. or wherever you listen to podcasts. This is Crime House. |
| 0:49.2 | Happy holidays to all you Crime House listeners. |
| 0:53.2 | I'm Carter Roy, host of murder true crime stories, |
| 0:57.5 | and this is the second episode of Crime House's Christmas crime special, The Santa Claus Massacre. |
| 1:07.2 | It doesn't get more iconic than Santa Claus, the red and white suit, the fluffy white beard, |
| 1:16.6 | the sparkling eyes and rosy cheeks. |
| 1:19.6 | St. Nick is a Christmas staple, a symbol of magic and holiday cheer. |
| 1:25.6 | But on Christmas Eve 2008, one man took that image and corrupted it. |
| 1:33.8 | 45-year-old Bruce Pardo donned a Santa suit and fastened his beard. |
| 1:39.8 | He drove to Covina, California, where his ex-wife's family had all gathered for a holiday party. |
| 1:47.8 | But Bruce wasn't there to celebrate Christmas. |
| 1:52.9 | He was there to destroy it. |
| 2:00.0 | Music Last time, we met 43-year-old Sylvia Ortega and her family. |
| 2:10.4 | We discussed her tumultuous and tragic love life and how she learned the truth about her |
| 2:15.6 | husband, Bruce Pardo. When their divorce was finalized in December 2008, Sylvia was ready to move on, but he wasn't. |
| 2:25.3 | Today we'll walk through the fateful night that changed the city of Covina, California, forever. |
| 2:32.3 | That Christmas Eve, the holiday was shattered as 911 calls came pouring in, a shooting, |
... |
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