In the middle of investigating the chaotic scene, police also received a tip from a neighbor. Crime scene photos of the victims of the Columbine High School massacre, including where they died and how their bodies were found. Homicide for the Holidays Preview 203: Christmas Mourning. They helped authorities understand what had happened to the unfortunate victims. Mr. The Australian spree killer committed one of the most devastating massacres in history and created some of the most shocking serial killer crime scene photos in the world. dispenser which Bruce Jeffrey Pardo used inside the Knollcrest house He suffered third-degree burns on both arms when the device he was using to torch the house exploded, police said. said a caller California police say the gunman who killed nine people in a Christmas Eve bloodbath at his ex-in-laws home, intended to flee to Canada but was severely Officials have discovered nine bodies in a house believed to have been burnt down by Bruce Pardo, who dressed up as Santa and committed a shooting spree. Casting two good looking and athletic actors definitely didn't help. He murdered several people, including his mother, before giving himself up to the authorities. It was part of a plan triggered by his ex-wifes decision to divorce him. Officials said $17,000 and a plane ticket to Canada were found with Pardos body. The fact that these shocking serial killer crime scene photos are so familiar to many of us more than proves this fact. Touhey, who found his way past the crime scene tape, helped clear rubble from the Ortega property. AP journalists in more than 100 countries tell the worlds stories, from breaking news to investigative reporting to visual storytelling. A Bomb Squad and L.A. County sheriff's office official investigate the scene. Christmas will always be there, and we continue to celebrate it.. On Christmas Day, police also interviewed Leticia, who said that despite the Santa Claus costume, beard and hat, she could identify the shooter: her sisters ex-husband, Bruce Pardo. Tents (background) are in use to process the crime scene. Beyond that, the councilman declined to comment on the situation. . The family has been especially touched by others tragedies, particularly during the holidays. Pardo, a longtime usher at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Montrose, was married for about one year. A long time after Columbine, I did ultimately receive crime-scene photos of the school-library killing floor. One lieutenant said, When I arrived, to describe it as apocalyptic would be accurate.. Theyre burning down someones house.. The Ortegas, Joseph and Alice, loved Christmas, and it was their favorite time of the year to spend time with their two oldest sons, James and Charles, and their daughters Leticia, Alicia and Sylvia. Since 1846, AP has been covering the worlds biggest news events, committed to the highest standards of objective, accurate journalism. I cant believe that he did this to my family, she later said. They were borrowed from the Farmers Market. The garage door of the home was nearly crumpled in half. Bruces getaway car was also parked about 500 feet from the house of Scott Nord, Sylvias divorce attorney. a Christmas Eve murder rampage. He later . He murdered several people, including his mother, before giving himself up to the authorities. Throughout the late morning and early afternoon Monday, a steady stream of cars paraded from one end of the cul-de-sac to the other. (Ken Hively, Los Angeles Times). Covina Christmas Massacre On December 24, 2008 a man showed up at a Christmas party in Covina, CA, wearing a Santa suit. Yuzefpolsky, the youngest of five children, became the reluctant matriarch, maintaining the tight-knit familys traditions and happier memories. If there was ever a sign that Covina is a small town not used to mass tragedy, perhaps it was the barricades used to string crime scene tape outside the demolished Ortega home. The car had also been booby-trapped to explode once the Santa suit was removed, and though the vehicle exploded, no one was injured. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Police at the scene said neighbors are growing weary. The police found torture devices in Dean Corll's parent's cabin. when their ex son-in-law Bruce Pardo, 45, dressed as Santa Claus carried out a brutal attack killing nine people gathered at his ex-wife . He would lure his victims and their families there so that they could be killed on camera, creating some of the most gruesome serial killer crime scene photos in history. This is what hes done. On December 24, 2008, Bruce Pardo went to his ex-wife's family's house dressed at Santa Claus, armed with multiple weapons and a flamethrower. eight people dead in Covina, California December 26, 2008. Carol Sanchez, of Glendora, said she was shocked by the mass killing. And Bruce began to plot ways to get back at Sylvia. She was the only one of his victims he did not mutilate. Divorce records indicate Pardo had been required to pay his ex-wife $10,000 on Dec. 19. Covina police Lt. Pat Buchanan said that in his investigation, he's found that most people who knew Pardo agree that this attack was completely unexpected and out of character. "The Covina massacre occurred on December 24, 2008, in Covina, a city in the suburbs of Los Angeles, California, United States. Five more bodies were recovered by the coroner Thursday afternoon, according to McCraken. This photo was taken on May 5, 1903. Thirteen sons and daughters lost at least one parent that night. The couple divorced earlier this year, after an apparent dispute over Pardos disabled son. Thats most likely the familys abiding message. Robert Hansen was an arsonist, serial rapist, and serial killer who targeted prostitutes. This has to be one of the most gruesome serial killer crime scene photos ever. These were the tools used by Dennis Rader, the BTK killer. seen after a homemade fire bomb (background) are in use to process the crime scene. She had severe injuries, but none to cause her death. the Murderpedia project stay alive. The number of victims was uncertain because the remains were burned, and only ashes were left in the woods close to the residence. Original raw footage from the 2008 Christmas Eve Santa Claus massacre on Knollcrest Drive in Covina, CA. Coroners officials are still sorting out the identities of the victims because they were burned beyond recognition. The photos also form an essential part of crime history. To keep creating We have to keep moving in our everyday moments, she said. Once Pardo had finished shooting, he unwrapped the homemade flamethrower and used it with gasoline and set the home alight. crime scene at the site of the Christmas Eve Our groundbreaking Augmented Reality technology accurately recreates crime scenes and allows users to experience and investigate them just as detectives at the actual crime scenes did. We dont know at this point whether he (Pardo) was aware there was a Santa Claus in years past, Buchanan said. However, those photos. This photo shows Leonard Lake's compound. The Mansion Family also killed Leno and Rosemary LaBianca. She had three children, all of whom survived the massacre. People believed to be relatives of the Ortegas gather near the Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. This photo shows Jones' followers after a mass suicide at Jonestown. when their ex son-in-law Bruce Pardo, 45, dressed as Santa Claus carried out a brutal attack killing nine people gathered at his ex-wifes parents home. three others were injured, the 8 year old girl who Pardo shot at the door, survived. A woman who claimed to be an ex-girlfriend of Pardos said he attended Cal State Northridge and was a straight-A student. Cant wait for more posts this year! I will do everything within my power as Covinas state senator to join local officials in helping the survivors and their families recover from this tragedy so that they can begin to rebuild their lives.. Bertillon also came up with a tripod that placed the camera right over the corpse to offer a "Gods-eye-view" of the crime scene, which proved very popular with investigators. shooting and fire at a Her body lay on the ground, with her limbs bent at unusual angles. I always used to tease them that I have five sets of parents everyone telling me what to do and how to do it. She was murdered while heading home. Pardo began firing his handgun as soon as the door opened -- one of . The kids were later sent to a camp that helps with grief. Police said they had unconfirmed reports that Pardo worked as an engineer in the aerospace industry. In June 2008, the divorce court had ordered Bruce Pardo to pay $1,785 a month in spousal support to Slyvia. He ate part of the remains and disposed of the rest of the remains using a vat of acid in his house. Today Kate and I talk about the Santa Claus shooter, Bruce Jeffrey On December 24th, 2008 Bruce Pardo, dressed as Santa Claus entered the home of the Ortega family On this festive episode of We Need To Talk About Movies Crime Scene to Screen Series Joe McElroy Christmas is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, but for one family it turned For this first episode, I decided to give you a holiday themed tidbit. The brutal serial killer raped, murdered, and cannibalized more than 100 kids. The bomb ignited when authorities tried to defuse it, engulfing the I know this is a super short case, but I wanted to do a post today! In the above photo, the police are doing an extensive search of Pickton's farm. Bruce Jeffery Pardo, 45, plotted to kill his ex-wife Sylvia Ortega, 43, and her family at their Knollcrest Drive home after reaching a settlement in a bitter divorce Dec. 18, according to Police Chief Kim Raney. investigate the scene. home with a combustible vapor consisting partly of auto-racing fuel, Pardos resume was found at the location as well, Raney said. Police discovered the body of the gunman, Bruce Jeffrey Pardo, 45, of Montrose, at his brothers home in the 15800 block of Joseph Court in Sylmar early Thursday. Quick Description: This house was the scene of a 2008 massacre. 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At Pardos home, police discovered five boxes from the handguns and fuel containers as well as two shotguns. Enough. Touhey said he was there to support a friend of his, who lived in the neighborhood. East entry down the hall from the west entrance. Christmas decorations and a wreath on the front door are pictured Five years after a man dressed as Santa Claus massacred nine members of her family on Christmas Eve, the surviving daughter of the Ortega clan worked to master her mothers pozole recipe to serve at a traditional family dinner thats now forever tinged with tragedy. This picture shows the office area where Barton committed most of his crimes. she chose not to follow a path of anger and hate. Instead, he committed suicide after accidentally burning himself when fuel he sprayed in the home exploded prematurely, officials said Friday. COVINA - It was a Christmas Eve massacre, a mass murder so chilling that it was unimaginable even to a 30-year veteran of the Covina Police Department. From 1974 to 1991, Dennis Rader murdered ten people. which quickly ignited in an explosion, gutting the dwelling. In more typical years than what we all experienced in 2020, the holiday seasons mean families On Christmas Eve in 2008, 9 members of a family were slaughtered in cold blood by a man dressed CrimeDoor is a trusted news resource for those seeking the freshest perspective on cases worldwide. According to public records, the Knollcrest Drive home is owned by Joseph Ortega. People seem to have a bizarre obsession with some of the most gruesome crimes imaginable. In this photo, investigators are digging up the remains of one of Kemper's victims, which is typical of many serial killer crime scene photos. COVINA - A gunman dressed as Santa planned on fleeing to Canada with $17,000 after committing a Christmas Eve massacre that took nine lives at the home of his former in-laws. There was one survivor who had managed to call the authorities during the massacre after theyd escaped to a neighbours house. A Bomb Squad and L.A. County sheriff's office official In the wheelbarrow is a skull belonging to one of his victims, Randell Lee Harvey. Her two sisters-in-law and 17-year-old nephew also died. The Covina Massacre is Hello squirrel friends! Gary tried to kill more than 12 people but killed at least four people. 7:45 pm. Ill be exploring unsolved cases, mysterious cases, serial killers, mass murder and all things true crime. Police didnt think their deaths were purely coincidence, and they believed their suspect was still at large. A video image showing firefighters outside a blazing house in And when they performed autopsies on the bodies from the Ortega house, they found all of the victims had been shot at least once with a 9mm handgun. Katrina usually writes: Itll be hard, but just have hope. The homemade device was comprised of a tank filled with a compressed gas identified as either carbon dioxide or oxygen and another smaller tank containing high-octane racing fuel. Im glad at least the little girl and her mum survived. The car was located about a block away with remnants of the Santa suit in the front passenger seat. Sutcliffe killed at least 13 people using a hammer and a knife. After investigators with the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner wrapped their investigation, police began a secondary crime scene investigation. There was no indication that Pardo ignited it; it couldve been ignited by a pilot light or a candle inside the house.. In this photo, the body of Wanda Skala, a 17-year-old, is being recovered from a construction site. (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times). Marshall was the founder and leader of Heaven's Gate, a UFO cult that committed mass suicide in 1997. This family embraced the Christmas spirit, said Ordaz, a longtime family friend. Photos are crucial in helping solve crimes. According to talk there is some discussion being that the divorce may have been caused by Pardo concealing a child from a previous relationship. The serial killer was estimated to have killed over 70 women, although he claimed to have murdered close to 90 people. During the divorce proceeding, Bruce had confided to a friend that Sylvia was taking him to the cleaners. In July, Pardo was fired for billing false hours and the court suspended the payments due to financial issues. where a man dressed as Santa opened fire at a Shoko was sentenced to death and hanged in 2018. This child was severely injured in a swimming pool accident several years previous. The monster knew what he wanted to do; and got this family in the heart.. He then returned to the front porch to grab a fuel-spraying device that was wrapped as a Christmas gift. Bruce Jeffrey Pardo dressed up as Santa and unexpectedly arrived at the Ortega home of his ex in-laws house at around 11:30pm and immediately shot an 8 year old girl who opened the door. Gacy killed more than 30 boys while pretending to be a clown known as "Pogo." This photo shows a chair found in Ed Gein's house, whose base was made of human skin. PHOTO GALLERY Covina Christmas massacre aftermath. After he was fired, Pardo disappeared for about a month and visited the Midwest and East Coast before returning to California in December. In today's episode we discuss the tragic 2008 Christmas Eve killings in Covina, CA. Without a doubt, this is one of the most terrifying serial killer crime scene photos ever. Pickton is a Canadian serial killer suspected to have killed between 6 and 32 people. Leticia Yuzefpolsky's family members were killed on Christmas Eve by her ex brother-in-law, dressed as Santa. Late Saturday, police recovered a second vehicle believed to have been rented by Pardo in recent weeks from a Pasadena company, Buchanan said. Two Snapple bottle's used for molotov cocktails found in Dylan's car. It became his obsession. A Santa Claus suit is seen in the 2008 Dodge Caliber driven by Monetary donations to help the family and checks can be mailed to Ortega Family Fund, C/O Law Offices of Scott J. Nord, 500 N. Brand Blvd., Suite 550, Glendale, CA 91203. The mother of two believes it's also imperative to foster love not just for the healing effect, but to teach our children a better way to exist in the world. But she was far from alone in her losses. We strive to bring awareness back into focus with our coverage, which features Crime stories that are underpinned by reliable information from up-to-date sources, as told by compassionate storytellers. It became his obsession. Bruce Pardo. The nature of injuries have not been determined; their bodies are severely burned and charred, Winter said. He killed two other people before he was caught. He kidnapped, raped, tortured, and killed at least 28 men and boys during his reign. Police also found another bullet hole in the ceiling, and they believed there might have been a second shooter at the scene. In June 2008, Bruce Pardo was ordered to pay $1,785 a month in spousal support. When the photo was taken, cameras were a pretty new form of technology. As the fire was severe and burned for a long time, identify the victims had to be done by dental and medical records. And Bruce began to plot ways to get back at Sylvia. A burnt vehicle sits on a tow truck as it is removed from the As investigators descended upon the apartment, one of them picked up a camera and photographed the scene. Dennis Rader (BTK Killer) This is one of the most famous serial killer crime scene photos in history. A reporter said, This divorce shattered Bruce Pardo. Pardo, her former brother-in-law, had carried a small arsenal of guns and fuel to torch the familys home that Christmas Eve. It was said that he had planned to kill his own mother after the massacre at Sylvias home due to her apparent sympathy for Sylvia during the divorce proceedings. Sometimes, he would use a stone stuffed into a sock to murder his victims. Most were then forced to negotiate an uneasy turnaround, avoiding media trucks, camera crews and mourners gathered on the street and sidewalk. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Ten children are now orphaned as a result of the massacre, according to family friends. Thanks for all the support. That Christmas Eve, the family played a boisterous game of poker, and the party was in full swing. (Her daughter survived.) Proof of a different type of gun at Columbine. A firefighter removes debris from the scene in Covina. On Christmas Eve 2008, her former brother-in-law, Bruce Pardo, dressed up as Santa Claus and killed nine members of Leticia's family who had gathered for a holiday party at her parents' home in Covina, California. He killed 21 people before he was stopped, but he is remembered as one of the deadliest lone shooters in United States history. The bodies were found in his crawl space, helping create some of the most sickening serial killer crime scene photos we have today. Inside his house, the authorities found utensils made using human skulls. Tents Witnesses later told police they recognized Pardo as the shooter. Covina, California, The Covina Massacre Covina, a Los Angeles suburb, was a grisly scene on Christmas Eve, 2008. The two reached a settlement that proved to be acrimonious. COVINA MASSACRE PHOTO GALLERIES Memorial. dressed as Santa Claus opened fire. People who escaped immediately sought refuge at neighbors homes, where they called for help. I think that he decided that he wasnt just gonna kill her, but he was gonna kill everything that she loved and take it, wipe it off the face of the earth.. The killings represented the greatest loss of American civilian lives until the terrorist attacks in 2001. Chief Ed Winter of the Los Angeles County Coroners Office. His crimes inspired several horror films. The photo shows a location in Knik River where many of his victims were discovered. Investigators initially discovered three bodies inside the rubble. placed within it exploded, in this We are assuming that he did.. Bruce Pardo was ordered to pay $10,000 to Sylvia, while she was allowed to keep the couples dog, an Akita. Today, many serial killer crime scene photos are so easily recognizable by crime scene fanatics. Officers parked at a cross street and worked their way down the street and saw the house engulfed in flames, Buchanan said. The taxi driver, Paul Stine, was killed in 1969. "Love is the most powerful energy. Party-goers who were able to escape sought refuge at neighbors houses where they called 9-1-1. It's Christmas Eve 2008, a man in a Santa suit shows up to a party and his actions devastate a Holiday cheer met with a disgruntled ex-husband dressed in a Santa suit and armed with a Santa arrives, unexpectedly at the door of a Christmas party. shotguns, Covina Police Chief Kim Raney said. Haunted Ventriloquist Doll Comes To Life In Freaky Video. was set on fire during Bruce Jeffrey Pardo dressed up as Santa and unexpectedly arrived at the Ortega home of his ex in-laws house at around 11:30pm and immediately shot an 8 year old girl who opened the door. Murderpedia has thousands of hours of work behind it. A woman broke her leg after jumping out of the second-story window, officials said. On April 20, 1999, teenagers Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold killed twelve students and one teacher, injured twenty-one others, and then committed suicide. Pardo was armed with four handguns, Raney said, and added that all four were emptied of ammunition when found. We strive to bring awareness back into focus with our coverage, which features Crime stories that are underpinned by reliable information from up-to-date sources, as told by compassionate storytellers. A group of neighbors gathered Thursday to discuss the events of the night before. Investigators found nine bodies in the . The daughter was the former wife of the killer. The 10 detectives who worked the case all remain with the department. A bomb squad was called out to the car after authorities discovered Pardo had booby-trapped it. You also receive detailed insights into each investigation with our cutting-edge tools, while our 3D re-creation of profiles elevates your access and knowledge of each story. The Columbine episode came out only 5 years after the massacre and made E&D look like these charismatic bad boy villains. Get the app! After the heinous crime, Pardo drove to his brother Garys home in Sylmar with third degree burns on his arms and parts of the Santa suit melted to his skin, Raney said. Five days after the massacre of nine members of a Covina family on East Knollcrest Drive, their home has become a sort of attraction for the curious. The Pardos were married in 2006. ABOUT CRIMEDOOR. Pre vise od 30 godina jedne lepe junske veceri Suzi i Stacy su slavile zavrsetak srednje . COVINA It was a Christmas Eve massacre, a mass murder so chilling that it was unimaginable even to a 30-year veteran of the Covina Police Department. It was said he had 4 semi-automatic handguns and a homemade flamethrower, which hed gift wrapped. An 8-year-old girl answered the door and was immediately shot in the face, officials said. I lost my identity completely, Yuzefpolsky said. Officials still do not know whether the nine victims died of gunshot wounds or were burned to death, according to Los Angles County Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter. The suit was wired with a device that was hooked to a trip wire which would ignite a flare inside the car. 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It was found in Washington by hunters. He obviously just went psycho after the divorce! a friend This divorce shattered Bruce Pardo. He was last employed by ITT and worked on foreign government radar system projects.