Killer Minds: Serial Killers & True Crime Murders

HOLIDAY SPECIAL: The Santa Claus Massacre Pt. 2

Date: December 18, 2025
Host: Carter Roy (Murder True Crime Stories, Crime House Studios)

Episode Overview

In this chilling holiday special, Carter Roy explores the horrifying events of Christmas Eve 2008 in Covina, California—when Bruce Pardo, dressed as Santa Claus, murdered nine members of his ex-wife’s family and set their home ablaze. This episode dives deep into the tragic night, the aftermath, the meticulous planning behind the massacre, and the resilience of the surviving Ortega family. The narrative blends detailed reporting with psychological analysis of Pardo as a “family annihilator,” unpacking his motivations and the lasting impact of the Covina Christmas Massacre.

Key Discussion Points and Timeline

The Ortega Family Christmas Tradition

[00:44 - 05:00]

• The Ortegas, pillars of their community, held an annual Christmas Eve gathering in Covina, CA.
• The house was always “Decked out for the occasion. There were twinkling brightly colored lights inside and out. A huge tree covered in ornaments filled one corner of the spacious living room.”
• Sylvia Ortega, recently divorced from Bruce Pardo after learning about his secret child and deceitful claims, looked forward to celebrating with loved ones.

The Attack: Santa at the Door

[05:00 - 11:00]

• The festive night turned tragic around 11 PM, when Sylvia’s sister Letecia’s daughter, Katrina, spotted “Santa” at the door.
• “The eight year old’s face lit up... she ran to the front door, shouting that Santa was there. ...But her surprise soon turned to horror. The man dressed as Santa... pulled out a 9 millimeter handgun. And then he began firing.”
• Chaos erupted. Family members ran, hid, and tried to escape as Bruce Pardo (in disguise) fired indiscriminately.

Fire and Destruction

[11:00 - 12:00]

• Pardo retrieved a package containing a homemade accelerant sprayer and began dousing the house with a flammable liquid.
• An open flame from a holiday candle triggered a massive explosion: “Within minutes, the Ortega family home was a raging inferno. The flames could be seen for miles.”
• 911 calls flooded in; first responders faced a harrowing scene as Bruce Pardo slipped away into the night.

The Aftermath: Hunt for the Killer

[13:35 - 17:00]

• Police quickly identified Bruce Pardo as the suspect thanks to Letecia:

  • “Something about the killer struck Leticia Ortega. He seemed familiar... She’d seen part of his face, just enough to realize the killer Santa was really her ex brother in law Bruce Pardo.”

• Pardo, burned in the explosion, drove to his brother Brad’s house.

• “Seeing no other way out, Bruce decided to use one of his guns to take his own life.”

• Evidence at the scene and in a rental car was nearly destroyed when a booby-trapped explosive detonated during the investigation.

Devastating Toll & Investigation

[17:00 - 25:23]

• Of 25 guests, 9 were killed, including:
  • Sylvia Ortega, her parents (Papa Joe, Alicia), siblings, their spouses, and a nephew.
• Victims were identified via dental records due to the fire’s severity.
• Police pieced together Bruce’s elaborate plan: weapons purchases, accelerant devices, packing lists.
• Notably, a second getaway vehicle was found near Sylvia’s divorce attorney’s home, revealing Pardo’s further intentions:
  • “It turned out Bruce had parked the Toyota about 500 feet from the home of Sylvia’s divorce attorney. Which could only mean one thing. Bruce had planned to kill the lawyer on his way out of town.”

Psychological Profile: Pardo as Family Annihilator

[26:56 - 32:00]

• Bruce Pardo began stockpiling weapons six months prior to the attack, motivated by bitterness over the divorce.
• Investigators concluded:
  • “Bruce Pardo was an angry, disturbed man with a vendetta. And with his violent act, he joined the ranks of a particular subset of killers. The family annihilator.”
• Common motives for such killers include financial trouble, power struggles, psychological disorders, and (most often) family breakups.
• Pardo’s mother had supported Sylvia, deepening his isolation and resentment.

Surviving Family, Community Response & Legacy

[32:00 - 37:00]

• Survivors, led by Letecia Ortega, became responsible for a new generation:
  • “Overnight, Leticia went from being the baby of her large family to the matriarch.”
• Community and employer support helped cover funeral costs and supported orphans.
• Letecia became a grief counselor. Her daughter Katrina—shot in the face but survived—later became an anti-gun-violence activist:
  • “Her survival back in 2008 had been a real Christmas miracle. Despite being shot point blank in the face, the bullet missed everything vital.”

Closing Reflections

[37:00 - 38:51]

• The Ortegas chose to honor the family’s legacy by staying close and embodying the holiday spirit year-round.
• “It’s clear that Bruce Pardo failed spectacularly in his mission to destroy the Ortega family. In the years since the tragedy, they’ve only grown closer. And instead of letting a monster destroy Christmas, the Ortegas choose to embody the spirit of the holiday all year round.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the attack:

  • “The man dressed as Santa... began firing. When Letecia heard the first shots ring out, she thought someone was popping balloons. But her husband sprang into action, telling her to grab the kids and run.” [10:00]

• Letecia’s realization:

  • “She’d seen part of his face, just enough to realize the killer Santa was really her ex brother in law Bruce Pardo.” [11:50]

• Pardo’s wounded escape:

  • “Bruce sat on his brother’s couch and weighed his options. He could keep running until his injuries got too severe, or he could go to a hospital and hope he wasn’t arrested. Neither choice was a good one. Seeing no other way out, Bruce decided to use one of his guns to take his own life.” [16:30]

• On psychological analysis:

  • “The nuances vary from case to case, but generally, the motives behind these types of murders fall into four. Financial trouble, power struggles, untreated personality disorders, and the most common, family breakups.” [28:00]

• On the resilience of the survivors:

  • “Letecia encouraged herself, her daughters, and her nieces and nephews to focus on love. Their love for everyone who was left, as well as for the ones they'd lost was going to carry them forward.” [34:00]
  • “Her survival back in 2008 had been a real Christmas miracle. Despite being shot point blank in the face, the bullet missed everything vital.” [35:45]

Important Timestamps

• [00:44] – Introduction and Ortega family holiday traditions
• [11:00] – The massacre begins: Santa at the door
• [13:35] – Aftermath: Emergency response, Pardo’s escape
• [16:30] – Pardo’s suicide and investigation into his plans
• [25:23] – Discovery of getaway car, foiled second attack
• [26:56] – Law enforcement’s psychological profile of Pardo
• [32:00] – Impact on surviving children, Letecia’s new role
• [35:45] – Katrina’s survival and activism
• [37:00] – The Ortega family’s enduring strength

Final Thoughts

This episode masterfully reconstructs the timeline, motives, and devastating impact of the Santa Claus Massacre. The hosts highlight not only the brutality of Bruce Pardo’s actions but also the psychological factors at play—and, perhaps most importantly, the strength and resilience of the Ortega family in the face of unimaginable loss. The moving stories of survival and advocacy provide a glimmer of hope following darkness, encapsulating the enduring human spirit.

If you missed part one, be sure to check it out for the full story of Sylvia and Bruce’s relationship and the events leading up to this tragedy.