Scams, Money, & Murder — Holiday Special
The Santa Claus Massacre Part 1 | Murder: True Crime Stories
Release Date: December 22, 2025
Host: Carter Roy (with intro by Vanessa Richardson)
Podcast: Crime House Original, powered by PAVE Studios
Episode Overview
In this chilling holiday special, host Carter Roy delves into the events leading up to the infamous "Santa Claus Massacre" that devastated the Ortega family in Covina, California, on Christmas Eve 2008. The episode offers a deep dive into the lives of the victims, the perpetrator Bruce Pardo, and the tragic confluence of betrayal, revenge, and familial loss that culminated in the massacre. Part 1 sets up the heartbreaking context: love, loss, and the unraveling psyche of a man who would soon become a monster in a Santa suit.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Setting the Scene: The Ortega Family’s Holiday Traditions
[04:55–07:22]
- Covina, CA, every December is “transformed” with lights, community events, and cheer.
- Joe and Alicia Ortega, both children of Mexican immigrants, built a close-knit family and a thriving paint business.
- Family unity and annual Christmas gatherings are a linchpin of the Ortegas’ life.
2. Family History & Resilience
[07:23–11:22]
- Joe and Alicia's romance: “Love at first sight,” with a whirlwind engagement and cross-border marriage.
- The family grows: focus on their children's personalities and their involvement in the family business.
- Sylvia, one of the daughters, experiences both deep love and profound tragedy with the death of her first husband in a car accident while pregnant.
"Sylvia had gone from happily married to a devastated mother of one. With another baby on the way, Sylvia's family rallied around her." – Carter Roy [10:45]
3. Sylvia's Attempts at Happiness and Setbacks
[11:23–14:27]
- Sylvia rebuilds: working various jobs, striving to support her children.
- Remarries (George Orza) and moves to Oklahoma, but the marriage is plagued by George's alcoholism.
- After divorcing, she returns to LA to reset her life and focus on her family.
4. The Entrance of Bruce Pardo
[14:28–18:25]
- Sylvia is introduced to Bruce, a charismatic software engineer at NASA’s JPL.
- Bruce is described as “larger than life,” but skilled at hiding troubling secrets.
- Early warning signs: his history of irresponsibility, living at home into his 20s, and a bizarre story – skipping out on his own wedding and stealing from his fiancée.
"He’d skipped out on his own wedding… took all the money out of their joint account, about $3000… and ran away to Palm Springs." – Carter Roy [16:45]
5. Bruce’s Pattern of Abandonment and Deceit
[18:26–25:11]
- Bruce fathers a son, Matthew, with another woman (Elena), but abandons the family after the child is left severely disabled due to a drowning accident.
- Never pays child support or sees his son, yet continues to claim the boy as a dependent on taxes.
“The least Bruce could do was stop claiming Matthew on his taxes. Not only did Bruce refuse, but he didn’t show any remorse. This wasn’t the man Sylvia thought she’d married.” [26:52]
6. Sylvia and Bruce: Marriage and Rapid Decline
[25:12–28:43]
- Sylvia and Bruce marry in 2006, move to a new neighborhood, and initially integrate well into the community.
- Quickly, Bruce’s carefree persona fades, replaced by financial paranoia and emotional distance.
- Conflict deepens after Sylvia’s mother-in-law reveals Bruce’s abandonment of his disabled son.
7. The Separation and Seeds of Revenge
[28:44–30:32]
- In March 2008, Sylvia files for separation. Bruce reacts by kicking her out in a callous manner.
- Carter highlights Bruce's escalating sense of victimhood, isolation, and entitlement.
8. The Escalation: Buying Guns, Planning Revenge
[30:33–36:33]
- Detailed timeline: Bruce begins stockpiling handguns and custom orders a Santa Claus suit.
- Purchases handguns at the legal one-per-month limit, plus extended magazines out of state.
- All the while, Bruce pleads financial hardship in divorce court, skipping spousal support payments but spending freely on weapons and revenge preparations.
“Between handguns and costumes, the only thing he didn’t seem to have the money for was his spousal support payments to Sylvia. But as usual, Bruce had an excuse.” – Carter Roy [33:50]
9. Isolation, Resentment, and The Final Straw
[36:34–41:30]
- Bruce’s final unraveling: loses job, loses support from his mother, grows even more bitter as the Ortega family rallies around Sylvia.
- After losing custody of his dog (his “only companion”), Bruce completes his arsenal and plans the attack.
“Bruce knew he was going to make them all pay soon enough. It would be a Christmas none of them would ever forget.” – Carter Roy [41:21]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On Family Resilience:
“Thanks to the love and support of the Ortegas, Sylvia made it through. As time went on and she and her children healed, Sylvia remained a dedicated single mom.” – Carter Roy [11:08]
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On Bruce’s Early Warning Signs:
“If there was fresh snow on any of the nearby mountains, he’d ditch work for an impromptu winter holiday. In another case, Bruce even hacked into NASA’s computer system to look up his colleagues’ salaries just because he could.” – Carter Roy [15:55]
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On Bruce’s Inhumanity:
“This wasn’t the man Sylvia thought she’d married. It was too much for her to forgive.” – Carter Roy [26:57]
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Narrative Tension:
“But Bruce had snapped months ago—the moment Sylvia decided their marriage was over. He’d been carefully plotting his revenge ever since.” – Carter Roy [40:52]
Timestamps for Important Segments
- [04:55] — Covina and the Ortega family background
- [10:45] — Sylvia overcomes tragedy with family’s help
- [14:28] — Sylvia meets Bruce Pardo
- [16:45] — Bruce’s wedding day disappearance
- [18:26] — Bruce abandons his disabled son
- [26:52] — Sylvia confronts Bruce about his son
- [28:44] — The separation: Bruce’s callous eviction
- [30:33] — Bruce starts buying guns and a Santa suit
- [33:50] — Bruce prioritizes revenge over obligations
- [41:21] — Foreshadowing the massacre
Episode Tone and Style
Carter Roy narrates with a balance of empathy and chilling foreshadowing, directly calling out Bruce’s manipulations, the warmth of the Ortaga family, and the holiday season’s bitter twist. The storytelling is meticulous, moving from multigenerational family dynamics to the inner workings of a murderer’s mind—all delivered in a voice both compassionate and suspenseful.
Conclusion
Episode 1 of this two-part “Santa Claus Massacre” special meticulously unpacks the tragic build-up to an unfathomable Christmas Eve crime. The episode closes with Carter signaling the impending horror—Bruce’s carefully orchestrated plan of revenge is only days away. The story will continue in Part 2, promising to detail the night itself and its devastating aftermath.
Next time: The shocking conclusion—what happened inside the Ortega house on Christmas Eve, 2008.