Eve party When a Connecticut woman lost her three daughters and parents in a house fire two years ago, Yuzefpolsky encouraged her daughters to write letters to the woman. A Covina police officer (R) and a firefighter walk from the crime scene of the Christmas Eve shooting and fire at a home that left eight people dead in Covina, California December 26, 2008. himself, his rental car was discovered to have been booby-trapped Its such a tragedy., Staff Writer Ben Baeder and the Associated Press contributed to this story, Christmas Eve massacre leaves 9 dead in Covina, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), LA County restaurants must provide recyclable dishes beginning May 1, El Monte man gets 21 years for killing his boss at Alhambra newspaper, Yellen says US could hit debt ceiling as soon as June 1, The cost of high-speed rail in California might surprise you, Accused killer was a nice guy, usher at Montrose church, Christmas for quiet Covina neighborhood will never be the same, Baldwin Park man arrested after fatal hit and run in Irwindale, Norwalk, Mayfair baseball players suspended after disturbing brawl, will miss some playoff games, LA County Fair 2023: Hot Cheetos Cheese Pickle Pizza, dining discounts, much smore, Cold, drizzly week ahead for Southern California, San Gabriel Valley baseball teams learn their opponents for CIF Southern Section playoffs, 5 best Mothers Day dining options in the San Gabriel Valley, San Gabriel Valley softball teams learn their opponents for CIF Southern Section playoffs, Santa Anita horse racing consensus picks, Sunday, April 30, 2023, Organizers cancel Pasadena Chalk Festival, sparking move to keep it in the city, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Tents The shooting began as country music star Jason Aldean was playing. On April 20, 1999, teenagers Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold killed twelve students and one teacher, injured twenty-one others, and then committed suicide. His crimes inspired several horror films. Nine people, all related, were killed inside the home of Joseph and Alicia Ortega on Christmas Eve. Happy New Year everyone! Police on Friday released an 11-minute transcription of one of the calls. The Covina massacre was a mass murder carried out on Christmas Eve by a disgruntled ex-husband in Los Angeles County, California, United States, in 2008. The car had also been booby-trapped to explode once the Santa suit was removed, and though the vehicle exploded, no one was injured. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. Podrzite podcast na Patreon-u https://www.patreon.com/EleonoraVojnovski. Pardo had no past criminal record and there had been no previous police activity at the Knollcrest Drive house, Buchanan said. There was no indication that Pardo ignited it; it couldve been ignited by a pilot light or a candle inside the house.. The serial killer had killed a couple of people around the country before he killed the fashion mogul and committed suicide. The Covina massacre happened on Christmas eve (Dec 24th) 2008, in Covina, California. 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. One of the first famous crime scene photos was taken on May 5, 1903, in the home of a Parisian woman named Madame Debeinche who had been murdered. had killed himself, his rental car was discovered to have been booby-trapped 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. We dont know at this point whether he (Pardo) was aware there was a Santa Claus in years past, Buchanan said. He killed two other people before he was caught. Most of the bodies were found in the living room area but other areas of the home still need to be searched, Winter said. Authorities said the home was a total loss.. Bruce Jeffrey Pardo, who was wearing a Santa costume, entered a property belonging to his former in-laws in Covina and killed nine people either by shooting or arson from the fire he started. Theyre burning down someones house.. Shoko was sentenced to death and hanged in 2018. Prado from a house in Sylmar. Coroners officials are still sorting out the identities of the victims because they were burned beyond recognition. Among those paying a visit to the home in the hours after the tragedy was West Covina Councilman Mike Touhey. And to Celebrate The Macabre is gifting out podcast treats. The rental car was parked a block away from his brothers house. where he killed nine Christmas Eve party guests. The photo shows a location in Knik River where many of his victims were discovered. In July of 2008, Bruces employer realized Bruce had been fraudulently billing clients for hours he didnt actually work and was fired. calling police. PHOTO GALLERY Covina Christmas massacre aftermath. Gary tried to kill more than 12 people but killed at least four people. We still dont exactly know what the device is, Buchanan said. 2008. Orange ribbons tied to trees and mailboxes on East Knollcrest Drive were meant to symbolize the citys historic past as a citrus town and show that a neighborhood can triumph over tragedy, neighbors said. An address plate and charred Christmas lights hung from what was the front door, while burned lawn ornaments and ash were strewn around the front yard. In this photo, the police were photographed searching behind his home. PHOTO GALLERY Covina Christmas massacre evidence. Nine people died that night, either from the shooting or the fire. Before killing himself, Pardo used a homemade flamethrower to then set the house on fire in a raging blaze. In the middle of investigating the chaotic scene, police also received a tip from a neighbor. An overwhelming but hard-to-describe feeling of loss often sneaks up on her, especially in December. This undated police handout photograph shows a makeshift gas The kids were later sent to a camp that helps with grief. Pardo, dressed in a Santa In July of 2008, Bruces employer realized Bruce had been fraudulently billing clients for hours he didnt actually work and was fired. a Christmas Eve murder rampage, allegedly Authorities say Pardos Santa suit actually melted onto his body before he fled. Audio: 911 calls from the scene Download: Killers divorce records. Expressions of concern from around the country have poured in to Covina, as people are looking for ways to help out the 15 children left without one or both of their parents. I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and that 2019 treats you well. Pardo, her former brother-in-law, had carried a small arsenal of guns and fuel to torch the familys home that Christmas Eve. Pardo began shooting at fleeing members of the party (it was said there was around 25 people at the party). After running out of bullets, As police sifted through the burnt remains of the home, friends of the family, including Rosa Ordaz, remembered the Ortegas as a beautiful family who loved Christmas time. East entry down the hall from the west entrance. Posted: December 26, 2021. He obviously just went psycho after the divorce! The daughter was the former wife of the killer. The fact that he showed up at the party with a Santa outfit puts a sick twist on it, said neighbor Dave Ritchie. Firefighters and police Friday continued to sift through the rubble of the site of a mass murder and fire. In addition to practicing gratitude, Leticia says she also stopped dwelling on the past and the man that robbed her of her family. In a matter of minutes, Yuzefpolsky lost nearly everyone shed looked up to: her parents, two brothers and two sisters. They were met with a scene that was just indescribable, Covina police Chief Kim Raney said. Ted Bundy killed more than 30 women and girls, including a 12-year-old girl known as Kimberly Leach. 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 . The brutal serial killer raped, murdered, and cannibalized more than 100 kids. A woman who claimed to be an ex-girlfriend of Pardos said he attended Cal State Northridge and was a straight-A student. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. 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. There are those moments we think weve been through the worst so this cannot break us.. She was murdered while heading home. The Pardos were married in 2006. "Our kids are our future, and we have to be the example for them," she says. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times), Firefighters survey the damaged home on Christmas morning. A 16-year-old girl was treated for a gunshot wound in the back. Though the car wasnt rigged, it was packed with supplies including a computer, clothes, water, food and maps of the US and Mexico. Friends of the victims came Thursday and Friday to lay flowers and light candles at the scene. In this 2005 family photo provided by El Siglo de Torreon, Joseph Ortega, center left, and his wife Alicia Ortega, center right, are seen with their children during their 50th wedding anniversary at an unidentified location in Mexico. The Covina Massacre Covina, a Los Angeles suburb, was a grisly scene on Christmas Eve, 2008. Mr. It had. He then returned to the front porch to grab a fuel-spraying device that was wrapped as a Christmas gift. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times), Smoke rises from the site of the burned home in Covina. True Crime Photo. 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. Touhey wasnt the only local politician to become involved in the tragedy. It was an event so horrific that it could send someone into a lifetime of despair, but as Leticia tells "Oprah: Where Are They Now -- Extra," she chose not to follow a path of anger and hate. This is the famous photo from the Virginia Tech shooting. Nevertheless, Alphonse Bertillon would get the recognition of being the first forensic photographer. The serial killer told them about the location of the remains. A Santa Claus suit is seen in the 2008 Dodge Caliber driven by He kidnapped, raped, tortured, and killed at least 28 men and boys during his reign. There was one survivor who had managed to call the authorities during the massacre after theyd escaped to a neighbours house. I cant believe that he did this to my family, she later said. Pardo dressed in a Santa Claus costume burst into a Christmas Four 13-round capacity handguns (unloaded) and at least 200 rounds of ammunition were also found, a bomb squad fired an incendiary device into it, destroying and burning it. This photo, showing a freezer filled with human heads, was found inside Jeffrey Dahmer's home. He later . File - The damaged backyard from a fire at a home where a man dressed in Santa suit opened fire at a Christmas Eve party Dec. 25, 2008. One police officer called the crime scene "apocalyptic.". The killings went on for nearly a decade. But many of her family members were killed. A crime scene photo shows where Bailey abducted Shawn Moore, whom he killed and disposed of in the nearby woods. One nephew, with his parents dead, became the guardian of his three minor siblings. "I can only focus on what's being brought to me -- and the good things that are brought to me. The Covina massacre happened on Christmas eve (Dec 24th) 2008, in Covina, California. Police said he was terminated from the company in October over fraudulent documents. They were primarily used in portrait photography. April 26, 201601:53. A reporter said, This divorce shattered Bruce Pardo. And Bruce began to plot ways to get back at Sylvia. Carol Sanchez, who claims to be Pardos ex-girlfriend , pulled up to the front of the crime scene Friday. From 1974 to 1991, Dennis Rader murdered ten people. Photos are crucial in helping solve crimes. Detectives later found the keys to the rental car that Pardo used for his getaway. The Ortegas were killed on Dec. 24, 2008, in Covina, Ca. When his divorce was finalized shortly before the holiday, the spousal support ended up being waived as at the time. Officials said $17,000 and a plane ticket to Canada were found with Pardos body. This photo shows steps to Gianni Versace's home in Miami after being gunned down by Cunanan. 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. 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. I cant even tell you how much I miss them.. Police dug deeper into their divorce to find out if it had anything to do with Bruces death, and they realized Sylvias maiden name was Ortega, which meant she was one of the Ortega siblings who had been killed on Christmas Eve. Marshall was the founder and leader of Heaven's Gate, a UFO cult that committed mass suicide in 1997. Hes still shooting out there, a woman sobbed, to the dispatcher. home with a combustible vapor consisting partly of auto-racing fuel, family home in Covina, California. Christmas will always be there, and we continue to celebrate it.. The photos also form an essential part of crime history. Everywhere you turn there are memories of what we used to have, and then memories of that night. The garage door of the home was nearly crumpled in half. Covina Christmas Massacre On December 24, 2008 a man showed up at a Christmas party in Covina, CA, wearing a Santa suit. Michael Bever was convicted last week of killing his parents and three siblings and attacking another sister who survived. Several onlookers used in-car GPS devices and printed MapQuest directions to locate the site. Your email address will not be published. to keep expanding and making Murderpedia a better site, but we really 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. Today I talk about the Covina massacre: a Santa dressed killer who We're sticking with the Christmas spirit this week! Cant wait for more posts this year! Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. A bitter divorce settlement was finalized last week, Raney said. Covina Massacre, A Nightmare Before Christmas Pardo and Sylvia married in January 2006, but not long after grew apart when Pardo refused to open a joint account with his newly wedded wife along with Pardo expecting his wife to take care of her own three children with her own finances. Meanwhile, Yuzefpolskys family scrambled to pick up the pieces. Pardo held no criminal record and had no history of violence, which is why nobody suspected an attack. I just have this feeling in my stomach; Im trying to keep it together here.. He killed 4 to 5 people between 1997 to 1999. The Holiday season is here. According to public records, the Knollcrest Drive home is owned by Joseph Ortega. #15. These are the remains of the burned home in Covina, Calif., that Once Bruces autopsy was finished, investigators were able to conclude he had committed suicide, and that there was no second shooter. Tents (background) are in use to process the crime scene. When Pardo was severely burned in the attack, he ditched his elaborate getaway plan and killed himself with a gunshot to the mouth. Due to his Let's get completely out of any kind of holiday spirit by diving into a senseless and tragic On December 24, 2008 a man showed up at a Christmas party in Covina, CA, wearing a Santa suit On the night of December 24th, 2008, a large family Christmas party was winding down. The couple divorced earlier this year, after an apparent dispute over Pardos disabled son. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. In this photo, police have discovered the remains of one of Albert Fish's victims. These were the tools used by Dennis Rader, the BTK killer. crime scene at the site of the Christmas Eve . This family embraced the Christmas spirit, said Ordaz, a longtime family friend. Bruce Pardo was ordered to pay $10,000 to Sylvia, while she was allowed to keep the couples dog, an Akita. 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. It was Sylvias third marriage, according to friends. girl who was shot in the face Claus suit opened fire on partygoers at his former in-laws home in When his divorce was finalized shortly before the holiday, the spousal support ended up being waived as at the time he had lost his job. Pardo came to the home dressed in a Santa Claus suit and carrying a package that was wrapped as a Christmas present, Raney said. He was caught with the help of another serial killer, Ted Bundy, who gave the authorities important tips about serial killers. Few serial killer crime scene photos are as unforgettable as the images the mass suicide generated. She had severe injuries, but none to cause her death. I would never expect him to do anything like this., Ordaz remembers Pardo differently and said there was something in his eyes., He just seemed too good to be true, Ordaz said. The killer, Bruce Jeffrey Pardo, showed up at a holiday party wearing a festive Santa Claus costume. But she was far from alone in her losses. This is one of the most famous serial killer crime scene photos in history. Her two sisters-in-law and 17-year-old nephew also died. During his Christmas Eve killing spree, Bruce pulled out a homemade flamethrower to spray 18 gallons of gasoline into the house once he ran out of bullets. Christmas Eve party, leaving more Beyond that, the councilman declined to comment on the situation. It's allowed because securing a scene is what . 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. Covina Police Chief Kim Raney tells media members about the 8-year-old #16. 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. Bruces getaway car was also parked about 500 feet from the house of Scott Nord, Sylvias divorce attorney. (Barbara Davidson, Los Angeles Times). Crime scene photos also turned into collectibles over time. than three people dead, and (inset) The two reached a settlement that proved to be acrimonious. Homicide for the Holidays airs Saturdays at 6/5c on Oxygen. Police said they believe Pardo set the house on fire before fleeing. This undated police handout photograph shows a makeshift gas It may have been a much different ending., In 2016, Leticia told Oprah, I cant do anything to change what happened. Calif., that was set on fire during It was not clear Friday whether the victims died from the fire or gunshots. Her then-8-year-old daughter, Katrina, was wounded by a gunshot to the cheek after Santa figure came to the door. The car was also loaded with several hundred rounds of handgun ammunition. "If we teach them that it's OK to hate and it's OK to be violent [and] it's OK to put people down and make people feel less than, then what hope do we have?". It was part of a plan triggered by his ex-wifes decision to divorce him. (AFP/Getty Images). Many of these serial killer crime scene photos also offered essential clues that led to the capture of the depraved killers responsible for the murders. Get all your true crime news from Oxygen. Pardo used the makeshift gas dispenser to spray the inside of the Sutcliffe killed at least 13 people using a hammer and a knife. The victims ages range from 18 to 80. 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. The day after Bettmann/Getty Images On Aug. 9, 1969, housekeeper Winifred Chapman. 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. Pickton is a Canadian serial killer suspected to have killed between 6 and 32 people. 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. In the end, he was involved in the kidnapping, raping, and torturing of up to 25 people, including an infant. But in the middle of their holiday celebration, the doorbell rang, and what unfolded next was incredibly gruesome. This photo shows a chair found in Ed Gein's house, whose base was made of human skin. The Covina home was devastated by flames that engulfed it Wednesday night and into the early morning of Christmas Day. Covina Christmas Massacre. Pardo left the house after the attack and put on his street clothes and drove his rental car to his brothers house in Sylmar, roughly 30 miles away from the home hed just massacred, in his brothers house he was later found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Gacy killed more than 30 boys while pretending to be a clown known as "Pogo." AP journalists in more than 100 countries tell the worlds stories, from breaking news to investigative reporting to visual storytelling. She was the only one of his victims he did not mutilate. 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. An Oklahoma family was a target during a killing spree in California on Christmas Eve. Ten children are now orphaned as a result of the massacre, according to family friends. Staff Writers Bethania Palma and Brian Day contributed to this story. It is so strong, and when people come together with a lot of love, you can't really break that," she says. dispenser which Bruce Jeffrey Pardo A long time after Columbine, I did ultimately receive crime-scene photos of the school-library killing floor. Inside was parts of his santa suit which was found out to ignite a flame and detonate the car if removed. 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. Different type of magazine from a different gun, photographed from outside the building. investigate the scene. Katrina usually writes: Itll be hard, but just have hope. committed by Bruce Pardo. They found bodies burned beyond recognition, which were later identified as the missing Ortega family members. Authorities released 911 calls from Wednesday's mass killing in Covina, California. In the above photo, the police are doing an extensive search of Pickton's farm. The photo above shows the tools the authorities found at the back of his VW Beetle in August 1975. shooting and fire at a We More white knights pick on Doug via Twitter The Ricky Gervais special is fucking great We Greetings crime junkies of the world, welcome to our fourth installment of True Crime Hello! Yuzefpolsky and her husband took in her sisters youngest daughter. Police also found another bullet hole in the ceiling, and they believed there might have been a second shooter at the scene. Covina massacre victims. But first, True Crime Headlines.Support the show and get Christmas Eve, 2008. It became his obsession. Pardo, a longtime usher at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Montrose, was married for about one year. #13. Bruce Jeffrey Pardo, the gunman. When the photo was taken, cameras were a pretty new form of technology. 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. ruins of the family home. After he was fired, Pardo disappeared for about a month and visited the Midwest and East Coast before returning to California in December. The 2008 Dodge Caliber driven by suspect Bruce Jeffrey Pardo. This video and photos are taken by HI-CALIBER Investigations (State lic 23443.) Its unusual enough to where we believe it is something that was used to propel an accelerant.. Crime scene photos of the victims of the Columbine High School massacre, including where they died and how their bodies were found. "This is what he's done. The serial killer took the lives of eight nurses before he was stopped. He was also making a "skin suit" when he was caught, which is why he was responsible for some of the most shocking serial killer crime scene photos in history. 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. We're working to give you the tools, stories, and technology that will help shine a spotlight on victims and their stories. Our interactive experience takes you through the victims' stories, providing clarity to deepen your knowledge about what happened and why.
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covina massacre crime scene photos