A Santa suit. A wrapped “gift.” A family Christmas Eve party in Covina, California. So how did the 2008 Covina Christmas Eve massacre—one of the most notorious holiday true crime cases in Los Angeles County—end with nine people dead after a man dressed as Santa opened fire and set a home ablaze? And what do the warning signs of divorce rage, hidden secrets, and careful premeditation reveal about the “Killer Santa” case and the devastating impact of domestic violence–fueled revenge?

In “Homicide for the Holidays: The Case of the Killer Santa,” hosts Adrienne Barker and Joseph Lobosco revisit the harrowing story of Bruce Jeffrey Pardo, the so-called “Killer Santa,” and the Christmas Eve attack that devastatingly wiped out much of the Ortega family. From the unraveling of Pardo’s marriage to Sylvia Ortega and the financial collapse that followed, to the Santa disguise, the mass shooting, the arson attack, and the attempted escape plan that ended in suicide—this true crime podcast discussion breaks down the timeline, the motive, and the lasting trauma carried by survivors and an entire community.

Tune in to hear:

2001 – A buried secret & a pattern of abandonment: Pardo’s 13-month-old son nearly drowns, suffers permanent brain damage, and Pardo reportedly withdraws—stopping visits and concealing the situation from those around him.

2004–January 2006 – Marriage begins, cracks form quickly: Pardo meets Sylvia Ortega through her brother, presents as a stable, church-going engineer, and the two marry—while tensions grow over money, control, and what Sylvia later learns about his hidden disabled child.

Early–mid 2008 – Divorce, financial pressure, and escalating resentment: Sylvia files for divorce; spousal support is ordered; Pardo loses his job and begins blaming Sylvia and the system for everything falling apart.

Mid 2008–September 2008 – Premeditation and preparation: Investigators later connect a month-by-month buildup—multiple 9mm pistols purchased over time, stockpiled racing fuel, a custom extra-large Santa suit, and a homemade fuel-spraying device boxed like a Christmas present.

December 18, 2008 – Divorce ruling as a trigger point: The divorce is finalized in court; Pardo keeps the house but must pay Sylvia and give up property—described as a key moment that fuels his revenge narrative.

Christmas Eve 2008 (around 11:30 PM) – The doorbell, the disguise, and the first shot: At a packed Ortega family holiday gathering on Nocrest Drive in Covina, an 8-year-old girl opens the door to “Santa”—and Pardo allegedly shoots her in the face before moving into the home.

Minutes later – Mass shooting inside the Christmas party: With multiple handguns and magazines, Pardo fires through the living room as guests flee; nine family members die from gunshots, the fire, or both—while several others survive with severe injuries.

The arson attack – A “gift” becomes a flamethrower: Pardo opens the large present and sprays racing fuel through the home; the house erupts in flames, ammunition cooks off, and first responders battle an inferno for hours as victims are later identified (in some cases) through dental records due to the destruction.

Christmas Day 2008 – Escape plan collapses and ends in suicide: Burned but alive, Pardo flees to the San Fernando Valley, where he dies by suicide; investigators find cash, travel plans, additional ammunition, and evidence of explosives—plus a second vehicle and supplies consistent with an alternate getaway route.

Motive, intended targets, and aftermath – Divorce rage on a community scale: Police and the hosts examine revenge as the central motive, including...

Did Scott Peterson murder his eight‑months‑pregnant wife, Laci Peterson, on Christmas Eve 2002 — or was he falsely convicted on flimsy circumstantial evidence amplified by a nonstop media frenzy? From Modesto, California to the Berkeley Marina and the San Francisco Bay, the Laci Peterson case remains one of America’s most argued true crime stories, raising hard questions about motive, “missing pregnant wife” investigations, and what juries do when there’s no body for months and no obvious crime scene.

In this episode, hosts Adrienne Barker and Joseph Lobosco revisit the disappearance and murder of Laci Peterson and her unborn son Conner (Connor), the affair with Amber Frey, the recovery of remains near the very waters where Scott said he went fishing, and the courtroom battle that ended in a conviction — followed by decades of appeals, juror‑misconduct fights, and post‑conviction DNA litigation that continues to evolve.

This true crime podcast discussion breaks down the Scott Peterson trial, the prosecution’s theory of dumping a body in the bay, the defense’s arguments about abduction and alternate suspects, the role of taped phone calls, and the latest Los Angeles Innocence Project filings — plus a live audience debate on guilt, reasonable doubt, and the ethics of “headline” innocence work.

Tune in to hear:

December 24, 2002 – Christmas Eve disappearance in Modesto: Scott says he leaves for a spur‑of‑the‑moment solo fishing trip at the Berkeley Marina while Laci stays home to walk the dog and prep for Christmas Eve — then the family dog is found wandering with its leash on, and Laci is reported missing as search efforts explode.

Late December 2002–January 2003 – Affair revealed & Amber Frey’s recorded calls: Investigators learn Scott is having an affair with Amber Frey, who secretly records conversations with him and later steps forward publicly — shifting Scott from “cooperating husband” to prime suspect in the court of public opinion.

April 3–4, 2003 – Remains recovered near the bay: A male fetus washes ashore, followed by badly decomposed adult female remains less than a mile away; DNA confirms the devastating discovery: Laci and Conner — found near the same area where Scott admits he was fishing.

April 18, 2003 – Arrest and charges: Scott is arrested in San Diego County; investigators cite items found during the stop (including cash, multiple phones, and changes to his appearance) as suspicious, while the defense frames it as media‑avoidance — and prosecutors charge him with murder counts tied to Laci and Conner.

June–November 2004 – The Redwood City murder trial: With Mark Geragos leading the defense, the trial unfolds under wall‑to‑wall national coverage. Prosecutors argue a motive rooted in deceit (the affair, looming fatherhood) and a bay‑dumping theory supported by location and current analysis; the defense argues there’s no direct evidence, no murder weapon, no eyewitness, and no proven cause of death — and pushes alternate‑perpetrator theories including a neighborhood burglary and possible abduction.

November 12, 2004–March 16, 2005 – Conviction and death sentence: After deliberation drama and juror turnover, Scott Peterson is found guilty; the jury recommends death, and he’s formally sentenced to death by lethal injection — later spending years on San Quentin death row during automatic appeals.

2012–2020 – Appeals and the juror #7 controversy:...

Did Aaron Hernandez’s 2017 prison suicide end the story — or just kick off a whole new mess? After the former New England Patriots tight end was convicted in the Odin Lloyd murder, what happened to his conviction, his money, and the people left picking up the pieces? And how do CTE, substance abuse, secrecy, and the NFL spotlight help explain (without excusing) one of the most infamous cases in modern sports true crime?

In this episode, hosts Adrienne Barker and Joseph Lobosco are joined by Debate The News founder Jonathan Bing to continue their deep dive into the Aaron Hernandez case — focusing on the aftershocks that didn’t get as much attention as the trials. The discussion covers the post‑death legal chaos around Hernandez’s murder conviction, the escalating trust fund dispute involving his ex-fiance, and the discovery of a secret apartment tied to the Odin Lloyd investigation, as well as the controversy over alleged suicide notes, speculation about a hidden double life, and the ripple effects that continue to hit the Hernandez family years later.

Tune in to hear:

April 2017–2019 – Conviction vacated, loophole rumors, then reinstated: After Aaron Hernandez’s 2017 prison suicide, a Massachusetts judge initially vacates his murder conviction because he died mid‑appeal, fueling speculation about financial motives — until the state’s highest court reinstates the conviction in 2019 and ends that doctrine going forward.

2017–present – The money trail after Hernandez’s death: The North Attleboro home sale, the trust created for his daughter Aviel, and the roles of trustee David Schwartz and Aviel’s mother as conservator — plus how pension/Social Security benefits factor into the case.

2022–present – Trust fund war (and why it got ugly fast): A $10,000 dance request sparks an audit, allegations of extravagant spending and questionable “education” expenses, and dueling court efforts to remove either the conservator or the trustee — with about $700,000 reportedly left in the trust.

2013 – The secret Franklin “flop house” apartment: The hidden apartment few people knew about, what investigators found inside (including items tied to the Odin Lloyd murder timeline), and why police also suspected drug activity connected to the location.

April 2017–2020 – Suicide notes and the double‑life controversy: Claims of three suicide notes (including a rumored third note to a prison boyfriend), attorney José Baez pushing back, and how prosecutors and later media coverage explored Hernandez’s sexuality as potential motive.

2023–February 2025 – DJ Hernandez’s breakdown and criminal case: The ESPN incident, alleged scouting of potential shooting locations, diagnoses reported in court, and the eventual outcome focused on treatment and supervised release.

2007–late 2025 – Earlier red flags revisited: The Gainesville shooting rumors that were later closed without charges, the Gainesville bar fight at The Swamp, and Tim Tebow’s later comments arguing the incident has been inaccurately portrayed.

Debate & analysis – CTE, drugs, mental illness, and accountability: A blunt discussion on whether Hernandez was simply a “stone cold murderer,” how CTE and substance abuse may (or may not) factor in, and what responsibility (if any) the NFL/Patriots should carry for off‑field