The Covina-based Ortega family murders have been the primary focus of multiple true-crime documentaries and series. Oxygen’s Homicide for the Holidays episode, titled “A Christmas Massacre,” reairs the episode every year to commemorate the deaths.
On Christmas Eve 2008, a man dressed as Santa Claus massacred nine members of the Ortega family during a gathering. Authorities later identified the culprit as Bruce Jeffrey Pardo, who fatally shot multiple victims after crashing the family gathering. He then sprayed gasoline into the house and set it ablaze using a makeshift flamethrower.
According to CBS, Pardo orchestrated the attack after his recent divorce from his ex-wife, Sylvia Ortiz, an Ortega sibling. Ortiz also died in the attack that evening. Meanwhile, the killer suffered horrible third-degree burns in the first and was severely injured when he killed himself.
How did the Ortega family murders culprit Bruce Jeffrey Pardo die?
Bruce Jeffrey Pardo, who was responsible for the Ortega family murders, killed himself with a gunshot to the mouth after the attack. He reportedly suffered severe third-degree burns in the same fire he caused and decided to kill himself afterwards, per Sportskeeda.
The outlet reported that Pardo arrived at his former in-laws’ Covina home in a Santa Claus suit. He was not only fully armed but also carried a gift-wrapped parcel containing a rolling air compressor modified to pump gasoline. He first shot his 8-year-old niece Katrina Yuzefpolsky, who opened the door and then began firing randomly at the guests.
Authorities suspected the attacker ran out of ammunition during the killing rampage when he pulled out a makeshift flamethrower. He then sprayed 18 litres of gasoline into the house and set it ablaze, injuring himself in the process.
Reportedly, nine people died of either gunshot wounds or fire in the Ortega family murders, with only one person fleeing the scene. The survivor then raced to a neighbor’s home, where they made a 911 call. Forensics were able to determine the victims’ identities through dental and medical records.
As far as the motive is concerned, CBS stated that Pardo’s divorce from ex-wife Sylvia Ortiz shortly before the holiday triggered the attack. An FBI profile found that extreme narcissism and obsessive-compulsive disorder caused him to act.
