Over the years, news outlets have chronicled a bizarre parade of crooks slipping into a Santa outfit to pull off everything from petty drug busts to full‑blown mass murder. These unsettling sagas prove that when the wrong individual dons the red coat, 10 times santa becomes a figure of menace rather than merriment. Some use the jolly image to lure youngsters, while others simply hide behind the beard as a disguise. Either way, each of these ten tales will make you glance twice at any mall Santa you encounter.
10 Charles Smith
The opening entry is a relatively tame affair compared to the darker stories that follow, offering a brief comic relief before the grimness sets in. Charles Smith, a professional Santa hired for parties, was pulled over by New Jersey police during a routine traffic stop in November 2017. The officer spotted a crack pipe tucked in the vehicle, leading to Smith’s immediate arrest.
While a Santa on narcotics is certainly unsettling, it’s a far cry from the kidnappings and murders that dominate the rest of the list. You’ll thank me for kicking things off on a lighter, albeit bizarre, note before the true horror unfolds.
9 Anthony Russo
In 2009, Anthony Russo tried to snatch a 12‑year‑old girl in Parma, Ohio, while decked out in a Santa suit. He lurked in a nearby bush, leapt out to grab the child, but she managed to escape. Russo was later apprehended on a bus, his satchel overflowing with candy canes and a lone unicycle.
The odd combination of candy canes and a unicycle raises questions: Was the unicycle meant as a getaway bike? Why the bus? And why stock up on holiday sweets? Perhaps Russo convinced himself he was the real St. Nick, complete with a quirky prop collection. Unfortunately, he wasn’t the only Santa who believed that kidnapping children was part of the job description.
8 Randall Gaston Jones
Randall Gaston Jones was arrested in October 2017 after crashing a Halloween party dressed as Santa. He opened fire on the crowd, leaving one dead and three wounded. The incident marked the 27th murder investigation in Austin that year.
Why choose a Santa costume for a Halloween massacre remains a mystery. The recurring theme of criminals hijacking the Santa image for heinous deeds continues to baffle investigators and the public alike.
7 John Michael Burton
Unlike many on this roster, John Michael Burton didn’t need a fake beard; his natural, thick white facial hair already resembled the iconic St. Nick, likely bolstering his confidence that he was the genuine article.
In 2006, the 55‑year‑old rode a motorcycle around Columbia, South Carolina, hunting for a child to abduct. The bike featured a sidecar with a stuffed Rudolph as his co‑pilot. While refueling at a convenience store, three sisters noticed Rudolph and approached. Suddenly, Burton sped off with the eldest, an eight‑year‑old, leaving the mother behind.
The father gave chase, cornered Burton in a parking lot, and police promptly arrested him. The quick rescue prevented any further kidnappings. This chilling episode underscores how a seemingly harmless Santa façade can mask terrifying intent.
6 Unknown
A man in St. Louis remains at large after two children reported that a Santa‑clad figure approached them at a bus stop in January 2018, offering candy. Other youngsters have made similar claims. The only concrete detail is his red pickup truck, not a sleigh.
Who is this mysterious Santa? His actions echo the darker side of the holiday myth, more akin to Krampus—the beast that punishes naughty children—than to the benevolent gift‑giver. One wonders if a Krampus costume would have been a more fitting disguise.
5 Grover Phillippi And Michael Conklin
In December 1983, Dr. Grover Phillippi and accomplice Michael Conklin kidnapped a stockbroker from a Christmas party in Pittsburgh, then tortured him for twelve days in a trailer near Point Marion, Pennsylvania. The victim, Robert J. Haye, endured drugs, interrogation, and physical abuse before being rescued.
Phillippi wore a Santa outfit during the kidnapping, likely to conceal his identity from any onlookers. The victim survived with a broken nose. While the tale would have ranked higher if Phillippi had also donned the suit while torturing Haye, the mere use of Santa as a cover adds a chilling layer to the crime.
4 Abdulkadir Masharipov
On New Year’s Eve 2016, a gunman opened fire on a crowded Istanbul nightclub, killing 39 and injuring around 70. Witnesses and CCTV footage identified the shooter as an Uzbek national named Abdulkadir Masharipov, who was dressed in a plastic Santa mask and hat rather than the classic red coat.
This horrific episode stands out as the most lethal on the list, with a staggering body count. Masharipov was captured about two weeks later. The incident starkly illustrates how the Santa image can be twisted to conceal a cold‑blooded killer’s identity.
3 Bruce Jeffrey Pardo
On Christmas Eve 2008, Bruce Jeffrey Pardo drove to his ex‑wife’s parents’ home in Covina, California, dressed as Santa and carrying a large box that concealed a handgun and a homemade flamethrower. He knocked on the door, and an eight‑year‑old girl answered, only to be shot in the face.
Pardo then unleashed a barrage of gunfire throughout the house and set it ablaze. The girl survived, but nine other occupants perished from bullets or fire. The grotesque juxtaposition of a Santa suit with a flamethrower and firearms makes this case especially sinister.
After the carnage, Pardo fled to his brother’s house, where he took his own life, his suit partially melted onto his skin from the flames. Police later uncovered flammable liquids, weapons, and divorce papers in his residence.
2 Taylor Blaul
Convicted sex offender Taylor Blaul received probation in 2017 after attending a holiday party dressed as Santa. While the act itself wasn’t illegal, his criminal history suggests the costume was a calculated move to lure children.
This unsettling scenario highlights how predators can exploit the Santa image to gain trust, turning a symbol of generosity into a vehicle for exploitation.
1 Bruce McArthur
Bruce McArthur, an alleged serial killer who also worked as a mall Santa, presents perhaps the most chilling entry on the list. By day he photographed smiling children; by night, he allegedly committed a series of gruesome murders. Although none of the killings were committed while he wore the Santa suit, the stark contrast between his public persona and his alleged crimes is deeply unsettling.
The phenomenon of criminals appropriating the Santa image—whether to deceive, disguise, or simply pervert the holiday spirit—remains perplexing. As these ten stories demonstrate, the jolly red coat can sometimes hide something far more sinister. Next time you see a Santa, you might just pause and wonder: who’s really behind the beard?