14 Of The Most Disturbing Christmas Crimes In U.S. History
By Beth|Updated on October 28, 2022(Originally published October 23, 2022)
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Beth
Author
A lifelong Virginia resident, Beth loves exploring different parts of the world and currently resides in Charlottesville. She holds a degree in English Literature and one of her short stories has been featured in the Shenandoah Review. Other interests include hiking, songwriting, and spending time in the mountains.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year…right? Unfortunately, according to crime records, it also happens to be an equally disturbing time of year for some. While Christmas might seem like the most unlikely season for crimes, it’s an unfortunate truth that there are plenty on record. And they are downright baffling. Here are some of the most troubling crimes committed on or around Christmas.
Please note: The below photographs are not associated with the actual crimes unless otherwise stated.
1. The case of the so-called stolen chocolate (Georgia)
A man dressed as St. Nick at the Atlanta Mall lost his patience in the worst way in 2004. His temper got the best of him and he allegedly began to hit an elderly 74-year-old woman with a 2 x 4, convinced she had stolen over $100 worth of Hersey’s chocolate from him. The woman died from injuries in the hospital, and Clarke was sentenced to a life in prison.
2. The case of Santa on a motorcycle (South Carolina)
It was 2006 in Columbia, South Carolina when a man dressed in a full Santa costume riding a decked-out motorcycle pulled up to a gas station and asked a family if they wanted to see the stuffed reindeer he had in the sidecar. The children walked up to take a closer look when suddenly this man grabbed the eight-year-old girl and sped off. Panicked, the father furiously chased after them and was able to retrieve his daughter. The Santa-imposter was arrested.
Everyone knows not to take candy from strangers, but what about taking candy canes from Santa Claus? It was 2009 in Parma, Ohio when a 12-year-old girl was flagged down by Santa, hiding in the bushes, offering her Christmas candy. The girl was wise enough to ignore this attempt, and when the man in the Santa costume began chasing her, she made it to a local store just in time to call the police. The man was identified as mentally unstable and was later caught still wearing his suit.
A visit from Santa is usually a joyous occasion, especially when he’s collecting for charity. A 22-year-old woman living in Birmingham thought this was the exact scenario when a man dressed as Santa knocked on her door. Unfortunately, his intentions were much darker. He hit her in the face before attempting to rob her house. He fled the premises shortly after.
5. The case of the most infamous Christmas bank robbery (Texas)
This crime is almost 100 years old, but it’s still quite baffling. In fact, it’s still considered to be one of the most notorious robberies in history. A man by the name of Marshall Ratliff walked into Cisco’s First National bank in a full Santa costume. Accompanied by three armed men, he was able to escape with the money, taking three girls hostage. His car ran out of gas shortly after and he had to abandon his loot. He was arrested and sentenced to 99 years in prison, but an angry mob invaded the prison and lynched him. Interestingly enough, the above image was used in hopes of identifying the criminal.
6. The case of the disorderly mall Santa (New Hampshire)
It was 2005 when a 52-year-old man appeared at Rockingham Park Mall in a full Santa costume. For some reason or another, he decided it would be a good idea to drop his pants in front of everyone. Fortunately, he was wearing sweatpants underneath his costume. Nevertheless, he was arrested for disorderly conduct.
7. The case of the Italian Hall disaster (Michigan)
The 1913 Italian Hall disaster might have happened over a century ago, but it’s a tale that continues to cause despair. It was Christmas Eve in Calumet, Michigan when a group of striking mine workers and their families were gathered for the holiday. An unidentified person falsely yelled out "fire!" and the result was disastrous. In an effort to evacuate the building, 73 were killed due to the stampede that ensued.
Parents can sometimes be at a loss when it comes to finding the perfect gift for their children. A man in Sidell thought he had the perfect solution. According to police reports, he robbed a pet store, taking the cash register and a couple of snakes. When he was asked by police why he committed the crime, he said it was for his son’s Christmas present.
A stolen baby Jesus from a nativity scene: it’s an all-too-common Christmas crime. One case, which happened in Florida in 2007, was particularly unusual. When an 18-year-old woman from Florida stole the ceramic figure, she assumed her crime would go unpunished. Little did she know that the figure was actually rigged with a GPS system, and the cops quickly found out about her shenanigans. It's hard to tell what's more disturbing - the crime of stealing the baby or the assumption that the figure would need a GPS monitor in the first place.
10. The case of the intoxicated St. Nick (South Carolina)*
Volunteering to drive a Christmas float for a local holiday parade is a generous act. That is, until alcohol is factored into the mix. A man from South Carolina was drinking while driving a float only meant to go a few miles per hour. Speeding at nearly 60 MPH, he was charged with intoxicated driving, open container, and a few more charges for his horrifying behavior.
Black holiday deals can be motivation for braving the crowds and waiting in ridiculously long lines. But sometimes, things can get a little out of hand. No where was that truer than the Green Acres Mall in 2008, when hundreds were waiting for the doors to open with the promise of holiday savings. This crowd quickly turned into a mob, busting through the glass doors and trampling over an employee. And the most disturbing part? When it was announced that the employee had been killed, many shoppers continued shopping, complaining that they had been waiting in line all night.
12. The case of the stolen Christmas trees (Oregon)
When the economy tanked in 2008, many families had to get creative with making do with a little less over the holidays. Others turned borderline criminal. In Oregon, for example, policemen in Portland caught a man dragging his stolen Christmas tree down the street at 3 AM.
13. The case of the terrorized Frosty float (Ohio)
The fact that the victim of a brutal Christmas stabbing happened to be a giant Frosty float somehow doesn’t make it less disturbing. The perpetrators were two teenagers in the Colerain Township area. They violently attacked with a knife the 12-foot figure in a resident’s yard. Fortunately, the two were caught on videotape, having committed this crime repeatedly, and were eventually arrested and fined.
If you're dressed as Santa Claus and plan on committing a robbery, it only makes sense to come in through the chimney, right? This less-than-fool-proof logic was used by a man in Seattle as he attempted to rob a house. Before any real crime was committed, he actually got stuck in the chimney and had to be helped out by the fire department. The confused criminal claimed he was just trying to retrieve his backpack, but the story didn't fly with the police. They sentenced him to 17 months in prison.
One can only hope these crimes remain as baffling as they are, rather than becoming the norm. Have you heard of any more holiday-related and/or Christmas crimes? Feel free to share your thoughts with us! For something a little more cheerful, check out the best Christmas lights drive-thrus in the nation!
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Christmas Crimes
Tori Jane|October 28, 2022
What are some disturbing Christmas crimes in the U.S.?
There have been a number of bizarre and horrifying Christmas crimes in the United States for as long as it’s been a thing. Interestingly, crime rates are usually highest in summer – with the only exception being the month of December, when there tends to be a rise in things like DUI/DWI, domestic violence, and even homicides. Some of the most disturbing Christmas crimes in the U.S. include the infamous murder of JonBenet Ramsey in Colorado in 1996, which occurred on either December 25th or 26th. Her killer, to this day, has never been apprehended despite the existence of several suspects. It goes back even further: in 1929, a man named Charlie Lawson killed his wife and all but one of their seven kids in North Carolina. It is unknown why Lawson killed them on that day, but the sole survivor only survived because he was out getting ammunition following a morning hunting trip.
What are some of the worst crimes in America?
Crime in the United States is, unfortunately, just about as common as it is anywhere else. Americans are captivated by true crime, though, and there have been numerous crimes in the United States that have been sensationalized and turned into pop culture events – and some of them are truly grisly. Take for example the case of cannibal killer Jeffrey Dahmer, in Wisconsin, who murdered 17 men and boys in the 80s and 90s. The Manson Family Murders in California, which took the lives of seven people in two days, was another infamous and incredibly disturbing series of crimes in the U.S., especially considering one of the victims was nine-months-pregnant Sharon Tate. Other notoriously grisly crimes in U.S. history include the Trail of Tears (literal genocide), the case of Ed Gein (also from Wisconsin), and the infamous murders of serial killers Ted Bundy, Richard Ramirez, and many more. Need a palate cleanser? Here's one of the safest places to live in the U.S.
