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Holiday lights can hide dark plans. We walk through the Covina massacre with clear eyes, tracing how Bruce Pardo went from “civil” in court filings and friendly at the bakery to building a fuel-spraying device and hiding guns in a custom Santa suit. Job loss, a painful divorce, and the performance of normalcy collide with an obsession to punish, turning a family party into a crime scene and a neighborhood into a lesson on how grievance spirals when it meets access and intent.

We break down the choices that shaped this tragedy: the oversized costume made “extra jolly,” the quiet gear purchases, the timeline leading to Christmas Eve, and the tactical ruthlessness inside the house. You’ll hear how a device ignited early, melting the suit into Pardo’s legs, how he escaped on adrenaline, rigged a getaway car, and died by suicide at his brother’s home with cash strapped under plastic wrap. We also sit with the aftershocks that don’t make headlines: a landlord billing the family of a murdered tenant weeks after her death, creditors who showed mercy, and the way systems either cushion grief or crush it under policy.

This story isn’t just true crime; it’s a study in warning signs, social blind spots, and the hard question of what responsibility looks like for neighbors, businesses, and institutions when stress peaks and rituals give cover to rage. If you care about holiday safety, mental health red flags, and how communities can build better guardrails, you’ll find practical insights and tough reflections here. Subscribe, share this episode with a friend who follows true crime and social policy, and leave a review with your take on the most important warning sign we ignore.

Source Material:

The Associated Press, June 1, 2009, Santa gunman led 2 lives to plot killings, https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna28462082

Girardot, Frank C., January 5, 2009, Rent demanded from family of Covina massacre victim- Crime Survivors Resource Center Official Site, https://crimesurvivors.org/rent-demanded-from-family-of-covina-massacre-victim/

ABC News, December 27, 2008, Suspected, Santa Shooter planned escape to Canada,https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=6534372&page=1

CNN, 2008, Police: Santa shooter planned to kill divorce attorney, mother, https://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/12/30/santa.shooting/index.html

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What if your holiday lights are more than decor, and closer to a spell whispered against the dark? We dive into the oldest layers of Yule, where winter was terrifying, food was scarce, and people lit massive fires not for charm but for survival. From the longest night to the first thin promise of sunrise, we trace how ancient fear became ritual, and how those rituals glow inside the traditions we keep now.

We unpack the Wild Hunt, the storm-borne procession led by Odin that once filled the solstice sky with hooves and whispers. This isn’t a cozy Santa tale; it’s a story of doors barred, candles snuffed, and families listening for judgment in the wind. Then we ground that dread in symbols of endurance: the twelve-night Yule log as a bulwark against the void, and evergreens—fir, holly, ivy, mistletoe—carried inside as living wards. Each spark, crackle, and branch had meaning, from luck and warning to the steady message that life endures even when the world looks dead.

We connect those dark roots to the present day with simple, resonant practices: lighting a single candle at midnight, writing down fears and burning them, keeping a quiet home to honor the old stories, or placing evergreens at the door to guard what matters. Along the way, we touch Krampus, Gryla, the Yule Cat, and other winter spirits that remind us the season has teeth as well as tinsel. If you’ve ever felt the hush of a cold night and sensed something ancient stirring, this conversation gives it words—and offers ways to meet the solstice with intention, care, and a little wonder.

If this exploration moved you, subscribe, share the episode with a friend who loves folklore, and leave a quick review. Tell us your solstice ritual or family tradition—we’d love to feature it next time.

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A courtroom twist knocked the wind out of us: after bond was denied in the Shondra May case, the accused died in custody two days later. No trial, no cross-examination, and a community left with raw questions and a grief that doesn’t fit into headlines. We sit with the frustration, the waiting, and the way unfinished justice weighs on families who deserve answers.

Then we change rooms, not hearts. We share the story of Ray, a father who spent 49 Decembers as a professional Santa, perfecting the small rituals that light up children’s faces—malls, firehouses, nursing homes, even local TV. As he planned a golden 50th year, a pancreatic cancer diagnosis arrived like a storm. He chose hospice, steady and gentle, telling his daughters to save sadness until it was necessary. Hospice staff heard the family’s story and quietly built a bridge: a small gathering, familiar families, and a corner of the facility transformed into a winter scene. With help, Ray buttoned the red coat, lifted his posture, and gave a soft but perfect ho ho ho. The divider opened. Kids gasped. Year 50 happened.

We talk about what endures when cases stall and people fail us: the craft of showing up, the power of community care, and how a single afternoon can carry a lifetime of meaning. You’ll hear candid reflections on grief and closure, plus lighter personal memories of department store Santas, Bass Pro photo lines, and the strange comfort of holiday rituals. It’s an episode about legacy, compassion, and choosing to make the magic instead of waiting for it.

If this moved you, share it with a friend who needs a little light. Subscribe, leave a review with your favorite moment, and tell us: what tradition are you keeping alive this season?

Source Material and photo credit:

Melnick, Melissa, December 7, 2025, My Dad was a professional Santa for 49 years-Until tragedy struck.  Then a group of strangers gave us a miracle., https://uk.style.yahoo.com/dad-professional-santa-49-years-131907971.html?guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAL6GciC2E6NF8tG4oMgEKprgF6FktVpAYE84dCsU-OCAWISmNXGRib5z3XZ1R4WitEDcOe8v-GGl3NNYJiWCZpU0BIltgbwYfupz5n-qEP2ieF5EuD0_6a7bXIZvUxeKm3-ugVQRjh0hkLiah1g3gUUPCPbHOMKQg5ixFOYCyvmy&guccounter=2

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The winter sun barely lifts in Iceland, and that thin light is perfect for a story with real teeth. We head north to meet Gryla, the towering giantess who hunts misbehaving children, her thirteen chaotic Yule Lads who sneak into kitchens and barns one night at a time, and the legendary Yule Cat that devours anyone who didn’t earn new clothes by year’s end. It’s a festive world built on volcanic rock, long shadows, and the blunt lesson that survival in winter is a team sport.

We trace how these legends formed in a landscape of scarcity, where chores weren’t busywork but lifelines. Gryla isn’t softened into a mascot; she remains a consequence with a face. The Yule Lads, from Spoon Licker to Window Peeper, turn everyday temptations into quick parables about waste, privacy, and respect. The Yule Cat, huge as a house, reframes a simple gift—socks or a sweater—as proof of contribution and care. Along the way, we draw lines to Krampus, Hansel and Gretel, and modern pop culture nods, showing how different cultures remix the same winter alarm bells.

Today, Iceland has gentled the Lads into shoe-gift givers, but the stories still carry their winter edge. We talk about why that matters: how fear plus humor keeps the lessons sticky, why clothing gifts endure as a tradition with meaning, and how families can use folklore to spark real conversations about work, community, and staying warm together—literally and figuratively. It’s cozy, creepy, and surprisingly practical.

If this kind of folklore lights your fire, share the episode with a friend, subscribe on your favorite app, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. Got Icelandic roots or a family legend to add? Email us at holdmysweettea podcast at gmail.com and tell us your tale.

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The days around Christmas aren’t supposed to feel like this. We open the door on Arkansas, 1987, and walk through the controlled world of Ronald Gene Simmons—a decorated veteran, a father of seven, and the architect of a family compound where isolation and fear did the heavy lifting long before the violence began. We talk candidly about how coercive control works in plain sight, from cutting off phones and neighbors to turning everyday chores into instruments of obedience.

From the first shots on December 22 to the calculated strangulations of the youngest children, the timeline reveals intent, planning, and a chilling calm that carried through the holiday weekend. Then the violence spills into town: a law office, an oil company, a minimart, a freight terminal. Some victims were connected to old grudges; others were simply in the path of a man who believed he was settling scores. Along the way, we connect the dots between the DHS investigation, a teacher’s report, the daughter forced into secrecy, and a wife saving money to leave. None of it happened in a vacuum.

We also push past shock to talk prevention. Isolation is a tactic, not a personality quirk. When someone says they feel like a prisoner, believe them. Notice the red flags: sudden relocations, surveillance over money, removing communication, and grievance spirals centered on weapons and perceived slights. The courts found Simmons sane; the record shows he was deliberate. That matters for how we read similar situations now—at home, at work, in our communities.

If you care about true crime beyond headlines and want a clearer lens on coercive control, family annihilation, and workplace violence, press play. Then share this episode with someone who needs the language to name what they’re seeing. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us: which warning sign stood out to you most?

Source Material:

Daily News, December 13, 2008, The father from hell-New York Daily News, https://www.nydailynews.com/2008/12/13/the-father-from-hell/

Roberts, Adam, December 22, 2022, Ronald Gene Simmons, Arkansas' worst mass murderer, killed 16 people, https://www.4029tv.com/article/ronald-gene-simmons-murders-arkansas/42308596

Holt, Tony, November 6, 2023, The devil of Pope County: America's Worst family massacre, https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/nov/06/trailer-i-the-devil-of-pope-county-americas-worst-family-massacre/

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Cold air sharpens the senses, and the bells you hear in the dark aren’t always for carols. We head into the Alpine mountains to meet Krampus, the horned shadow who stalks the edge of winter, and trace how a feared spirit became a living tradition that still rattles streets, nerves, and moral compasses. From pagan solstice rituals to roaring parades where cowbells, chains, and carved masks shake the snow, we follow the journey that paired Saint Nicholas—the patron of children—with his unruly counterpart and asked families to choose: reward or reckoning.

We start with the mountain people who shaped winter folklore out of necessity, dressing in fur and wood to mirror the wild spirits they believed walked with them. As Christianity spread, the church tried to swap terror for cheer, then learned to balance the ledger by introducing Saint Nick alongside the punisher. Krampusnacht on December 5 became the night that set the tone for the season: fires in the streets, children peeking from behind parents, and the unmistakable lesson that choices carry weight. We break down the symbols—horns and fur from the forest, chains to signal evil bound, birch rods tied to purification and pain, and the infamous basket for the worst offenders—and explore why those images still hit home.

The story jumps to the 1800s, when Krampus postcards blended fright and wit, through a mid-century ban that tried to erase the “too pagan, too dark” tradition, and into a modern revival of festivals, films, and thriving folklore. What endures isn’t just spectacle; it’s balance. Amid bright lights and gift lists, Krampus keeps a necessary shadow in the frame, reminding us that community, ethics, and consequence make the season’s warmth real. Along the way we share listener mail, daydreams of German markets and Glühwein, and a tease of what’s coming next: a Christmas murder story for your winter queue.

If the darker side of the holidays intrigues you, hit play, subscribe, and share your Krampus tales with us. Drop a review, send a voice note with your best German pronunciations, and tell a friend who loves folklore.

If you want to check out the "Louder Sneezen" we referenced. It's from the podcast: the mean time

https://open.spotify.com/show/61NtRCQfk05e2a99UpRm8o?si=S_WGVMZ1QkK1dCO0K79apQ

Sources:

https://www.history.com/articles/krampus-christmas-legend-origin?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Becky Little, March 2, 2005

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/krampus-could-come-you-holiday-season-180957438/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Jennifer Billock, December 4, 2015

https://shunculture.com/article/is-krampus-austrian?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Lexi Webster, January 11, 2025

https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/social-sciences-and-humanities/krampus?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Elizabeth Mohn, 2024

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What starts with mashed potatoes and sweet potato casserole takes a sharp turn into one of Orange County’s most disturbing true crime cases. We open the holiday table, then unpack the whirlwind marriage of Omaima Nelson and William Nelson, the shocking events of Thanksgiving weekend 1991, and the courtroom narratives that battled for the jury’s attention. Between claims of long-term abuse and a blackout, and a prosecution case built on forensic detail and concealment, we examine how jurors ended up at second-degree murder—no notebook, no clear premeditation, but a night of methodical dismemberment and alleged cannibalism that left investigators searching for missing remains.

We go beyond headlines to weigh trauma against evidence. You’ll hear how Nelson’s reported history of abuse and the trauma of female genital mutilation shaped her account of the relationship and the fatal encounter, and why the prosecution pressed a pattern theory using a prior assault case. We explore the grisly details—bondage, the running garbage disposal, boiled hands, and the infamous “ribs” quote—contrasted with the defense’s assertion of a snap response and dissociation. Along the way, we break down why the parole board has repeatedly denied release, citing lack of remorse and responsibility, and we include a timely update on Daniel Callahan’s consecutive life sentences to highlight how planning and multi-state crimes drive harsher outcomes.

Come for the sides and gallows humor, stay for a careful, critical walk through motive, evidence, and legal nuance. If you’re full and scrolling, pull up a chair, press play, and tell us your favorite Thanksgiving side—and your read on the case. Subscribe, share with a true crime friend, and leave a quick review so more listeners find the show.

Source Material:

Update source: Williams, Angela, November 19,2025, Daniel Callahan pleads guilty in Mississippi murder, https://www.wapt.com/article/daniel-callihan-federal-sentence/69488246

ABC NEWS, October 11, 2011, Woman who killed husband and cooked body denied parole, https://abcnews.go.com/US/omaima-nelson-california-woman-convicted-grisly-murder-husband/story?id=14675780

Lynch, Renee, January 13, 1993, Second-degree verdict for wife in grisly murder, https://abcnews.go.com/US/omaima-nelson-california-woman-convicted-grisly-murder-husband/story?id=14675780

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Our latest deep dive unpacks one of the most chilling Thanksgiving crimes on record: the calculated murders of Joel and Lisa Guy by their son, Joel Guy Jr. We trace the path from a simple welfare check to a home transformed into a chemical crime scene, where overheated air, acid-filled bins, and a pot simmering on the stove told investigators everything they needed to know.

We take you inside the psychology and logistics of the case: a 28-year-old supported into adulthood, no job, no deadlines, and total dependence colliding with his parents’ plan to retire and cut off funding. The spiral notebook found at the scene reads like a task list—knives, bleach, heat, disposal—revealing intent stripped of emotion. From Walmart receipts and surveillance videos to digital searches on chemical strength, we show how small facts stacked into a timeline that prosecutors could present with devastating clarity.

You’ll hear how the timeline unfolded over Thanksgiving weekend, the forensic logic of turning the thermostat to 90 degrees, and the grim attempts to dissolve and obscure evidence. We examine why the defense had so little room to maneuver and how the jury reached life without parole. Then we step back to ask the harder questions: what happens when endless support replaces boundaries, and how does entitlement curdle into something deadly? This is a case study in motive, method, and the modern investigative toolkit.

If you value thoughtful true crime, subscribe, share this episode with a friend, and leave a review with the detail that stunned you most. Your support helps us bring you more careful, compassionate storytelling that looks past the headlines and into the hard truths behind them.

Sources:

United States Court of Appeals – Standard Insurance Company v. Joel Michael Guy, Jr.
https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/ca6/21-5562/21-5562-2024-08-19.html 

FBI Press Release – Knoxville Fugitive Arrested by FBI for the Alleged Murder of His Parents
https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/neworleans/news/press-releases/knoxville-fugitive-arrested-by-fbi-for-the-alleged-murder-of-his-parents 

WBIR News Article – Joel Guy Murder Trial for Killing His Parents
https://www.wbir.com/article/news/crime/joel-guy-trial-day-three-parents-were-victims-of-ferocious-attack/51-92d63b98-bf60-4491-8e04-85d8ba4381d7 

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A quiet Tuesday in Louisiana. A father’s unanswered calls. By Thursday morning, a young mother is found stabbed more than fifty times and her two daughters are missing. From that moment, every detail becomes a lifeline: the black Chrysler 200, the Amber Alert, and a suspect who doesn’t just flee to Jackson, Mississippi—he loops back and forth across state lines, then points police toward the unthinkable.

We unpack the case of Daniel Callahan and the victims who matter most: Callie Brunett, her four‑year‑old daughter Erin, and the surviving six‑year‑old. We trace the on‑off relationship that granted access, the fast-moving manhunt, and the arrest that opened the door to something darker than a single act of violence. Reports of a pit and small animal cages near where the girls were found raise hard questions about human trafficking in Jackson. We explore the conflicting early details, what investigators said on the record, and why those cages may point to a larger pattern that demands public tips and sustained scrutiny.

From the courtroom side, we break down the split jurisdiction—federal implications from crossing state lines and state charges in Mississippi—plus Callahan’s shifting pleas that ended with life without parole in Louisiana. We examine why some families and legal experts prefer a certain life sentence over the slow uncertainty of the death penalty, and what that means for real closure. We also cover the charges against Victoria Cox, her alleged role, bond decisions, and the possibility of a plea deal that could surface new information about trafficking activity.

Finally, we turn to prevention. Crowded stores and theme parks are not neutral ground for unattended kids. We share simple, no‑nonsense ways to keep children within reach and out of danger—because vigilance is not paranoia when seconds matter. If you care about true crime with clarity, accountability, and practical takeaways, press play, share this with a friend, and join the conversation. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us: does life without parole deliver more justice than death row?

Source Material:

Spurge, Chris, October 13, 2025, After Raping girl, 6, and keeping her in a pit with her sister's body, duo may both get plea deals,https://people.com/daniel-callihan-victoria-cox-plea-deals-murder-kidnapping-sexual-battery-11829098

Vargas, Ramone Antonio, June15, 2024, Evidence of human trafficking found in murder of four-year-old-Louisiana girl, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jun/15/louisiana-murder-human-trafficking

Boyd, Parker, September 25, 2025, Daniel Callahan avoids death penalty with guilty plea in Louisiana killings, https://www.fox8live.com/2025/09/26/daniel-callihan-avoids-death-penalty-with-guilty-plea-louisiana-killings/

Cesaric, Corin, June 14, 2024, Possible Evidence of human trafficking found where girl and slain 4-year-old sister were found, https://people.com/girl-sister-found-mississippi-possible-human-trafficking-says-chief-8663607

Asma-Sedque, Samira, August 12, 2025, Man kidnapped 2 young girls, then strangled 1 to death-all after mother's killing, https://people.com/man-kidnapped-two-young-girls-then-smothered-to-death-after-moms-killin

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The story starts like a neighborhood postcard and ends with a number you can’t forget: 193. We head to Houston to unpack the Blue-Eyed Butcher case, where a young mother, a charismatic husband, and a tidy suburban home collide with bindings, a shallow grave, and a trial that turned into legal theater. What looked perfect from the curb was tearing apart inside—friends described charm and volatility, anxiety and control, late-night fights and a marriage sliding into fear.

We walk through the two clashing versions of the night Jeff Wright died. Susan’s account centers on panic, a struggle, and a survival instinct spun out of years of intimidation. The state’s case argues premeditation: a drugged and bound victim, a relentless attack, and a next-day routine that tried to smooth over horror. Then came the moment that made headlines—prosecutor Kelly Siegler wheeled a bed into court and physically acted out the stabbing sequence, transforming facts on paper into a visceral performance the jury could not unsee.

Toxicology deepened the controversy. Alcohol and cocaine complicated behavior; GHB suggested incapacitation. We dig into how that evidence shaped motive, how trauma affects memory and reporting, and why the defense’s lack of documentation undercut claims of abuse. We also revisit the resentencing that introduced expert testimony on battered woman syndrome and trimmed the original sentence, stoking debate about fairness, failure, and the weight of visual proof in a courtroom.

If you’re drawn to true crime that tests your instincts, this one asks hard questions about power, fear, and the thin line between self-defense and vengeance. Listen, weigh the evidence, and tell us where you land. If the episode resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review—your take might change someone’s mind.

Sources:

ABC13 Houston: “Susan Wright formally released from prison after 16 years behind bars” — https://abc13.com/post/susan-wright-murder-trial-jeff-stabbed-husband-193-times/9184616/ 

Oxygen: “Kelly Siegler Details Trial of ‘Blue‐Eyed Butcher’ Susan Wright” — https://www.oxygen.com/prosecuting-evil-with-kelly-siegler/crime-news/trial-blue-eyed-butcher-susan-jeff-wright-murder-texas 

KIRO7 / Cox Media: “‘Blue-eyed Butcher’: Texas woman who stabbed husband 193 times … released on parole” — https://www.kiro7.com/news/trending/blue-eyed-butcher-texas-woman-who-stabbed-husband-193-times-2003-released-parole/GMR2DZYQLVEIBCYYT7DPOB6IW4/ 

Justia: “Susan Lucille Wright v. The State of Texas” (Appeal) — https://law.justia.com/cases/texas/fourteenth-court-of-appeals/2012/14-10-01193-cr.html