December 19, 2025 • 12 mins
Dive into the chilling true stories of five devastating Christmas-season crimes, each echoing the brutality of the Covina Christmas Eve Massacre. From familicides to extremist-driven killings and unsolved civil rights bombings, this episode explores the darkest nights hidden beneath holiday lights. Blending detailed historical analysis with Strange History’s signature storytelling and dark humor, this is the Christmas episode you won’t forget.
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New episodes regularly. History gets weird here.
🎧 The Strange History Podcast Love bizarre true stories, forgotten scandals, and history’s most unhinged moments?
Submit your ideas for The Strange History Podcast
Follow The Strange History Podcast wherever you listen and never miss an episode. 🔗 Listen & Subscribe:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
iHeartRadio
Audible
New episodes regularly. History gets weird here.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome back to the Strange History Podcast, the only show
where we say 'tis the season for peace and goodwill,
and then immediately ruin that by telling you about history's
darkest holiday crimes, because nothing pairs better with Coco than
existential dread. Every December, we prepare for joy, twinkling lights,
cinnamon scented chaos, and that one relative who insists on
(00:23):
bringing a salad to Christmas Dinner like they're trying to
sabotage morale. But sometimes the darkness doesn't stay outside the window.
Sometimes it kicks the door down. Tonight we're exploring five
of the most chilling Christmas season crimes in American history,
crimes that echo the brutality of the covena Christmas Eve massacre.
(00:45):
These weren't petty holiday mishaps or Santa related drunken incidents.
These were tragedies that wiped out entire families, shook communities,
and turned the glow of Christmas lights into forensic lighting.
But before we dive into the darkness, yes, a quick
message from the man who believes aggressive diplomacy is the
true meaning of Christmas.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Kringle's Conflict Mediation Services. Is your family arguing about politics again?
Does someone keep bringing up the incident from Thanksgiving two
thousand and nine? Is Grandma sharpening the carving knife with intent?
Try Kringle's conflict Mediation services where a legally distinct Santa
kicks down your door, blowing a whistle and shouting, we
(01:27):
use our holiday words, people, Kringle Mediation when your Christmas
needs a referee.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
The Goldmark Family murders Christmas Eve nineteen eighty five.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
On Christmas Eve in Seattle, the Goldmark family, Charles, Annie
and their two young sons were preparing for a peaceful
night of gifts and family warmth. They were respected members
of their community, kind intellectual, the kind of people whose
holiday plans involved cocoa and stocking, not fear. But they
(02:02):
had been targeted by David Lewis Rice, a man whose
mind had been hijacked by extremist conspiracy groups. Rice had
soaked up propaganda from far right militias who insisted that
Jewish communist leaders secretly controlled America. In his delusion, he
decided that Charles Goldmark, a civil liberties attorney who had
(02:22):
never been involved in politics of that sort, was one
of these imaginary enemies. Rice approached their home pretending to
deliver holiday materials. When the door opened, he attacked, binding
the family with duct tape, attempting to knock them out
with chloroform, and brutally stabbing and beating them. Charles and
(02:42):
Nanni died. Their two sons clung to life for days
before succumbing. Seattle was devastated.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
Background trial and sentencing.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
Rice's notebooks were filled with militia propaganda, diagrams of the
Goldmark home and rambling manifests. Stows. Prosecutors argued he wasn't insane,
he was radicalized. He had carefully planned the attack, purchased
supplies days in advance, and stalked the family. The defense
attempted a diminished capacity plea, but psychiatrists concluded Rice fully
(03:17):
understood his actions. He confessed, detailing his motives with chilling clarity.
Rice was found guilty on four counts of aggravated first
degree murder and sentenced to death. Decades later, when Washington
abolished the death penalty, his sentence was converted to life
without parole. His appeals failed. The judge called the crime
(03:39):
an execution fueled by hate and fantasy.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Holiday home security Santa detection mode concerned about someone prowling
around your roof. Want to be absolutely sure it's Santa
and not a less jolly intruder. Try Holiday home Security
featuring Santa Detection mode. We analyze heat signatures, bootprints, and
cookie consumption patterns to determine whether your visitor is magical
(04:07):
or menacing. Holiday home Security where we turn ho ho
ho into no no No.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
The Lawson Family massacre Christmas Day nineteen twenty nine.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
On Christmas Day nineteen twenty nine, the Lawson family gathered
in new clothes for a professional photograph, an unusual luxury
for a rural depression era family. Hours later, father Charles
Davis Lawson murdered his wife and six of his seven children.
He killed two daughters in the yard, then entered the
(04:38):
house to shoot his wife and four more children. He
arranged their bodies with eerie care arms, crossed pillows beneath
their heads, before retreating to the woods and killing himself.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
Background and investigative aftermath.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
Charles had suffered a severe head injury months before, after
which his behavior became increased erratic. Some neighbors suspected neurological deterioration.
Others whispered about vague and unproven family scandals, the expensive photograph,
the new clothes, the sudden extravagance. Many saw these as
(05:15):
ritualistic prelude. Because the killer was dead, there was no trial,
but there was spectacle. Newspapers sensationalized the case. Tourists descended
on the farm. A song was written about the murders,
one of America's earliest viral true crime narratives. The inquest
produced one of the shortest findings in North Carolina history.
(05:37):
Murder suicide motives unknown.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
The Mule Tide Therapy Hotline is the holiday stress getting
to you? Are you haunted by fruitcake? Is your in
law ratio dangerously high? Call one eight hundred Yule Help,
where therapists and exhausted elves offer coping skills, coco and
just enough sas to get you through the holidays.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
The Dayton Christmas Murders December twenty four to twenty six,
nineteen ninety two.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
Over three days from Christmas Eve to December twenty sixth, Dayton, Ohio,
became a battleground. Four young adults later dubbed the Downtown Posse,
embarked on a killing spree that left six people dead
and two wounded. Their victims included acquaintances strangers, a teenage girl,
a good samaritan, and a mother and daughter. It was
(06:31):
violence for thrill, money and dominance, random, brutal, senseless.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
Background trials and sentencing.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
Each member had a troubled history marked by instability, neglect,
and minor offenses, but their spree went far beyond petty crime.
Their trials were separated. Laura Taylor, aged sixteen, was portrayed
as a disturbingly cold ring leader. She received life life
without parole. DeMarcus Smith also received life without parole. Marlon
(07:06):
Lucky Sharon received a long but lesser sentence for reduced involvement.
Heather Matthews, who testified against the others, received a significantly
reduced sentence. The courtroom atmosphere was tense. Jurors later said
what disturbed the most wasn't the crime scene evidence, it
was the lack of remorse. The judge called the spree
(07:29):
acts of pure cruelty.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
ELF and ELF Attorneys at clause Did you commit a
questionable act under the influence of eggnog? Did an ELF
witness it? Call? ELF and ELF Attorneys at Clause the
only legal team specializing in festive errors. Their motto we
object festively.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
The Carnation Christmas Eve murders December twenty fourth, two thousand
and seven.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
Carnation, Washington population peaceful until Christmas Eve two thousand and seven,
when Michelle Anderson and her boyfriend Joseph McEnroe murdered six
members of Michelle's family. Michelle believed her family had treated
her unfairly. She stewed in resentment until it curdled into violence.
(08:22):
She persuaded McEnroe, soft spoken, fearful of losing her to help.
They killed Michelle's parents first, then when her brother, sister
in law, and their two young children arrived unexpectedly, the
killings continued.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
Background trials and sentencing.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
The initial police visit missed the bodies entirely. Michelle and
Joseph calmly lied to officers, telling them the family wasn't home.
Days later the truth emerged. Their trials were lengthy. Joseph
McEnroe went first. Prosecutors pursued the death penalty, arguing he
executed the children to eliminate witnesses. His calm, chilling confession
(09:05):
videos destroyed any defense narrative. He was sentenced to life
without parole. Michelle Anderson attempted to plead guilty, but the
court required a full trial. Her flat effect, lack of remorse,
and testimonies about long standing grudges shaped the jury's decision.
She too, received life without parole. A Washington prosecutor described
(09:27):
the case as an annihilation of a family line.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
Spirit of Christmas Pest Control. Are ghosts of Christmas past
haunting you? Do you feel the presence of your bad
decisions lingering in the air? Call Spirit of Christmas Pest Control.
We banish ghosts, regrets, and exes who show up just
to talk.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
The murder of Harry and Harriet Moore Christmas Day, nineteen
fifty one.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
On Christmas Night in Mims, Florida, civil rights pioneers Harry
and Harry More celebrated their twenty fifth anniversary. As they slept,
klansmen detonated a bomb beneath their bedroom floor. Harriet died instantly,
Harry the next day.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
Background investigation and failed prosecutions.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
Harry Moore had dedicated his life to fighting lynching, registering
black voters, and challenging segregation. The ku Klux Klan despised
him for it. The first investigation was botched. Local authorities
had little interest in prosecuting klansmen, evidence was mishandled leads ignored.
The FBI launched four separate investigations over fifty years. Each
(10:40):
time four primary suspects emerged, all high ranking clansmen with
histories of racial violence. Each time the case stalled due
to fear, corruption, or lack of cooperation. By the time
Floridas Attorney General reopened the case in the two thousands,
all four suspects were dead. The final report concluded they
(11:02):
were almost certainly responsible, but no trial has ever taken place.
The Moors are now recognized as the first martyrs of
the modern civil rights movement.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
This episode is brought to you by Spreaker, the podcast
platform so easy even your grandma could start a show,
which she has. It's called Tea with Mildred and it's
mostly her reviewing grocery store coupons and yelling at squirrels.
With Spreaker, you can record, edit, distribute, and monetize your
podcast all in one place. So whether you're telling true
(11:38):
crime stories, reading paranormal fan mail, or documenting grandma's ongoing
feud with the local wildlife, Spreaker has you covered. Spreaker,
go ahead, We dare you.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
And There you have it. The first five Christmas tragedies
darker than a power outage on Christmas Eve. We say
first because as usual, there is a part two in
the next episode. These stories weren't meant to ruin the holidays,
but to remind us December doesn't pause the world's dangers.
It only makes them easier to overlook beneath twinkling lights.
(12:12):
We honor the victims by remembering their stories, even the
ones wrapped in darkness. Stay safe, stay aware, and above all,
stay strange and subscribe. We promise to keep it interesting
and sometimes a little dark. Even our Legos episode is dark. Seriously,
(12:33):
check it out.
Welcome back to the Strange History Podcast, the only show
where we say 'tis the season for peace and goodwill,
and then immediately ruin that by telling you about history's
darkest holiday crimes, because nothing pairs better with Coco than
existential dread. Every December, we prepare for joy, twinkling lights,
cinnamon scented chaos, and that one relative who insists on
(00:23):
bringing a salad to Christmas Dinner like they're trying to
sabotage morale. But sometimes the darkness doesn't stay outside the window.
Sometimes it kicks the door down. Tonight we're exploring five
of the most chilling Christmas season crimes in American history,
crimes that echo the brutality of the covena Christmas Eve massacre.
(00:45):
These weren't petty holiday mishaps or Santa related drunken incidents.
These were tragedies that wiped out entire families, shook communities,
and turned the glow of Christmas lights into forensic lighting.
But before we dive into the darkness, yes, a quick
message from the man who believes aggressive diplomacy is the
true meaning of Christmas.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Kringle's Conflict Mediation Services. Is your family arguing about politics again?
Does someone keep bringing up the incident from Thanksgiving two
thousand and nine? Is Grandma sharpening the carving knife with intent?
Try Kringle's conflict Mediation services where a legally distinct Santa
kicks down your door, blowing a whistle and shouting, we
(01:27):
use our holiday words, people, Kringle Mediation when your Christmas
needs a referee.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
The Goldmark Family murders Christmas Eve nineteen eighty five.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
On Christmas Eve in Seattle, the Goldmark family, Charles, Annie
and their two young sons were preparing for a peaceful
night of gifts and family warmth. They were respected members
of their community, kind intellectual, the kind of people whose
holiday plans involved cocoa and stocking, not fear. But they
(02:02):
had been targeted by David Lewis Rice, a man whose
mind had been hijacked by extremist conspiracy groups. Rice had
soaked up propaganda from far right militias who insisted that
Jewish communist leaders secretly controlled America. In his delusion, he
decided that Charles Goldmark, a civil liberties attorney who had
(02:22):
never been involved in politics of that sort, was one
of these imaginary enemies. Rice approached their home pretending to
deliver holiday materials. When the door opened, he attacked, binding
the family with duct tape, attempting to knock them out
with chloroform, and brutally stabbing and beating them. Charles and
(02:42):
Nanni died. Their two sons clung to life for days
before succumbing. Seattle was devastated.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
Background trial and sentencing.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
Rice's notebooks were filled with militia propaganda, diagrams of the
Goldmark home and rambling manifests. Stows. Prosecutors argued he wasn't insane,
he was radicalized. He had carefully planned the attack, purchased
supplies days in advance, and stalked the family. The defense
attempted a diminished capacity plea, but psychiatrists concluded Rice fully
(03:17):
understood his actions. He confessed, detailing his motives with chilling clarity.
Rice was found guilty on four counts of aggravated first
degree murder and sentenced to death. Decades later, when Washington
abolished the death penalty, his sentence was converted to life
without parole. His appeals failed. The judge called the crime
(03:39):
an execution fueled by hate and fantasy.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Holiday home security Santa detection mode concerned about someone prowling
around your roof. Want to be absolutely sure it's Santa
and not a less jolly intruder. Try Holiday home Security
featuring Santa Detection mode. We analyze heat signatures, bootprints, and
cookie consumption patterns to determine whether your visitor is magical
(04:07):
or menacing. Holiday home Security where we turn ho ho
ho into no no No.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
The Lawson Family massacre Christmas Day nineteen twenty nine.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
On Christmas Day nineteen twenty nine, the Lawson family gathered
in new clothes for a professional photograph, an unusual luxury
for a rural depression era family. Hours later, father Charles
Davis Lawson murdered his wife and six of his seven children.
He killed two daughters in the yard, then entered the
(04:38):
house to shoot his wife and four more children. He
arranged their bodies with eerie care arms, crossed pillows beneath
their heads, before retreating to the woods and killing himself.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
Background and investigative aftermath.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
Charles had suffered a severe head injury months before, after
which his behavior became increased erratic. Some neighbors suspected neurological deterioration.
Others whispered about vague and unproven family scandals, the expensive photograph,
the new clothes, the sudden extravagance. Many saw these as
(05:15):
ritualistic prelude. Because the killer was dead, there was no trial,
but there was spectacle. Newspapers sensationalized the case. Tourists descended
on the farm. A song was written about the murders,
one of America's earliest viral true crime narratives. The inquest
produced one of the shortest findings in North Carolina history.
(05:37):
Murder suicide motives unknown.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
The Mule Tide Therapy Hotline is the holiday stress getting
to you? Are you haunted by fruitcake? Is your in
law ratio dangerously high? Call one eight hundred Yule Help,
where therapists and exhausted elves offer coping skills, coco and
just enough sas to get you through the holidays.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
The Dayton Christmas Murders December twenty four to twenty six,
nineteen ninety two.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
Over three days from Christmas Eve to December twenty sixth, Dayton, Ohio,
became a battleground. Four young adults later dubbed the Downtown Posse,
embarked on a killing spree that left six people dead
and two wounded. Their victims included acquaintances strangers, a teenage girl,
a good samaritan, and a mother and daughter. It was
(06:31):
violence for thrill, money and dominance, random, brutal, senseless.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
Background trials and sentencing.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
Each member had a troubled history marked by instability, neglect,
and minor offenses, but their spree went far beyond petty crime.
Their trials were separated. Laura Taylor, aged sixteen, was portrayed
as a disturbingly cold ring leader. She received life life
without parole. DeMarcus Smith also received life without parole. Marlon
(07:06):
Lucky Sharon received a long but lesser sentence for reduced involvement.
Heather Matthews, who testified against the others, received a significantly
reduced sentence. The courtroom atmosphere was tense. Jurors later said
what disturbed the most wasn't the crime scene evidence, it
was the lack of remorse. The judge called the spree
(07:29):
acts of pure cruelty.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
ELF and ELF Attorneys at clause Did you commit a
questionable act under the influence of eggnog? Did an ELF
witness it? Call? ELF and ELF Attorneys at Clause the
only legal team specializing in festive errors. Their motto we
object festively.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
The Carnation Christmas Eve murders December twenty fourth, two thousand
and seven.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
Carnation, Washington population peaceful until Christmas Eve two thousand and seven,
when Michelle Anderson and her boyfriend Joseph McEnroe murdered six
members of Michelle's family. Michelle believed her family had treated
her unfairly. She stewed in resentment until it curdled into violence.
(08:22):
She persuaded McEnroe, soft spoken, fearful of losing her to help.
They killed Michelle's parents first, then when her brother, sister
in law, and their two young children arrived unexpectedly, the
killings continued.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
Background trials and sentencing.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
The initial police visit missed the bodies entirely. Michelle and
Joseph calmly lied to officers, telling them the family wasn't home.
Days later the truth emerged. Their trials were lengthy. Joseph
McEnroe went first. Prosecutors pursued the death penalty, arguing he
executed the children to eliminate witnesses. His calm, chilling confession
(09:05):
videos destroyed any defense narrative. He was sentenced to life
without parole. Michelle Anderson attempted to plead guilty, but the
court required a full trial. Her flat effect, lack of remorse,
and testimonies about long standing grudges shaped the jury's decision.
She too, received life without parole. A Washington prosecutor described
(09:27):
the case as an annihilation of a family line.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
Spirit of Christmas Pest Control. Are ghosts of Christmas past
haunting you? Do you feel the presence of your bad
decisions lingering in the air? Call Spirit of Christmas Pest Control.
We banish ghosts, regrets, and exes who show up just
to talk.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
The murder of Harry and Harriet Moore Christmas Day, nineteen
fifty one.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
On Christmas Night in Mims, Florida, civil rights pioneers Harry
and Harry More celebrated their twenty fifth anniversary. As they slept,
klansmen detonated a bomb beneath their bedroom floor. Harriet died instantly,
Harry the next day.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
Background investigation and failed prosecutions.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
Harry Moore had dedicated his life to fighting lynching, registering
black voters, and challenging segregation. The ku Klux Klan despised
him for it. The first investigation was botched. Local authorities
had little interest in prosecuting klansmen, evidence was mishandled leads ignored.
The FBI launched four separate investigations over fifty years. Each
(10:40):
time four primary suspects emerged, all high ranking clansmen with
histories of racial violence. Each time the case stalled due
to fear, corruption, or lack of cooperation. By the time
Floridas Attorney General reopened the case in the two thousands,
all four suspects were dead. The final report concluded they
(11:02):
were almost certainly responsible, but no trial has ever taken place.
The Moors are now recognized as the first martyrs of
the modern civil rights movement.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
This episode is brought to you by Spreaker, the podcast
platform so easy even your grandma could start a show,
which she has. It's called Tea with Mildred and it's
mostly her reviewing grocery store coupons and yelling at squirrels.
With Spreaker, you can record, edit, distribute, and monetize your
podcast all in one place. So whether you're telling true
(11:38):
crime stories, reading paranormal fan mail, or documenting grandma's ongoing
feud with the local wildlife, Spreaker has you covered. Spreaker,
go ahead, We dare you.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
And There you have it. The first five Christmas tragedies
darker than a power outage on Christmas Eve. We say
first because as usual, there is a part two in
the next episode. These stories weren't meant to ruin the holidays,
but to remind us December doesn't pause the world's dangers.
It only makes them easier to overlook beneath twinkling lights.
(12:12):
We honor the victims by remembering their stories, even the
ones wrapped in darkness. Stay safe, stay aware, and above all,
stay strange and subscribe. We promise to keep it interesting
and sometimes a little dark. Even our Legos episode is dark. Seriously,
(12:33):
check it out.
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