Cheri Ortega, aged 45, tragically lost her life on December 24, 2008, during a horrific event known as the Covina massacre. This incident occurred at an annual Christmas Eve party held at a residence on Knollcrest Drive in Covina, California. The perpetrator, Bruce Jeffrey Pardo, who was the ex-husband of Cheri's sister-in-law, Sylvia Pardo, carried out a meticulously planned attack. Disguised in a Santa Claus suit, Pardo arrived at the party around 11:30 p.m. and knocked on the door.
When an 8-year-old girl opened the door, he shot her in the face, injuring her. Pardo then entered the home and began shooting indiscriminately at the party attendees, killing nine people, including Cheri Ortega and her husband.
The massacre was not limited to gunfire. Pardo had brought with him a large gift-wrapped package containing a homemade device designed to spray racing fuel. After shooting the victims, he used this device to douse the house in fuel and set it on fire, causing further devastation. The fire, combined with the gunshots, resulted in the deaths of Cheri Ortega and eight other family members. Amid the chaos, a 16-year-old girl was also shot in the back but survived.
Following the attack, Pardo fled the scene and drove to his brother's home in Sylmar, California. Severely burned from the fire, he was later found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Investigations revealed that Pardo had planned the attack in detail, including multiple escape plans. He had rented several vehicles and had maps and supplies indicating he might have intended to flee to the Southwest or Mexico. Additionally, his rental car was found booby-trapped with remnants of his Santa suit and ammunition.
The motive behind Pardo's rampage was linked to his recent divorce from Sylvia Pardo, which had been finalized just a week before the massacre. The divorce proceedings had been contentious, and Pardo's actions were seen as a vengeful response to the separation. The incident left a lasting impact on the community and highlighted the devastating consequences of domestic violence and unresolved personal grievances.
