Christmas Archives - The American Retiree

Convicted Christmas Morning Murderer Found Dead in Pennsylvania Prison Cell

Bellefonte, PA — A man formerly convicted of a Christmas morning murder was found deceased in his cell at the State Correctional Institution at Rockview, according to prison authorities. The body of 44-year-old James Dellapenna was discovered during a routine check early Wednesday morning. Dellapenna was serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for the murder of a couple in their home on December 25, 2008, a crime that had gripped the local …

Huntingdon Man Sentenced Following Brutal Christmas Day Domestic Assault

Hemingford Grey, UK – A distressing incident unfolded in this quiet village near Huntingdon on Boxing Day when a 48-year-old man, Adrian Fox, brutally assaulted a woman during a daylong argument at his home. The dispute escalated into violence by the evening, leading Fox to attack and seriously injure the victim. The conflict began early in the day, and witnesses described tense exchanges between Fox and the victim, a woman whose name has not been …

Christmas Day Horror: Trial Begins for Man Who Confessed to Killing

San Antonio, Texas — The holiday season was marred in San Antonio last year when a celebration turned tragic on Christmas Day. During the opening statements Monday, a courtroom heard how a local man, accused of murder, allegedly confessed to police upon their arrival, saying, “I just killed someone.” The defendant, whose identity is being withheld pending trial outcomes, is charged with one count of murder following an incident that transpired during a Christmas gathering. …

Christmas Day Tragedy in Palatka: Two Dead and Hunt for Additional Suspects Continues After Violent Afterparty Shooting

PALATKA, Fla. — A tragic Christmas Day shooting in Palatka left two men dead and another injured, sparking an ongoing investigation into the violence that erupted late Sunday evening. Authorities reported that the incident followed a party in neighboring St. Johns County, leading to an afterparty that culminated in gunfire on North 19th Street. Officers who were called to the scene to disperse a crowd from a parking lot heard gunshots emanating from across the …

Family Feud Turns Fatal: Woman Arrested After Christmas Cake Poisoning Claims Three Lives

Torres, Brazil – In a disturbing case that has shocked a southern Brazilian community, a woman has been arrested under suspicion of poisoning a Christmas cake that resulted in the death of three of her family members and left another in critical condition. The incident, which unfolded on December 23, involved the consumption of an apparently arsenic-laced cake during a family gathering in the city near Porto Alegre. The tragedy claimed the lives of Maida …

Lee County Reels After Christmas Day Tragedy: Mother Killed, Retaliatory Shootings Follow

Lee County, S.C. — In a tragic series of events that unfolded over the Christmas holiday, a mother of five was fatally shot, sparking a wave of retaliatory violence that led to additional shootings and multiple arrests, according to Lee County deputies. The initial incident occurred on Christmas Day, setting off a chain reaction of grief and vengeance. Calandra Nicole Troy, 39, was the victim of a calculated attack at her home, which also left …

Tragic Holiday Assault: Largo Man Charged with First-Degree Murder After Attacking Wife with Sledgehammer on Christmas

LARGO, Fla. — A tragic incident unfolded in Largo on Christmas Day when a woman was attacked by her husband with a sledgehammer. The woman succumbed to her injuries and passed away five days later. Authorities responded to a domestic disturbance call on Pinecone Way on Dec. 25, where they encountered a grim scene. According to police, the call was made by 78-year-old Jonathan McPhee, who admitted to attacking his wife and announced his intention …

Community Outrage and Calls for Reform Ignite Following Tragic Christmas Day Death of Ohio Correctional Officer

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — A wave of scrutiny has swept through Ross Correctional Institution following the Christmas Day slaying of Correction Officer Andrew Lansing. The tragedy has attracted broad criticism and sparked controversies surrounding safety protocols within the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC). A social media outcry, fueled by discussions of perilous conditions and calls for reform, underscores deepening concerns about systemic issues within the state’s prison system. An online petition, rapidly gaining signatures, …

Oakland County Sheriff Criticizes Parole Policies After Parolee’s Deadly Christmas Eve Rampage

PONTIAC, Mich. — Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard recently spotlighted the critical implications surrounding the early release of dangerous felons, following a devastating incident on Christmas Eve in Oxford, Michigan. The event left 71-year-old Dr. Barbara Wolf dead and two others severely injured, including her 38-year-old daughter, as a result of a violent encounter instigated by a recently paroled individual. According to Sheriff Bouchard, Malik Letroy Webb, 29, had been paroled in July after multiple …

Community Mourns Young Missouri Father-to-Be at Candlelit Vigil: Father Charged with Tragic Christmas Eve Murder

St. Louis, MO — A somber gathering illuminated Cliff Cave Park where family and friends recently held a candlelit vigil to mourn the tragic loss of 26-year-old Kevin Ward, a Missouri Department of Transportation worker, who was fatally shot on Christmas Eve. The accused shooter is none other than his father, 61-year-old Harold Luster, deepening the tragedy with a layer of familial betrayal. Kevin, remembered as a devoted son, fiance, and expectant father, was celebrated …