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The L.A. County Coroner has identified six of the nine badly burned bodies found inside the Covina home that was terrorized by "Santa Shooter" Bruce Pardo on Christmas Eve. According to abc7.com, the casualties were attributed to the shootings as well as the torching of the house. So far, the Coroner's office has determined:
Joseph Ortega, 80, of Covina, died from multiple gunshot wounds, and 70-year-old Alicia Ortega was shot in the abdomen. Also killed was Teresa Ortega, 51, who was shot in the leg but died from burns and smoke inhalation. Multiple injuries, including burns, gunshot wounds and smoke inhalation, were cited in the deaths of three others: Alicia Ortiz, 46, of Upland; Charles Ortega, 50, of West Covina and his wife, Cheri, 45.
Currently three more bodies remain unidentified--a process that is taking a great deal of time due to how badly damaged they were in the crime. Pardo's body was found the following morning at his brother's Sylmar home; his Santa suit was melted to his body and he had a single self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Police later learned he had plans to continue his killing spree, but stopped short and committed suicide.
