'Santa' Gunman Hid Son From Ex-Wife: Cops

Bruce Jeffrey Pardo, who police say killed nine others in a Christmas Eve rampage in California, kept a child from a previous relationship secret from his ex-wife, the Los Angeles Times reports. Pardo did not support his physically handicapped 9-year-old son financially, but claimed him as a dependent for 7 years on his taxes.

When ex-wife Sylvia found out, she demanded Pardo stop claiming his son as a dependent, and the resulting friction help lead to their divorce. Police, in turn, believe the divorce was a factor in driving Pardo to the shooting rampage that left his ex-wife, her parents and six others dead. (More Santa Claus stories.)