Santa accused of murdering daughter

A 65-year-old man who dressed as Santa Claus for a US town’s Thanksgiving holiday parade has been charged with murdering his daughter during an argument about Christmas decorations.

“They were arguing over Christmas decorations. It appears that was the precipitating argument,” said prosecutor Robert Merrelli in the town of warren.

Police said the argument led Frederick Kaercher to accuse his 31-year-old daughter Monica of stealing some personal items.

The argument moved to the kitchen, where Kaercher grabbed a butcher’s knife and stabbed his daughter in the neck, said Detective David Andrews.

In addition to the annual Thanksgiving parade, Kaercher made appearances at city hall during the holidays, said Warren Deputy Mayor Mike Greiner.

Last year, heart problems kept Kaercher from serving as Santa Claus but his daughter continued to help organise the parade.