Ronald Carroll McDonald
Ronald Carroll McDonald | |
|---|---|
Ronald McDonald pleading guilty, November 1997 | |
| Born | February 25, 1926 United States |
| Died | August 7, 2011 (aged 85) Bothell, Washington, U.S. |
| Conviction | January 20, 1998 |
| Criminal charge | First-degree rape of a child 4x First-degree child molestation 3x |
| Penalty | 26½ years imprisonment |
| Details | |
| Victims | 8–45+ |
Span of crimes | 1937 – October 1997 |
Ronald Carroll McDonald (February 25, 1926 – August 7, 2011) was an American convicted child molester known for playing Santa Claus for over 25 years before confessing to his crimes. McDonald had been a prominent figure in Lake Forest Park, Washington as a year-round Santa, who volunteered his time at least six days a week to working with children, including those in the Seattle area hospitals. When it was revealed that McDonald had been molesting children, the news gained international attention.