Man Dressed as Santa Drugs 9th Victim at Market

A ho-ho-horrible story out of Berlin, where police say a man dressed as Santa drugged a teenager Saturday night at a Christmas market. The suspect offered the 15-year-old girl and her friend a shot of alcohol; the friend refused, but the victim drank both and soon began vomiting. Police say she was apparently given a date rape drug, the AP reports; she was hospitalized and released. Eight other people have recently been left ill or unconscious after similar attacks at Christmas markets in the city, although the suspect is usually dressed normally.

The suspect typically hands out small bottles of alcohol and claims to be celebrating the birth of his child. Most of the victims have been young women, and police are still investigating the possibilities of linked attacks or copycat crimes. If that doesn't trample on your holiday spirit enough, click for six more crazy Christmas crimes from this year. (More strange stuff stories.)