The sinister video tape found on Christmas

The Attack

On December 22, 1990, Rolf Tiede and his 16-year-old daughter, Trish, rode snowmobiles to their remote Utah cabin, expecting to join the rest of their family for Christmas. Instead, an armed, masked stranger led them into the garage, where another man was holding Rolf’s older daughter, Linnea, at gunpoint. Linnea had already watched the intruders kill her mother, Beth, and grandmother, Kay.

When Rolf offered his wallet, one of the men shot him in the head. The attackers poured gasoline around the cabin and set it alight, then forced the two girls onto snowmobiles and into the family car. As the killers drove away, a police car passed them, then turned around and gave chase. The driver sped recklessly along the icy mountain road until the car crashed into an embankment. A shootout followed, but the girls were pulled out safely and both attackers were arrested.

How Rolf Survived

The extraordinary reason police found the family was that Rolf had survived. Despite being shot twice and set on fire, he stayed still until the killers left with his daughters. He then escaped on a snowmobile and reached his brother, who alerted police and directed them toward the family car.

Rolf recovered, and he and his daughters later rebuilt the cabin and continued returning there.

The Video Evidence

Investigators searching the burned cabin found handheld video cameras. Before the family arrived, the intruders had filmed themselves opening the family’s Christmas presents, joking, and fiddling with the camera while one of them sat with a weapon. The footage captured a chillingly casual moment before the murders.

Von Taylor was convicted of murdering Beth and Kay and sentenced to death. Edward Deli received a life sentence.

Video Opening

The video opens with MrBallen’s familiar joking request to turn the Like button into a pizza pocket—but not to overcook it, so the outside is hot while the inside stays frozen.

People Featured

• MrBallen — narrator
• Rolf Tiede — father who survived the attack and alerted police
• Trish — Rolf’s younger daughter
• Linnea — Rolf’s older daughter
• Beth — Rolf’s wife
• Kay — Beth’s mother
• Von Taylor and Edward Deli — the attackers