But behind the walls of a quiet rural home, a terrible secret was already unfolding.
What happened over the next several days would become one of the most shocking family tragedies in American history.
A Plan Hidden Behind a Smile
Investigators later discovered that Ronald Gene Simmons had spent weeks preparing for what was about to happen.
He knew Christmas would bring his family together.
He knew who would arrive.
He knew when they would come.
And according to authorities, he had already decided what their fate would be.