Ho Ho Hoax

The story of a 5-year-old child who reportedly died in the arms of Eric Schmitt-Matzen, a local Santa Claus actor from Tennessee, may have been be a hoax.

Days after the tear-jerking tale went viral, the Knoxville News Sentinel — the outlet that first broke the story — issued a statement on Wednesday, December 14, retracting their confidence in Schmitt-Matzen’s account after being unable to verify details or identify the boy.

Was the Story About a 5-Year-Old Boy Who Died in Santa’s Arms a Hoax? | Us Weekly