ronald carroll mcdonald (february 25, 1926 – august 7, 2011) was a convicted child rapist 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 abusing children, the news gained international attention.