The wide-ranging racketeering indictment unsealed on Friday accuses Eddie Nash, a former owner of Hollywood nightclubs like the Starwood and the Kit Kat Club whose real name is Adel Gharib Nasrallah, of running a cocaine and heroin distribution syndicate since the 1970's, as well as laundering money, tampering with a juror, and witnesses and tax fraud. On the afternoon of July 1, 1981, Los Angeles police responded to a distress call on Wonderland Avenue and discovered a grisly quadruple homicide. Mr. Cox is not really interested in the truth behind the murders or in generating sympathy for anyone touched by them. Movies. Aside from their drug dealings, some of the occupants were known for committing robberies and burglaries throughout Los Angeles. "LA: Black Dahlia, John Holmes & Wonderland", "Slaying Victim Was Once Charged In Drug Murder", "Trial Begins for 2 in Grisly Laurel Canyon Murders of Mid-1981", "Crime Library: Notorious Murders: Celebrity: John Holmes", "John Holmes, 43, Dies, Was Star of Sex Films", "Nash Bodyguard Jurors Deadlock, to Try Again", "Two Acquitted in Second Trial for '81 Laurel Canyon Murders", "The New Season/Film; John Holmes's Boogie Life", "Gregory Dewitt Diles (1948-1997) - Find A Grave", "Adel Gharib "Eddie Nash" Nasrallah (1929-2014) -", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wonderland_Gang&oldid=1134934701, Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from January 2022, All articles that may contain original research, Articles that may contain original research from January 2022, Articles with dead external links from December 2013, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2022, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2012, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2015, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2019, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2011, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Ronald Lee "Ron" Launius (May 18, 1944 - July 1, 1981) (Leader), William Raymond "Billy" DeVerell (February 14, 1937 - July 1, 1981), David Clay Lind (October 24, 1938 - November 16, 1995), Tracy Raymond McCourt (February 20, 1949 - October 18, 2006), Joy Audrey Gold Miller (May 14, 1935 - July 1, 1981) (DeVerell's girlfriend and the house leaseholder), Susan A. Murphy Launius (born 1951) (Launius' wife), Barbara Lee "Butterfly" Easton Richardson (October 15, 1958 - July 1, 1981) (Lind's girlfriend). The house located on 8763 Wonderland Avenue in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Laurel Canyon. Numerous television shows have covered the Wonderland murders, such as: On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Prior to his passing, the LAPD was still investigating the murders long after the trial of Holmes had ended. He spent considerable time in the Colorado prison system, but when he was free he operated a successful mobile phone franchise. I had never touched drugs until I met Liberace, he says. [7], A California police officer described the blond, bearded Launius as "one of the coldest people I ever met". Barbara D Richardson, 87 Resides in Burlington, NC Lived In Greensboro NC, Roxboro NC, Yanceyville NC, Danville VA Related To Brittainy Richardson, Bridgett Richardson, Darlean Richardson, Thedore Richardson Also known as Borbara J Richardson, B J Richardson, B Barbara Includes Address (17) Phone (6) Email (1) See Results Barbara A Richardson, 85 The Wonderland murders were the subject of two Hollywood films. Holmes was acquitted in June 1982, after a three-week trial. She is the sole survivor of the brutal Wonderland attack the night of July 1, 1981; she suffered severe head injuries, amnesia, and a severed finger following the attack. Detectives were questioning Holmes about what happened, with the latter giving little to no information about the incident. Holmes had entered the home while the doors were unlocked. [10], Joy Audrey Gold Miller was Billy DeVerell's girlfriend and the leaseholder of the Wonderland townhouse. The Hollywood Pantages Theatre is no doubt one of the most extravagant theatres in the world. Miller had two adult daughters and was the ex-wife of a Beverly Hills attorney. Through Lind's story (told in flashbacks), we are introduced to some of the people who partied at Wonderland. When Liberace insisted that Thorson as his son get cosmetic surgery to look like him, the doctor gave him a nose job, sculpted cheekbones, and a chin implant (which he later had removed); he also started Thorson on a weight-loss plan that included pharmaceutical cocaine, quaaludes, and Demerol. Eddie Nash had died in 2014. The police investigation that followed uncovered two versions of the events leading up to the brutal murders - both involving legendary porn actor John Holmes. We want to hear it. [2], The Wonderland Gang mainly trafficked in the burgeoning cocaine trade of the era, but despite its role as the most influential and feared cocaine distributorship of its time in Los Angeles, some of its members were heroin addicts. He spent much of the last seven years there since a 2014 sentencing for credit card fraud and identity theft, actions driven by his longtime drug addiction. I have to be honest, if I could catch him in a lie, that would have added entertainment value to the podcast. Others associated with the Wonderland home were also later deceased. Launius and Susan Murphy, were married in Carson City, Nevada on April 16, 1971. She tells them (in a near comatose state) that she does not remember anything, only shadows. Prior to the murders, five people resided in the home: Ron Launius, Billy DeVerell, DeVerrel's girlfriend Joy Audrey Gold Miller, Tracy McCourt and David Lind. You enjoying yourself? Raised in Grayslake, Richardson attended Warren Township High School and, after getting married in the mid-1940s and having three children, she began her professional career working. He spent considerable time in the Colorado prison system, but when he was free he operated a successful mobile phone franchise. The first time, he forgot to unlatch the patio door; the second time, he did so but returned to the Wonderland hideout only to find some of the gang members were extremely high on heroin. It determined that he was an unwilling participant who was forced to watch the attack. Launius, 36, was a Vietnam Veteran who had been dishonorably discharged after the Air Force discovered he had been smuggling heroin back to the states from overseas in the body bags of . Hed been robbed at gunpoint two days before. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! The prosecutors say the killings were committed in retaliation for a break-in and drug robbery at Mr. Nash's home two nights earlier, in which he was made to kneel and beg for his life, and Mr. Diles was grazed by a bullet. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Specifically at the time of the murder, Lind testified in court that he was at a motel in the San Fernando Valley, consuming drugs with a male prostitute. Launius was known for remaining composed under pressure. However, it wasnt until 1990 when Eddie Nash and his bodyguard were both arrested and were accused of their roles in the murder. While he was acquitted with the murders, he served 110 days in jail for refusing to cooperate with authorities and was charged with contempt. [citation needed], David Lind, ordinarily a resident of the Sacramento area, came to Los Angeles in the summer of 1981 at Launius' behest, to aid in their growing drug-distribution business. https://allthatsinteresting.com/wonderland-murders, https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-04-14-me-1912-story.html. (Holmes, who had starred in hundreds of films by that time, is the subject of a 1989 Rolling Stone feature by Mike Sager about his involvement in these events, The Devil and John Holmes.) Nash asked me to step out of his bedroom, Thorson says. We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. View the profiles of people named Barbara Ann Richardson. They were probably considered dirtbags and drug dealers and Who cares? he says. He is buried at Santa Rosa Memorial Park in, Tracy McCourt died of unspecified causes on October 18, 2006, aged 57. The home at one point was up for rent for the price of $3,000 a month. Launiuss wife Susan was gravely injured and is the only known survivor of the attack. I want to come to Matt Damons defense, he says, unbidden, referring to a recent uproar around the actors use of a particular f-word. But a lot of that happened back then., Over Zoom, Thorson has a plasticky sheen and eyebrows that look painted on the appearance of someone whos been under the knife. Susan A. Murphy Launius, 30, while not an official member of the gang, was married to gang member Ron Launius and had a drug habit. The gang hurls racial epithets at Nash and Diles and walks away with over one million dollars in cash, jewels, and drugs. FILM REVIEW; A Film Stud Who Loses His Luster Is Sent to Graze on Seedy Pastures, https://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/03/movies/film-review-a-film-stud-who-loses-his-luster-is-sent-to-graze-on-seedy-pastures.html. In May 1974, he was arrested for and charged with the 1973 murder of a reputed police drug informant who had been killed over a botched drug deal. Liberace's former lover shares what he saw the night of the murders and why he thinks law enforcement should keep working on the case. After the sun came up, police found a bloody crime scene inside a house 8763 Wonderland Avenue, the known residence of the Wonderland Gang, a group of drug dealers. Barbara Lee Richardson was born in Sacramento, California in 1958, and she became the girlfriend of Aryan Brotherhood biker David Lind. The coalition of doctors and state officials created a registry that medical providers can check and see which immunizations children need, as well as a color-coded schedule with baby pictures indicating the appropriate ages for vaccines to help parents track their children's care. Lind accidentally fires his gun, wounding Nash's bodyguard, Greg Diles. View Barbara Richardson results in Pennsylvania (PA) including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. Mr. Holmes died in 1988 of an illness related to AIDS, and Mr. Diles died in 1995. He has some bad press. Susan Launius is beaten but survives, and is questioned by Nico and Cruz in her hospital bed. The next morning, while in a motel room, Dawn sees a newscast that states four people were murdered at a rowhouse on Wonderland Avenue, the same one she had earlier been at with Holmes. https://allthatsinteresting.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/wonderland-avenue-house.jpg. Barbara Easton Richardson. I'm Barbara Richardson, assistant general manager of customer service, communications and marketing at Metro. Ron Launius, Deverell, Richardson, and Miller are all brutally beaten to death with striated lead pipes. Filming & Production Prior to the robbery, Nash was visited on three separate occasions throughout the day by John Holmes, known at the time as one of the most popular adult film stars. Neither Holmes nor any of the women are present when the robbery occurs. According to our Database, He has no children. The next major character introduced is David Lind. Diles soon tracked down Holmes and brought him back to the home for questioning. [citation needed], John Holmes was arrested and charged with four counts of murder in March 1982, after his handprint was found in one of the bedrooms. It determined that he was an unwilling participant who was forced to watch the attack. Lind's position in the drug underworld was and remains murky due to allegations by rival drug dealers that he worked as a police informant. Lind and McCourt were not present at the home due to the murders since Lind was at a nearby hotel consuming drugs with a friend while McCourt was at an apartment that he apparently rented for himself. Specifically at the time of the murder, Lind testified in court that he was at a motel in the San Fernando Valley, consuming drugs with a male prostitute. That is what they are paid to do of course; why anyone else should care is the real unsolved mystery. Hes plotting his return to L.A., where he plans to finish his second book and then wait for a call from Matt Damon, who he hopes will reprise his role as him in some future Hollywood adaptation of his exploits. The body of Barbara "Butterfly" Richardson, David Lind's girlfriend, was lying on the ground near the couch she had been sleeping on, covered in blood. Launius and Susan Murphy, were married in Carson City, Nevada on April 16, 1971. The Wonderland murders happened on July 1, 1981, when the killer (s) stepped in the Wonderland Gang's den without any sign of breaking and entering, as the Los Angeles Times tells us. The wild details Thorson shares strain credulity. [citation needed]. For something to become a really big media event, you need the idea that it could happen to anybody, he says. The weapons used by the killers were believed to be a combination of hammers and metal pipes. The film itself didnt have a scene that was based on the Wonderland Murders, but there was once a scene that was loosely based on the robbery of Nash. John Holmes and the Wonderland Murders also did a segment that was released in 2000 around the time of Nash's trial. Lind had spent the night with a male prostitute, leading to his survival. Barbara works at Animal Rescue. When questioned, neighbors said the drug-fueled Wonderland parties often included loud, violent screaming and disruptive noise, so when they heard the murders occurring, they simply believed another party was taking place. David Lind testified in the preliminary hearing for John Holmes in 1982 that Miller and Richardson attended the planning meetings of the Nash robbery. One of Nashs bodyguards was seriously injured as a result of a gunshot. 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