But the coke wasnt free, and he owed money all over town. He is survived by : his children, William Launius Jr. (Joan) of Millstadt and Lori Harris (Ken) of Waterloo; and his grandchildren, William "Trey" Launius III, Kasey Launius, Hunter Harris, Carter Harris, Tanner Harris and Cooper Harris. relaxed uneasily at the end of their Saturday. Susan Launius was born on 1951. Charlie and Watson tied the LaBiancas up, convincing the couple theyd be safe if they cooperated. Clyde Lee Launius, age 92, passed away on January 23, 2023 at La Bonne Maison Assisted Living Facility in Sikeston, MO. A witness testified that Nash ordered Holmes to execute a plan for payback and then some. Los Angeles and Hollywood, L.A.s evanescent city within the city casts a long shadow for strivers and dreamers. and his gang were cruising the city in their, looking for another likely target in their LSD-drenched plan for world domination, nicknamed Healter (sic) Skelter. He had been critical of the amateurishness of the night before, and he wanted to offer his death squad an opportunity to regain his approval. for better and for worse. Hanson said Holmes never told his attorneys what happened the night of the killings. Susan Bell Launius. Susan was a lifelong member of First United Presbyterian Church in Belleville, IL. The house at 8763 Wonderland Avenue was well-known in the neighborhood, and for all the wrong reasons. Early in the morning of the robbery, Holmes visited Nash's mansion ostensibly to party and to buy drugs, but on his way out, left the patio door to the kitchen unlatched. 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. The address: South Norton Avenue. She is survived by her loving husband of 48 years, William Launius Sr.; her son William (Joan) Launius Jr. of Millstadt; her daughter Lori (Ken) Harris of Waterloo; her grandchildren William Trey Launius III, Kasey Launius, Hunter Harris, Carter Harris, Tanner Harris, and Cooper Harris; brother-in-law Darwin Kraft; beloved nieces Lisa (Craig) DeBeaumont, Rebecca (Art) Fudge, beloved nephews Todd Kraft, and Karl Eric (Sue) Kraft, great nieces, great nephews, cousins, lifelong friend Theresa Painter, and many other friends. Scott Thorson, who was buying drugs at Nash's home, wrote in his memoir My Life with Liberace (1988) that Nash had ordered Diles to bring Holmes to Nash's house, which Diles did after finding Holmes walking around Hollywood wearing one of Nash's rings. Let others know about your loved one's death. Perhaps youd be discovered, like Brad Pitt; or perhaps youd be discovered buried in a pit. Unfortunately, thats not always the case. In their comfortable Los Feliz dwelling, constructed in 1922 and situated near the crest of a hill. Face of Ron Launius (May 18, 1944 - July 1, 1981) Ronald Lee "Ron" Launius was the leader of the Wonderland Gang, a squad of drug dealers that operated out of a dope house at 8763 Wonderland Avenue in the Laurel Canyon section of Los Angeles, California, moving large amounts of cocaine and small amounts of heroin. The importance of saying "I love you" during COVID-19, Effective ways of dealing with the grieving process, Solutions to show your sympathy safely during the Covid-19 pandemic. She was an associate of the Wonderland Gang, hanging around the Wonderland apartment, where she was savagely beaten by criminals with lead pipes on the night of 1 July 1981. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. Filicide is the act of a parent killing their child. A unique and lasting tribute for a loved one. Diles died in 1997 from liver failure. Short seems to have been a drifter. Short seems to have been a drifter. That year, however, Launius was convicted of smuggling heroin and cocaine across the US/Mexico border and eventually served three years of an eight-year sentence in a federal prison. Once you find the obituary you are looking for, you can get important information about upcoming services, share a favorite photo or memory, and send flowers or gifts to the family. She was an associate of the Wonderland Gang, hanging around the Wonderland apartment, where she was savagely beaten by criminals with lead pipes on the night of 1 July 1981. Grief Support. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. You could hit the lofty heights of stardom, like Tom Cruise. Some heard a woman's screams coming from the house Tuesday morning, but ignored them in the belief someone was playing a joke, partying or having a nightmare. So, Nash became the target of a harebrained idea. Long-lost ship found at the bottom of Lake Huron, confirming story of tragic collision, TikTok to set default daily time limit of up to 60 minutes for minors, Before and after photos from space show storms effect on California reservoirs, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, Jaguars, narcos, illegal loggers: One mans battle to save a Guatemalan jungle and Maya ruins, TikTok faces bans in a number of countries over security fears. Lind and his girlfriend, Barbara Richardson, rode down to the Wonderland house on Lind's motorcycle and slept on the living room sofa. None other than larger-than-life porn star (and fulltime coke fiend) John Holmes, known professionally as Johnny Wadd. . Originally, McCourt was designated to take part in the home invasion itself, but a day or so before the event, conspirator David Lind (who derisively referred to McCourt as "Titmouse Tracy") took away McCourt's handgun, and McCourt was relegated to driving duty. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. Susan was a lifelong member 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. Launius's wife Susan was gravely injured and is the only known survivor of the attack. Its not like there is a shortage of theories on her murderer there just isnt enough clear evidence to point to any one suspect in particular. Reportedly, at the time of his death, police investigators throughout California, largely in the Sacramento area, had 27 open homicide cases they believed were perpetrated by Launius. He could not be reached for comment on the killings. The multiple homicide shocked the city, which was still somewhat innocent and trusting at the end of the halcyon hippie days. We are sad to announce that on December 23, 2018, at the age of 73, Susan Miller-Preciado (Provo, Utah), born in Rupert, Idaho passed away. 'When you're talking about the star witness in a case like this I think you can safely assume that we've got her pretty well guarded,' a pllice spokesman said. Januarys in L.A. arent like those of, say, Boston, where young Elizabeth Short hailed from. shed never seen the residence before the day of June 30, 1981. Holmes slept fitfully for a few hours, Sharon Holmes said, and moaned about blood and pain. There were three years during the past century when it seems L.A. was spotlighted by the bad moon of especially notorious crimes. Roland Edward Launius - Obituary & Service Details. She was a wonderful mother, aunt, and dear friend. The scene: A tract of land being developed into new homes to accommodate young working-class families in postwar L.A. No charges have ever been filed in the Black Dahlia case, but that hasnt stopped people from confessing. Susan Bell Launius, nee Haywood, 70, of Belleville, born in Belleville on 9-14-1943, died Sunday August 10, 2014 at her residence, surrounded by her husband and children. The closest snow gets to the streets of L.A. is the glimpse of faraway, snow-capped mountains in the San Bernardino range thats visible from certain parts of town. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. When one of Nashs bodyguards spotted Holmes wearing a ring that had been purloined that night, the whole thing fell apart. LAUNIUS, JUNE E. Flushing Age 90 of Flushing, died Thursday, June 21, 2012 at St. Mary's Hospital in Saginaw. ? Police sources said Vlick, who is charged with plssessing drugs and stolen property, is a 'fringe guy' in organized crime circles. . Susan was a lifelong member of First United Presbyterian Church in Belleville, IL. In 1981, at Launius' behest, Lind traveled to Los Angeles to join the Wonderland gang and assist them in running drugs. Why are we still having these debates? judith goss parcells; Home Uncategorized susan murphy launius. COVID origins? She was scheduled to appear in court this month on drug charges. She served as a deacon and Read More, Submit an obit for publication in any local newspaper and on Legacy. Less-lucky losers might wind up at the bottom of a lake. Susan Launius, who lay wounded with severe head injuries for hours before being discovered in the house by neighbors last July 1, testified during Holmes' preliminary hearing that she could. . , neither was she a prostitute. For a time, John Holmes was silent. Edmund Brown Jr. owns a house about a mile from the scene of the murders. . from the masses of young, aimless drifters who had descended upon the West Coast in the late 1960s, entranced by the supposedly good vibes of a scene populated with other young people, hippies, and freaks not to mention, crooks and hustlers peddling free love and other illusions. Atty. . Abcarian: Mask mandates? Haltingly, Holmes confessed to his wife that he had played a central role in four brutal murders earlier that month in a drug dealers hillside home in Laurel Canyon. At the house, Holmes told his wife, Nash pored over Holmes address book, and stopped when he came to the pages that listed addresses in Ohio, where Holmes was born and where his mother and other relatives still lived. Visitation: 4 8pm Thursday August 14, 2014 at Valhalla-Gaerdner-Holten Funeral Home, Belleville IL, and 9 10am Friday August 15, 2014 at First United Presbyterian Church, Belleville IL. Sign up for service and obituary updates. Holmes was quickly spirited away to Nashs house and beaten until he revealed all his secrets. Send Flowers. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. He was never convicted of the Wonderland murders. By the time of the Wonderland murders, Lind had been incarcerated several times for armed burglary, forgery, assault, and assault with the intent to commit rape. after spending a drug-fueled evening there a year before. Select boxes below to reduce the number of results. of Cabot, AR. Finally, he replied: The murders . Would you like to offer William E. Launius Sr.s loved ones a condolence message? Kevin Martin is Senior Writer for MagellanTV. The Wonderland Gang was a group of drug dealers involved in the Los Angeles cocaine trade during the late 1970s and early 1980s; their home base was located on Wonderland Avenue in the Laurel Canyon section of Los Angeles, California. Another victim, William DeVerell, 44, who lived at the house, had an arrest record in the 1950s, mostly for narcotics but had not been arrested in the recent case. Then Holmes hit on a more direct way to make money. For some, Los Angeles is an endless highway to success. Joy Audrey Miller, 46, who rented the house, had a record of six arrests -- three for peddling dope -- and had been under surveillance since Jan. 7, 1980, by narcotics officers who saw her selling drugs in front of the house at least eight times, affidavits said. Write your message of sympathy today. Bottom of a lake when it seems L.A. was spotlighted by the bad moon of especially crimes... Said, and moaned about blood and pain, and moaned about blood and pain told his attorneys happened. Crime circles shocked the city, which was still somewhat innocent and trusting at the of... A pit Launius ' behest, Lind traveled to Los Angeles and Hollywood L.A.s. A More direct way to make money up at the end of the killings Presbyterian Church in,! Belleville, IL casts a long shadow for strivers and dreamers discovered, like Cruise! Thing fell apart n't have much information about he 's past relationship and any previous engaged their child discovered like... 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