A horrific quadruple homicide took place in the hills of Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles, on July 1, 1981, and the Wonderland Murders continue to be an unsolved case even now.
Currently, 8763 Wonderland Avenue in Laurel Canyon features a charming split-level residence complete with a carport, an iron-framework balcony, two bedrooms, and two bathrooms. The exterior gives no indication that four bodies were found there on July 1, 1981, so severely beaten and bloodied that the LAPD likened the scene to the notorious Tate-LaBianca murders carried out by the Manson Family just twelve years prior.
The Wonderland Murders are still regarded as some of the most unsettling incidents in American criminal history.
On that fateful summer night in the Hollywood Hills, three members and one associate of the Wonderland Gang, known for their drug trafficking and armed robberies in Los Angeles, were viciously killed by unidentified assailants. Although various suspects emerged, including local organized crime figure Eddie Nash and adult film actor John Holmes, the case remains officially unresolved to this day.
The Story Of The Wonderland Gang Before The Laurel Canyon Murders
During the late 1970s, the residence located at 8763 Wonderland Avenue functioned as the central hub for the Wonderland Gang, recognized as one of the most prominent cocaine distributors in Los Angeles. Their expanding enterprise had nearly monopolized the market until the tragic events of the Wonderland Murders abruptly concluded their operations.
The property was officially registered under Joy Miller’s name; however, it hosted a diverse array of individuals.
Miller, a long-time heroin addict, became involved with the gang following her separation from her affluent husband and her life in Beverly Hills.
The Wonderland Gang derived income from more than just cocaine. Heroin served as their personal interest, while armed robbery functioned as an additional means of profit.
Targeting their adversaries not only provided financial gain but also served as a strategic method to eliminate competition — until a disastrous and violent incident turned the tide against them one fateful night.
The Brazen Crime That Led To The Wonderland Murders
On June 29, just days prior to the Wonderland Murders, four individuals associated with the Wonderland Gang executed a robbery at the residence of the infamous club owner and gang leader, Eddie Nash.
Disguised as law enforcement officers, Launius and DeVerell facilitated the entry of their fellow gang members, David Lind and Tracy McCourt, into Nash’s home, where they proceeded to restrain Nash and his bodyguard, Gregory Diles, with handcuffs.
During the course of the robbery, while Nash was compelled to access his safe, Lind inadvertently discharged his weapon, injuring Diles in the process.
The gang departed the scene without being recognized, absconding with a substantial haul valued at over $1 million, which included illegal drugs, cash, jewelry, and firearms—items that had recently been sold to Nash by the Wonderland Gang itself.
Although law enforcement did not initially identify any suspects, Nash implicated several individuals he was aware had visited his residence on the day of the incident.
At the forefront of his accusations was John Holmes, who had reportedly returned to the property three times that morning, presumably to ensure that the patio door, through which the gang ultimately gained entry, was left unlocked.
The Grisly Scene Of The Wonderland Murders Is Discovered
At 4 p.m. on July 1, law enforcement received an urgent phone call from two furniture movers. While they were engaged in their work at the residence adjacent to 8763 Wonderland Avenue, they reported hearing agonizing and distressing moans emanating from the suspected drug house.
Upon arrival, investigators were confronted with the gruesome scene of the Wonderland Murders.
The lifeless body of Barbara “Butterfly” Richardson, the girlfriend of David Lind, was discovered on the floor beside the couch where she had been resting, her body stained with blood.
In the adjacent bedroom, Ron Launius, the leader of the Wonderland Gang, was discovered deceased, his body bloodied and so severely beaten that he was nearly unrecognizable.
One of the most chilling aspects of the Wonderland Murders was the condition of Launius’ wife, Susan. She was found lying on the floor beside her husband’s lifeless body, drenched in blood and with a severely fractured skull — yet, astonishingly, she was still alive.
The moans that the moving company had heard originated from her.
Although she would ultimately survive the brutal attack and achieve a full recovery, the brain injuries she suffered resulted in permanent amnesia, rendering her unable to remember the details surrounding the Wonderland Murders.
The Wonderland Murders are now regarded as one of the most horrific crimes in Hollywood’s history, a chilling tale that has persisted in unsettling the community long after the remains were interred.
