Ronald Launius had a kind of second family there in Laurel Canyon, a cohort that included friends, accomplices, and hangers-on. The grotesque mass murder shocked and horrified the entire neighborhood. Ronald S. Coen, now a Los Angeles Superior Court judge, argued that the fatal beatings were intended to avenge the humiliating armed robbery of Los Angeles nightclub owner Adel Nasrallah, also known as Eddie Nash. Launius was married in November 1954 to the love of his life, Cecelia Irene Rutkoski from Marlin, TX. 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. He is a member of famous with the age 71 years old group. Lind and Launius had become friends while in prison and promised to deal drugs together upon their release. In 1981, at Launius' behest, Lind traveled to Los Angeles to join the Wonderland gang and assist them in running drugs. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. relaxed uneasily at the end of their Saturday. Visitation from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. The news coverage of the brutal Benedict Canyon murders was disturbing to them, and Rosemary had retired to their bedroom while her husband stayed up reading the paper. In the still unpublished official version of his life, Holmes is quoted as saying that he was held at gunpoint at another house while the killers, whose names he did not know, went to the home on Wonderland Avenue. On June 29, 1981, the Wonderland Gang, comprising Ron Launius, Billy DeVerell, David Lind, Tracy McCourt, and their associate, John Holmes, conspired to launch a home invasion and robbery upon Eddie Nash, a reputedly powerful organized crime figure who usually referred to himself in the third person as "The Nash". Laurel Canyon had its share of free-spirited, drug-friendly residents, but had never seen this level of violence and brutality. At least two of the four people beaten to death at the yellow two-story house in rustic Laurel Canyon had narcotics records and the blonde woman who rented the house delivered drugs in her shiny white Mercedes, court records indicated Friday. The scene: A tract of land being developed into new homes to accommodate young working-class families in postwar L.A. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. March 14, 2021 Roland Edward Launius - Obituary & Service Details. Holmes told his wife that he was held against a wall, at gunpoint, while the three men beat to death Launius, 37; William DeVerell, 42; Joy Audrey Miller, 46; and Barbara Richardson, 22. He was one of 5 children born during the depression and times were hard. , neither was she a prostitute. Above all, she was a fun-loving "Gram and enjoyed spoiling and spending time with her grandchildren. Atty. Filicide is the act of a parent killing their child. A host of musicians, actors and artists make their homes in the rustic canyon. So Holmes summoned his wife into the bathroom, drew steaming water into the tub, slipped in, and began to talk. Miss Miller's shiny white 1969 Mercedes 280 SL was used to deliver narcotics to her customers, detectives said. On July 1, 1981, three members and one associate of the gang died in the Wonderland murders (also known as the "Four on the Floor murders" or the "Laurel Canyon murders"). Find an Obituary. With St. Clair County COVID mandate in place, guests will be required to wear masks and the maximum number of 50 guests will allow for proper social distancing. Let others know about your loved one's death. The news coverage of the brutal Benedict Canyon murders was disturbing to them, and Rosemary had retired to their bedroom while her husband stayed up reading the paper. Write your message of sympathy today. (Image Credit: Wikimedia). Create an obituary. He is currently single. Grief Support. Perhaps youd be discovered, like Brad Pitt; or perhaps youd be discovered buried in a pit. there just isnt enough clear evidence to point to any one suspect in particular. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.valhallagardensandfuneralhome.com. Holmes slept fitfully for a few hours, Sharon Holmes said, and moaned about blood and pain. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 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. Prepare a personalized obituary for someone you loved.. So, how much is Susan Launius worth at the age of 71 years old? When one of Nashs bodyguards spotted Holmes wearing a ring that had been purloined that night, the whole thing fell apart. . Detectives said they had talked to Susan Murphy Launius, 29, at Cedars Sinai Medical Center, where she is in critical condition with gashes in her head and neck. Provo City Cemetery 610 S State St, Provo, UT 84606. She served as a deacon and a Stephen minister. A survivor, Susan Launius, 25 at the time, suffered brain damage and has been unable to identify her assailants. We have estimated Special thanks to Hospice of Southern IL for their care and compassion. By light, four people - Ron Launius, his accomplice Billy DeVerell, Billy's girlfriend Joy Miller, and Barbara Richardson - lay dead in the house. Receive obituaries from the city or cities of your choice. She liked to go to concerts and enjoyed many types of music. During Holmes murder trial in 1982, then Deputy Dist. The neighborhood: Leimert Park. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. Its a miracle that, despite the thousands of hopeful souls who attempt to break in to the stardom proffered by the architects of Hollywoods dream factory, there arent more tragic tales of disheartened dreamers losing it all. Or you could climb the literal heights of the Hollywood sign, as. Though she presented herself as an aspiring actress, no evidence exists of any actions to back up that claim. Title Image Credit: Izayah Ramos for Unsplash, We like to believe that doctors, nurses, and caregivers are trustworthy and have our best interests at heart. She liked to go to concerts and enjoyed many types of music. The LAPD estimates that over the years theyve received. Only Susan Launius survived, but her severe head injuries caused her to be unable to recall anything of the attacks. he didnt know what the truth was anymore; about himself, about anything, Sellers said. There is no photo or video of William E. Launius Sr..Be the first to share a memory to pay tribute. It almost worked. Burial in Valhalla Gardens of Memory, Belleville. Susan Launius's net worth Perhaps the most horrifying sight was Launius's wife, Susan. Januarys in L.A. arent like those of, say, Boston, where young Elizabeth Short hailed from. How did Shorts body end up in this strange residential environment, seven miles and seven days away from. One was abruptly interrupted on the morning of July 1, 1981, when a shaken John Holmes crawled into their Glendale bedroom, bleeding, and told his wife that he had been in an accident. The address: Wonderland Avenue. Susan was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Mary, nee Bell, Haywood; a sister Mary Jane Haywood; and a sister-in-law Nancy Kraft. (John) was so much of a liar . And the character that caused all this trauma? fishing with canned anchovies; pros and . 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. did in 1932, peering over the edge at the expanse of Los Angeles as you prepare to leap to your undying infamy. In essence, what they wanted him to do was . Finally, he replied: The murders . A visitor to the house, Susan Launius, couldnt have known what the neighbors thought, though it was where her husband Ronald spent most of his time. That version of the story, Sharon Holmes said, is fiction. The final victim was Barbara Richardson, 22, Sacramento, Calif. Court records revealed that a codefendant in Miss Miller's narcotics case was John 'Ricco' Vlick, 53, who lives in a wood-shingled house only two blocks from the scene of the killings. Sign up for service and obituary updates. The case against Holmes was built largely on two pieces of evidence: An admission that Holmes allegedly made to Los Angeles Police Detective Frank Tomlinson after his arrest in Miami in December, 1981, and a bloody palm print left by Holmes on the rail of a bed on which one of the victims, drug dealer Ronald Launius, died. Star-struck seekers could end up on top of the heap. Funeral homes; Help and advice. Blogs; Online will; Shop. Select boxes below to reduce the number of results. In the summer of 1981, Sharon Holmes said, she and John Holmes were living together as the managers of a small Glendale apartment complex. When Holmes returned to his car hours later, two armed men ordered him to drive to Nashs home, he said. Sharon Holmes said she is convinced that her former husband was at least present when the murders took place. The home invasion was successful, and Launiuss boys got away without being identified by Nash and his crew. And following that, why was she transported there, posed like a cheesecake model, with a ghoulish smile cut into her cheeks, and left to be discovered, causing revulsion and terror? 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. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.valhallagardensandfuneralhome.com. 09/14/1943 - 08/10/2014 . Echovita Inc is a registered trademark. He was a lifelong member of Zion Evangelical Church in Millstadt, Ill., American Legion Post 502 in Millstadt, Ill., Progressive Mine Workers Local 76, and the Operating Engineers Local 520. But before they headed east, Holmes paid a final, early morning visit to his wife. 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. . They raised seven children: James Glenn and his wife, Vanneary, David Glenn, Christopher Glenn, Susan Carson, Frances Green, Albert and his wife, Cecile Glenn and Charles and . 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. Police sources said Vlick, who is charged with plssessing drugs and stolen property, is a 'fringe guy' in organized crime circles. he married Edith Morris Launius who preceded him in death on May 30, 2013. , money, salary, income, and assets. She was the only survivor of the Wonderland murders, although she suffered severe head injuries, amnesia, and a severed finger following the attack. . Holmes would visit Nash at his home in Studio City and quietly leave a sliding backdoor ajar, through which the Launius crew would later (after Holmes departed) invade the house and relieve Nash of vast quantities of drugs and other valuables. LAUNIUS, JUNE E. Flushing Age 90 of Flushing, died Thursday, June 21, 2012 at St. Mary's Hospital in Saginaw. For some, Los Angeles is an endless highway to success. She is survived by : her parents, Clyde Crandall and Fern Crandall. And with overnight lows in the 40s, theres no chance of slipping on treacherous, ice-slick streets. Leave your condolences to the family on this memorial page or send flowers to show you care. A unique and lasting tribute for a loved one. He was predeceased by : his wife Susan; his parents, Carl and Fern; his sister Nancy; and his brother-in-law Darwin Kraft. She worked in real estate for over 25 years and was a member of the Belleville Board of Realtors. Write your message of sympathy today. But Nash had a sneaking suspicion about his friend Johnny Wadd, who had visited the home only hours before the robbery. His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. Susan was a lifelong member of First United Presbyterian Church in Belleville, IL. Valhalla Gaerdner Holten Funeral Home 3412 Frank Scott Pkwy W, Belleville, IL 62223. John C. Holmes, the worlds premier pornographic film star, sobbed as he sat in a steaming bathtub early one morning in July, 1981. . We will update Susan Launius's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible. Ronnie Lee Launius Birth 18 May 1944 Death 1 Jul 1981 (aged 37) Los Angeles County, California, USA Burial Lodi Memorial Park and Cemetery Lodi, San Joaquin County, California, Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. . 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. 1969: The Manson Family Killing Spree; Night 2 Rosemary and Leno LaBianca. I was involved. 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