ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Charlie told the driver to head to. A witness testified that Nash ordered Holmes to execute a plan for payback and then some. Susan Launius Susan Bell Launius, nee Haywood, 70, of Belleville, Ill., born Sept 14, 1943, in Belleville, Ill., died Sunday Aug. 10, 2014, at her . Heres a list, Greek transportation minister resigns over train collision that killed at least 36, Ohios senators to unveil rail safety bill in wake of East Palestine derailment, After months of pounding, Ukrainian official says military may pull back from Bakhmut. It almost worked. One is more often committed by men, the other, women. 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. For example, we know that Short lied to her family back East about her career ambitions. The scene: A long-settled middle-class area on L.A.s Eastside, this neighborhood was largely developed with apartments and single-family homes in the 1920s and 30s. No visits to agents, no casting call appearances, no registration in acting classes have been discovered. He has had a long career as a journalist and communications specialist with both nonprofit and for-profit organizations. 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. Susan A. Murphy married Ron Launius in Carson City, Nevada on 16 April 1971, and the two of them were heavy drug users. John C. Holmes, the worlds premier pornographic film star, sobbed as he sat in a steaming bathtub early one morning in July, 1981. 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. I was involved. Manson, along with his henchman Tex Watson, easily walked into the home and surprised both Leno and Rosemary. In a recent interview with The Times, Sharon Holmes, who divorced the late actor in 1984, described for the first time the story her husband told her less than three weeks after the July 1 killings. Echovita Inc is a registered trademark. 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. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. Cecelia passed away on January 22, 2012, and is buried in Marlin, TX. Launius was married in November 1954 to the love of his life, Cecelia Irene Rutkoski from Marlin, TX. And yet, virtually since its founding as an entertainment capital of the world, misfortune and misadventure have stalked far more of its denizens than Dame Fortune has smiled upon. Interment will follow in Valhalla Gardens of Memory, Belleville IL. Share Obituary. I said, John, how could you? Discover Susan Launius's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Because they tease our, Start your 14-day trial of MagellanTV and get access to 2,000+ documentaries, available anywhere, on any device, For some, Los Angeles is an endless highway to success. Copyright 2023 Echovita Inc. All rights reserved. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on . 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. Inside was Ronald Launius, considered the leader of the group, his wife Susan, William Raymond "Billy" Deverell, his . he didnt know what the truth was anymore; about himself, about anything, Sellers said. Holmes spent a good portion of his days (and nights) partying with the Wonderland crew. He is a member of famous with the age 71 years old group. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. of Cabot, AR. She was the only survivor of the Wonderland murders, although she suffered severe head injuries, amnesia, and a severed finger following the attack. One woman survived the attack. Bill was a member of First United Presbyterian Church in Belleville, IL. . Court records and pllice statements indicated two of the four victims were under prosecution for dealing in cocaine, heroin and Quaaludes. John Holmes, who was tried for and acquitted of the crimes, never told his wife the names of the assailants, she said. In 1981, at Launius' behest, Lind traveled to Los Angeles to join the Wonderland gang and assist them in running drugs. He is also survived by nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends. 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. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern IL, PanCan.org, or First United Presbyterian Church Building Fund. 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 . He said he was told he would be killed and people in the book would be killed if (Holmes) didnt do what (Nash) wanted. Make a life-giving gesture. The address: Wonderland Avenue. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. (But) we have a certain set of rules to follow that the people who go out and perpetrate crimes dont.. Funeral: 10:00am Friday August 15, 2014 at First United Presbyterian Church, Belleville IL. Receive obituaries from the city or cities of your choice. Prior to her disappearance, shed packed up all her earthly possessions and locked then up in the downtown Greyhound bus station. Launius's wife Susan was gravely injured and is the only known survivor of the attack. (Image Credits: [left] The Sun UK; [right] IMDB). But we have more depraved murders to investigate in this ghastly, time-traveling tour of Hollywood-Land. Though she presented herself as an aspiring actress, no evidence exists of any actions to back up that claim. After all, there are reasons the mythical Boulevard of Broken Dreams is said to slice through the heart of Hollywood. On December 17, 1948 in Sikeston, MO. Visitation from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. The Black Dahlia murder, the Manson Family spree, and the Wonderland killings are each crimes of their era with resonance that reaches to today. She narrowly survived the Wonderland murders, being beaten so badly that she could not remember anything about the incident. Officers made casts of the victims' wounds to help determine the weapon or weapons used in the attack. Although he was often away from home, I was his safe place, Sharon Holmes said. Create an obituary. In 2001, he reportedly had been wanted by the Colorado Springs Police Department for "assault with a deadly weapon and failure to comply on the original charge of distribution of a Schedule II controlled substance". . 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. Three grisly murder cases spread across the 20th century have come to define Los Angeles and Hollywood as a town of shadows more than sunlight. 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. After Holmes negotiations for an immunity deal with police and prosecutors fell apart, the actor made plans to leave town with Sellers. 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 liked to go to concerts and enjoyed many types of music. 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. 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? Holmes was quickly spirited away to Nashs house and beaten until he revealed all his secrets. Short seems to have been a drifter. Her husband, Ron, 37, of the. Police, however, believe that Holmes actually took part in the fatal beatings. Susan. Funeral, time pending, Friday at First Presbyterian Church, Belleville. The Dignity Memorial brand name is used to identify a network of licensed funeral, cremation and cemetery providers that include affiliates of Service Corporation International, 1929 Allen Parkway, Houston, Texas. 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. Ronald Launius had a kind of second family there in Laurel Canyon, a cohort that included friends, accomplices, and hangers-on. 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? Valhalla-Gaerdner-Holten Funeral Home & Valhalla Gardens, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. David Clay Lind was a biker, heroin addict, and member of the Aryan Brotherhood who befriended Launius when the two men served time in prison together. For others, its just a dead end. 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. Leave your condolences to the family on this memorial page or send flowers to show you care. She enjoyed bowling, cross-stitching, and shopping. The Dignity Memorial brand name is used to identify a network of licensed funeral, cremation and cemetery providers that include affiliates of Service Corporation International, 1929 Allen Parkway, Houston, Texas. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. Tracy Raymond McCourt was the driver of the stolen 1975 Ford Granada that carried the Wonderland Gang to Eddie Nash's home on the night of the robbery. Perhaps youd be discovered, like Brad Pitt; or perhaps youd be discovered buried in a pit. . Sign up for service and obituary updates. Launius' brazen and fearless nature led both to his dominance of his chosen profession as well as his demise, stemming from the events leading up to his death in the Wonderland Murders. . Susan Bell Launius, nee Haywood, 70, of Belleville died Sunday, Aug. 10, 2014. Special thanks to Hospice of Southern IL for their care and compassion. There is no photo or video of William E. Launius Sr..Be the first to share a memory to pay tribute. 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. If the LaBiancas were spooked by the grisly events of the previous night, they werent concerned enough to lock their back door. Perhaps the most horrifying sight was Launius's wife, Susan. There was "a lot of screaming going. Roland Edward Launius - Obituary & Service Details. The house at 8763 Wonderland Avenue was well-known in the neighborhood, and for all the wrong reasons. (77 years old). 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. There was a lot of screaming going on, Holmes told his wife. Victim three, Audrey Miller was beaten to death on her bed. She was scheduled to appear in court this month on drug charges. 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. A day or two later, Holmes gave a compressed, but similar account of what happened to Sellers, she told The Times. Roland Edward Launius. He writes on a wide variety of topics, including outer space, the fine arts, and modern history. 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. The address: South Norton Avenue. . . And what fiendish sadist could have inflicted such pain prior to her death, and then carefully exsanguinated the corpse, washed her thoroughly, and carved her in two? We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. It is with great sadness that we announce the death of William E. Launius Sr. (Belleville, Illinois), who passed away on March 14, 2021, at the age of 77, leaving to mourn family and friends. Valhalla-Gaerdner-Holten Funeral Home & Valhalla Gardens, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. He was born on April 10, 1930 in Bloomfield, MO. In the years following the Wonderland murders, McCourt was reported to have moved to Colorado. Add a Memory. Send Flowers. You could hit the lofty heights of stardom, like Tom Cruise. Prepare a personalized obituary for someone you loved.. June 21, 1945 - Visitation: Friends may call Monday June 6, 2011 from 5-8 pm, at First United Presbyterian Church, 1303 Royal Heights Road, Belleville, IL 62223. 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". By light, four people - Ron Launius, his accomplice Billy DeVerell, Billy's girlfriend Joy Miller, and Barbara Richardson - lay dead in the house. How did Shorts body end up in this strange residential environment, seven miles and seven days away from her last sighting? The objective of the robbery was to steal a hoard of cash, heroin, and cocaine that Holmes claimed was in a safe embedded in Nash's bedroom floor, as well as to retrieve some antique guns the Wonderland Gang had stolen from another businessman and then subsequently, using Holmes as an intermediary, sold to Nash in exchange for drugs. Breaking into Hollywood And Breaking Apart, Doing Harm: Doctors Who Murder and Maim Their Patients, Jim Jones: The Twisted Story of the Man behind the Jonestown Massacre. Diles died in 1997 from liver failure. Thorson claimed to have witnessed Nash order Diles to beat Holmes, and said Nash threatened to kill Holmes and his family, until Holmes identified the people behind the robbery. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern IL, PanCan.org, or First United Presbyterian Church Building Fund. Launius' estranged wife, Susan, who was visiting, survived the assault but suffered severe head injuries. Also learn how He earned most of networth at the age of 69 years old? So, how much is Susan Launius worth at the age of 71 years old? Would you like to offer Susan Miller-Preciados loved ones a condolence message? for better and for worse. She was a wonderful mother, aunt, and dear friend. to tell them who it was, Sharon Holmes said. ; her grandchildren, Kristina Meltvedt (Robert), Front . And yet. At 71 years old, Susan Launius height not available right now. Another woman who had a lengthy intimate relationship with Holmes told The Times recently of a separate, parallel admission made by the actor shortly after the killings, an account she gave to police in 1981. They forcefully followed his barbaric plan. In their comfortable Los Feliz dwelling, constructed in 1922 and situated near the crest of a hill. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. Why are we still having these debates? A unique and lasting tribute for a loved one. 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