. How did Shorts body end up in this strange residential environment, seven miles and seven days away from her last sighting? He had set it up with the other people, the people that lived at Wonderland. A day or two later, Holmes gave a compressed, but similar account of what happened to Sellers, she told The Times. In the years following the Wonderland murders, McCourt was reported to have moved to Colorado. Less-lucky losers might wind up at the bottom of a lake. Leave your condolences to the family on this memorial page or send flowers to show you care. Its been proven true again and again over the years: Los Angeles attracts dreamers, starry-eyed souls who come into the Canyon, as the Mamas and Papas sang, only to be disillusioned. The multiple homicide shocked the city, which was still somewhat innocent and trusting at the end of the halcyon hippie days. ; her grandchildren, Kristina Meltvedt (Robert), Front . . 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. . No one but Holmes has ever been charged in the murder case. 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. As the 1980s began, and Holmes became more heavily involved in cocaine, his absences grew longer. As Betty strolled past lots both finished and untouched, she saw what first looked like a mannequin splayed near the sidewalk. For example, we know that Short lied to her family back East about her career ambitions. . The LAPD estimates that over the years theyve received. . From Crime Stories to Our Place in the Universe: Mysteries Exist for Us to Solve. Star-struck seekers could end up on top of the heap. Holmes died on March 13, 1988, from AIDS complications in Los Angeles. The house, tucked deep in Laurel Canyon, was a suspected drug den where parties raged around the clock. After a key witness for the prosecution died in an unrelated police shootout, the murder charges against Launius were dropped. Launius was known for remaining composed under pressure. Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. Susan was a lifelong member of First United Presbyterian Church in Belleville, IL. As we pull away from the streets of Los Feliz in our time-traveling tour bus, lets offer a little prayer for the LaBiancas and all the others whose lives were snuffed or derailed by their connection with Charles Manson. Cecelia passed away on January 22, 2012, and is buried in Marlin, TX. 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. , neither was she a prostitute. 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. '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. Then Holmes hit on a more direct way to make money. Click or call (800) 729-8809, Valhalla-Gaerdner-Holten Funeral Home and Cremation Services. LOS ANGELES -- The lone survivor of the massacre of four people in the swank Laurel Canyon home of an attractive blonde woman suspected of dealing in drugs was under a 24-hour hospital guard Friday as the star witness in the case. Prior to her disappearance, shed packed up all her earthly possessions and locked then up in the downtown Greyhound bus station. . Miss Miller's shiny white 1969 Mercedes 280 SL was used to deliver narcotics to her customers, detectives said. Based on the material given to us by John Holmes (for the book), that version of the facts is not an accurate one, Eisenman said. In essence, what they wanted him to do was . She worked in real estate for over 25 years and was a member of the Belleville Board of Realtors. William "Bill" Edward Launius Sr., 77, of Belleville, born in East St. Louis on September 29, 1943, passed away Sunday, March 14, 2021 at Cedarhurst in Waterloo IL, with his children by his side. No visits to agents, no casting call appearances, no registration in acting classes have been discovered. Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. Historica Wiki is a FANDOM Games Community. 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. 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. Then, reeling from the shock of seeing a nude and clearly tortured, bisected body, Betty covered her daughters eyes and ran to the nearest neighbors home to phone the police. If the LaBiancas were spooked by the grisly events of the previous night, they werent concerned enough to lock their back door. After Holmes negotiations for an immunity deal with police and prosecutors fell apart, the actor made plans to leave town with Sellers. March 17, 1926 - October 31, 2020. In the following decades, the Canyon has retained little of its innocent charm as professionals of all stripes have gentrified the neighborhood and tightened up its vibe. Prepare a personalized obituary for someone you loved.. September 29, 1943 - Valhalla-Gaerdner-Holten Funeral Home & Valhalla Gardens, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The 43-year-old actor died as a result of complications arising from his infection with the AIDS virus. In 1990, Nash was charged in California state court with having planned the murders, and Diles was charged with participating in the murders, but both men were acquitted in 1991. 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. 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. Star-struck seekers could end up on top of the heap. He enjoyed fishing in his quiet time. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. Manson, along with his henchman Tex Watson, easily walked into the home and surprised both Leno and Rosemary. 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. And with overnight lows in the 40s, theres no chance of slipping on treacherous, ice-slick streets. 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. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern IL, PanCan.org, or First United Presbyterian Church Building Fund. . Ronald Launius had a kind of second family there in Laurel Canyon, a cohort that included friends, accomplices, and hangers-on. John Holmes, who was tried for and acquitted of the crimes, never told his wife the names of the assailants, she said. In their comfortable Los Feliz dwelling, constructed in 1922 and situated near the crest of a hill. Though she presented herself as an aspiring actress, no evidence exists of any actions to back up that claim. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. Her husband, Ron, 37, of the Topanga Canyon area of Los Angeles, was one of the victims. So Holmes summoned his wife into the bathroom, drew steaming water into the tub, slipped in, and began to talk. Police sources said Vlick, who is charged with plssessing drugs and stolen property, is a 'fringe guy' in organized crime circles. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. She worked in real estate for over 25 years and was a member of the Belleville Board of Realtors. The neighborhood: Los Feliz. They enjoyed a 56 year union until Mr. Launius passed away on January 29, 2003. In the summer of 1981, Sharon Holmes said, she and John Holmes were living together as the managers of a small Glendale apartment complex. Echovita Inc is a registered trademark. Nash was separately convicted of cocaine possession and served about two years in state prison. They forcefully followed his barbaric plan. So, Nash became the target of a harebrained idea. 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. Officers made casts of the victims' wounds to help determine the weapon or weapons used in the attack. . He writes on a wide variety of topics, including outer space, the fine arts, and modern history. Prepare a personalized obituary for someone you loved.. Police, however, believe that Holmes actually took part in the fatal beatings. . Funeral: Mermorial service will be held Tuesday June 7, 2011 at 11 am, at First United Presbyterian Church, Belleville, IL with Rev. Susan was a lifelong member of First United Presbyterian Church in Belleville, IL. She was later unable to identify her attackers. 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. A unique and . Charlie told the driver to head to Los Feliz, with which he was familiar after spending a drug-fueled evening there a year before. She served as a deacon and a Stephen minister. . 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. They were married on May 26, 1946. Find an Obituary. It determined that he was an unwilling participant who was forced to watch the attack. It was in prison that David Lind met Ron Launius. Though she presented herself as an aspiring actress, no evidence exists of any actions to back up that claim. 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 . . 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. (73 years old). 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 . At Holmes murder trial, Tomlinson testified that Holmes told him that after the robbery had occurred at Ed Nashs house, that Nash had made (Holmes) tell him who the people were that robbed him. 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"). Prosecutors charge that Nash, then a wealthy nightclub owner, ordered the murders . Short seems to have been a drifter. 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.Susan was a lifelong member. Interment will follow in Valhalla Gardens of Memory, Belleville IL. December 23, 2018 He is also survived by nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends. For example, we know that Short lied to her family back East about her career ambitions. No charges have ever been filed in the Black Dahlia case, but that hasnt stopped people from confessing. Holmes was quickly spirited away to Nashs house and beaten until he revealed all his secrets. The scene: By the 1980s, Laurel Canyon had been transformed from a center of creativity and hippie lifestyles to a center for heavy drug distribution, including that favorite of the entertainment industry: cocaine. She liked to go to concerts and enjoyed many types of music. John Holmes recounted how he led three thugs to the tightly secured drug house on Wonderland Avenue, escorted them in, and stood by as they bludgeoned the five people inside, spattering Holmes with blood. Although he was often away from home, I was his safe place, Sharon Holmes said. 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. By light, four people - Ron Launius, his accomplice Billy DeVerell, Billy's girlfriend Joy Miller, and Barbara Richardson - lay dead in the house. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. We have estimated Charismatic, autocratic Jim Jones ruled with brute force, leading his followers to madness and beyond., Familicide is the act of killing family members, including children. 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