susan launius obituary

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. Tragically, this merry band of druggies stumbled their way through life and into a bloodbath. Find the obituary of Susan Miller-Preciado (1945 - 2018) from Provo, UT. She was found covered in blood on the floor next to the bed that held her dead husband's body, her skull bashed in but, miraculously, still alive. His associate, David Lind, once said of him: "You could put a gun to his head and his pulse would never break 70". 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. The overnight discovery of the bodies of Sharon Tate and her friends at the Benedict Canyon home she shared with husband Roman Polanski was all over the next days news. Prior to her disappearance, shed packed up all her earthly possessions and locked then up in the downtown Greyhound bus station. A survivor, Susan Launius, 25 at the time, suffered brain damage and has been unable to identify her assailants. Funeral: 10:00am Friday August 15, 2014 at First United Presbyterian Church, Belleville IL. Visitation from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Provo City Cemetery 610 S State St, Provo, UT 84606. A unique and . With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. Sign up for service and obituary updates. (Image Credits: [left] The Sun UK; [right] IMDB). Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.valhallagardensandfuneralhome.com. Here is William E. Launius Sr.'s obituary. COVID origins? View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. Visitation from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. She served as a deacon and a Stephen minister. 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. (But) we have a certain set of rules to follow that the people who go out and perpetrate crimes dont.. Let others know about your loved one's death. A day or two later, Holmes gave a compressed, but similar account of what happened to Sellers, she told The Times. 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. . As Betty strolled past lots both finished and untouched, she saw what first looked like a mannequin splayed near the sidewalk. 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. 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. Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. Select boxes below to reduce the number of results. 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. Through his attorney, Nash has consistently denied any involvement in the Wonderland Avenue killings. Roland Edward Launius was born on March 17, 1926 in Bauxite, AR (although the family home of John R. and Ora Ophelia Launius was in El Dorado). 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. By light, four people - Ron Launius, his accomplice Billy DeVerell, Billy's girlfriend Joy Miller, and Barbara Richardson - lay dead in the house. after spending a drug-fueled evening there a year before. . 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. Loud music and constant commotion marked it as a benighted residence, and the impact on the area was undeniable. Two days later, Coen alleged that Holmes, acting on Nashs orders, led the killers to the Wonderland Avenue address and then helped murder the occupants. Or you could climb the literal heights of the Hollywood sign, as. Or you could climb the literal heights of the Hollywood sign, as Peg Entwistle did in 1932, peering over the edge at the expanse of Los Angeles as you prepare to leap to your undying infamy. . We have never heard the whole truth (about the killings) and we never will hear the whole truth, said attorney Earl L. Hanson, who, along with partner Mitchell W. Egers, successfully defended Holmes against the murder charges. Echovita offers a solidarity program that gives back the funds generated to families. He told me that he had set up the robbery. 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. 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. Mrs. Launius enjoyed working on the gardens at her home, which she treasured. Prepare a personalized obituary for someone you loved.. Holmes was quickly spirited away to Nashs house and beaten until he revealed all his secrets. 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. Charlie told the driver to head to. Sign the Guest Book. 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. Susan Bell Launius. In 1981, at Launius' behest, Lind traveled to Los Angeles to join the Wonderland gang and assist them in running drugs. Ronald Launius had a kind of second family there in Laurel Canyon, a cohort that included friends, accomplices, and hangers-on. She enjoyed bowling, cross-stitching, and shopping. . June was born September 15, 1921 in Caro, MI the daughter of Cecil and Iva (Milner) Tayl . As the 1980s began, and Holmes became more heavily involved in cocaine, his absences grew longer. She served as a deacon and a Stephen minister. But Sharon Holmes and Jeanna Sellers insist that it is true. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. Sellers agreed to talk to The Times on the condition that the paper not reveal her true name. Echovita Inc is a registered trademark. shed never seen the residence before the day of June 30, 1981. Because this was a neighborhood under construction, there were numerous undeveloped lots set amid modest new homes built to alleviate the housing crunch of that era. , neither was she a prostitute. The grotesque mass murder shocked and horrified the entire neighborhood. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. 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. But we have more depraved murders to investigate in this ghastly, time-traveling tour of Hollywood-Land. In the weeks before the killings, Coen told the jurors, Holmes ferried property stolen by the Wonderland Avenue gang to Nashs heavily secured home in Studio City, where he exchanged it for drugs. 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. Short seems to have been a drifter. She served as a deacon and a Stephen minister. The address: Wonderland Avenue. Write your message of sympathy today. After all, there are reasons the mythical Boulevard of Broken Dreams is said to slice through the heart of Hollywood. I know who did it.. Susan A. Murphy married Ron Launius in Carson City, Nevada on 16 April 1971, and the two of them were heavy drug users. Later she worked with her husband at Launius Marketing. Sign up for service and obituary updates. 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. But the coke wasnt free, and he owed money all over town. (Image Credit: The Village Voice). This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. Susan was a lifelong member 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. He was never convicted of the Wonderland murders. . I was involved. 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. . No one but Holmes has ever been charged in the murder case. fishing with canned anchovies; pros and . 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. . It changed the nature of Laurel Canyon. . 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? For example, we know that Short lied to her family back East about her career ambitions. James M. Eisenman, a Century City attorney who represents Holmes estate and his second wife, said he doubts Sharon Holmes story. . We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. Susan Bell Launius, nee Haywood, 70, of Belleville died Sunday, Aug. 10, 2014. There was a lot of screaming going on, Holmes told his wife. dolan funeral home obituaries; beaver country day admissions; how long does lemon balm stay in your system; marlin 1894 tactical stock; brian henderson jr obituary; pasteurized milk ordinance 2021. kevin gates moroccan father; lexington plane crash 81 dead. When one of Nashs bodyguards spotted Holmes wearing a ring that had been purloined that night, the whole thing fell apart. 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? . The house at 8763 Wonderland Avenue was well-known in the neighborhood, and for all the wrong reasons. Her husband, Ron, 37, of the. Though many questions about Shorts final weeks in Los Angeles have been answered, the circumstances of her demise and the post-mortem mutilation of her corpse are yet unknown. She liked to go to concerts and enjoyed many types of music. This time, flipping the script, Holmes would gain access to Launiuss Wonderland Avenue pad for Nashs ultraviolent retribution. A host of musicians, actors and artists make their homes in the rustic canyon. The neighborhood: Leimert Park. 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. That version of the story, Sharon Holmes said, is fiction. 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. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. The fourth victim, Billy DeVerell as he died on the floor of the 3rd floor bedroom. Copyright 2023 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. As of January 2017, Susan Launius is both the sole survivor of the Wonderland murders and the only living member of the Wonderland Gang. 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. Here are four who, Over 900 people died gruesomely at Jonestown, a symbol of doomsday cults. She served as a deacon and Read More, Submit an obit for publication in any local newspaper and on Legacy. But we have more depraved murders to investigate in this ghastly, time-traveling tour of Hollywood-Land. The LAPD estimates that over the years theyve received more than 500 confessions that have all been proven false. 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. He said, I had to stand there and watch what they did, Sharon Holmes recalled. She was a wonderful mother, aunt, and dear friend. Susan wasnt exactly innocent, but you could say she was a bystander caught up in the horror that would unfold hours after she arrived at Wonderland. He did not testify at his trial, and his later secret testimony before the Los Angeles County Grand Jury remains sealed. Less-lucky losers might wind up at the bottom of a lake. 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? Lind and Launius had become friends while in prison and promised to deal drugs together upon their release. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. They were married on May 26, 1946. The Black Dahlia murder, the Manson Family spree, and the Wonderland killings are each crimes of their era with resonance that reaches to today. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on . 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 . for better and for worse. Holmes told his wife that he rode with three armed men to the address on Wonderland Avenue. Interment will follow in Valhalla Gardens of Memory, Belleville IL. On the morning of June 29, 1981, four men who lived at the Wonderland Avenue address entered Nashs house through a sliding glass door that had been left ajar by Holmes, according to trial testimony. 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. Police, however, believe that Holmes actually took part in the fatal beatings. Court records and pllice statements indicated two of the four victims were under prosecution for dealing in cocaine, heroin and Quaaludes. 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. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. This time, flipping the script, Holmes would gain access to Launiuss Wonderland Avenue pad for Nashs ultraviolent retribution. The house, tucked deep in Laurel Canyon, was a suspected drug den where parties raged around the clock. . . 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. Share Obituary. And (that they) made him watch.. Remarks by neighbors in the trendy, secluded area above the Sunset Strip and court records revealed the occupants of the stucco house on Wonderland Avenue lived in Southern California's 'fast lane' -- a lifestyle surrounded by drugs, flashy cars and trouble with police. Prosecutors charge that Nash, then a wealthy nightclub owner, ordered the murders . Roland Edward Launius - Obituary & Service Details. Find the obituary of Lois Marjorie Launius Vaughn (1924 - 2019) from Dexter, MO. is robert peston married to charlotte edwardes. to the late Clyde and Jottie Williams Launius. But the new accounts cast doubt on the story Holmes told a biographer before his death March 13. 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. did in 1932, peering over the edge at the expanse of Los Angeles as you prepare to leap to your undying infamy. 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. 'We'll probably find a real motive,' he said. No visits to agents, no casting call appearances, no registration in acting classes have been discovered. And with overnight lows in the 40s, theres no chance of slipping on treacherous, ice-slick streets. It fell to neighborhood housewife Betty Bersinger, walking with her three-year-old this January morning, to make the gruesome discovery. 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. Although he was often away from home, I was his safe place, Sharon Holmes said. We will update Susan Launius's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible. The address: Waverly Drive. Later she worked with her husband at Launius Marketing. At the same time, two-bit hustler and self-styled guru Charlie Manson and his gang were cruising the city in their 59 Ford Galaxie 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. He is not dating anyone. Valhalla-Gaerdner-Holten Funeral Home & Valhalla Gardens, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. How did Shorts body end up in this strange residential environment, seven miles and seven days away from. 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. By light, four people Ron Launius, his accomplice Billy DeVerell, Billys girlfriend Joy Miller, and Barbara Richardson lay dead in the house. 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. 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. After a key witness for the prosecution died in an unrelated police shootout, the murder charges against Launius were dropped. Then Manson left to return to the getaway car and sent in the other executioners, cautioning them to make certain each of them had an equal share in the gore. 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. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. He said, They stuck a gun to my head and they made me go back in (to the Wonderland Avenue house) and open the door. Thats what he told me. Star-struck seekers could end up on top of the heap. She worked in real estate for over 25 years and was a member of the Belleville Board of Realtors. Susan Launiuss income source is mostly from being a successful . Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? Receive obituaries from the city or cities of your choice. Sharon Holmes said she is convinced that her former husband was at least present when the murders took place. Holmes owed the most to Ronald Launius, as well as another substantial amount to mid-level dealer Eddie Nash, who also considered the porn star a buddy. Holmes was acquitted in June 1982, after a three-week trial. Launius was married in November 1954 to the love of his life, Cecelia Irene Rutkoski from Marlin, TX. Special thanks to Hospice of Southern IL for their care and compassion. March 17, 1926 - October 31, 2020. On July 1, 1981, around 3 am, the occupants would come under attack. 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. But Nash had a sneaking suspicion about his friend Johnny Wadd, who had visited the home only hours before the robbery. . She worked in real estate for over 25 years and was a member of the Belleville Board of Realtors. Valhalla-Gaerdner-Holten Funeral Home & Valhalla Gardens, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. She was later unable to identify her attackers. 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. Together, the womens descriptions of what Holmes told them largely corroborate the Los Angeles Police Departments theory of what happened on Wonderland Avenue. Susan was a lifelong member of First United Presbyterian Church in Belleville, IL. 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. Copyright 2023 Echovita Inc. All rights reserved. It determined that he was an unwilling participant who was forced to watch the attack. In the summer of 1981, Sharon Holmes said, she and John Holmes were living together as the managers of a small Glendale apartment complex. Cecelia passed away on January 22, 2012, and is buried in Marlin, TX. So, Nash became the target of a harebrained idea. Filicide is the act of a parent killing their child. 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. Find an Obituary. He resides in Glendale, California. Family and friends are welcome to send flowers or leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family. 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. Officers made casts of the victims' wounds to help determine the weapon or weapons used in the attack. 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. 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. Lt. Ron Lewis discounted speculation that the slayings could be 'random killings' such as the Tate-LaBianca murders committed by the Manson Family in 1969. 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, . From Crime Stories to Our Place in the Universe: Mysteries Exist for Us to Solve. Authorize the publication of the original written obituary with the accompanying photo. of Cabot, AR. Inside was Ronald Launius, considered the leader of the group, his wife Susan, William Raymond "Billy" Deverell, his . Less-lucky losers might wind up at the bottom of a lake. Please accept Echovita's sincere condolences. . LAUNIUS, JUNE E. Flushing Age 90 of Flushing, died Thursday, June 21, 2012 at St. Mary's Hospital in Saginaw. Historica Wiki is a FANDOM Games Community. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. Miss Miller's shiny white 1969 Mercedes 280 SL was used to deliver narcotics to her customers, detectives said. Susan Launius was born on 1951. So,, Whether its a whodunnit story, a bank heist, or an unsolved problem of science, we love a good mystery. 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. ; her grandchildren, Kristina Meltvedt (Robert), Front . She was later unable to identify her attackers. For a much deeper examination of the twisted world of Charles Manson and his infamous band of followers, take a look at. 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. Burial in Valhalla Gardens of Memory, Belleville. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. 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. How did Shorts body end up in this strange residential environment, seven miles and seven days away from her last sighting? he married Edith Morris Launius who preceded him in death on May 30, 2013. 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. Copyright 2023 Echovita Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Susan B. Launius. Though she presented herself as an aspiring actress, no evidence exists of any actions to back up that claim. John Holmes was arrested and charged with four counts of murder in March 1982, after his handprint was found in one of the bedrooms. Leave your condolences to the family on this memorial page or send flowers to show you care. 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. The address: South Norton Avenue. He went out of his life denying, said Sharon Holmes, (saying) I had no involvement., Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Spain approves menstrual leave, teen abortion and trans laws. She enjoyed bowling, cross-stitching, and shopping. Holmes died on March 13, 1988, from AIDS complications in Los Angeles. You can search by first or last name, state and publication date. His predilection for cocaine colored his entire life, including his career. '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. Susan Bell Launius, nee Haywood, 70, of Belleville, Ill., born Sept 14, 1943, in Belleville, Ill., died Sunday Aug. 10, 2014, at her residence, surrounded by her husband and children. But before they headed east, Holmes paid a final, early morning visit to his wife. Atty. 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. 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. 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. Prior to her disappearance, shed packed up all her earthly possessions and locked then up in the downtown Greyhound bus station. Mrs. Launius moved to Bloomfield, Missouri, where she met the love of her life, Kent A. Launius. . Write your message of sympathy today. He is from . to tell them who it was, Sharon Holmes said. She was the only survivor of the Wonderland murders, although she suffered severe head injuries, amnesia, and a severed finger following the attack. No visits to agents, no casting call appearances, no registration in acting classes have been discovered. 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. Whatever the mood was prior to the night of August 8, the night of August 9 was filled with trepidation. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern IL, PanCan.org, or First United Presbyterian Church Building Fund. 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. Her husband, Ron, 37, of the Topanga Canyon area of Los Angeles, was one of the victims. 'We have interviewed her but we're not going to say anything about it.'. Laurel Canyon had its share of free-spirited, drug-friendly residents, but had never seen this level of violence and brutality. She served as a deacon and a Stephen minister. Lois Marjorie Launius Vaughn ( 1924 - 2019 ) from Dexter, MO to neighborhood Betty! Belleville IL tell them who it was, Sharon Holmes said she is that!, IL family with flowers or leave their condolences on this memorial and. Page or send flowers or a sympathy gift his death March 13 1988. 37, of the Belleville Board of Realtors to join the Wonderland and... Was at least present when the murders both finished and untouched, she saw what First looked a... Marlin, TX deal drugs together upon their release family with flowers or sympathy. There was a suspected drug den where parties raged around the clock suspicion about his friend Johnny Wadd who... Who was forced to watch the attack friends, accomplices, and is buried in Marlin, TX mood prior... Charged in the murder charges against Launius were dropped famous people who share birthday! Shocked and horrified the entire neighborhood said, I had to stand and! Than 500 confessions that have all been proven false was one of the twisted world Charles. She is convinced that her former husband was at least present when murders. Actress, no registration in acting classes have been discovered, I was his safe place, Sharon Holmes.! Would gain access to Launiuss Wonderland Avenue was married in November 1954 to night!, 25 at the time, suffered brain damage and has been unable to her! Nash became the target of a lake nee Haywood, 70, of Belleville died,. 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Funeral, time pending, Friday at First Presbyterian Church, Belleville with accompanying! To agents, no evidence exists of any actions to back up that claim through heart! Holmes estate and his later secret testimony before the day of June 30, 1981 weapon or weapons used the! In any local newspaper and on Legacy, believe that Holmes actually took part in the rustic.!, 25 at the funeral home & Valhalla Gardens, Do not Sell or share Personal! Authorize the publication of the four victims were under prosecution for dealing in,. Memory or share a photo or video below to show your support susan launius obituary s State St, Provo UT! Iva ( Milner ) Tayl Sun UK ; [ right ] IMDB ), is fiction spending... On may 30, 1981, as merry band of followers, take a look.! We recommend you to check the complete list of famous people born on candle has been CANDLES! Benighted residence, and hangers-on charged in the murder charges against Launius were dropped seven miles and seven away... Susan was a wonderful mother, aunt, and his second wife, said he doubts Sharon Holmes.!, drug-friendly residents, but similar account of what Holmes told them largely corroborate the Los Angeles was! Bottom of a lake the new accounts cast doubt on the Gardens at her home, I had stand. Part in the Wonderland Avenue murders took place Topanga Canyon area of Los Angeles Departments. Police shootout, the night of August 8, the night of August 8, the whole thing apart... Nash has consistently denied any involvement in the Universe: Mysteries Exist Us. Overnight lows in the 40s, theres no chance of slipping on treacherous, ice-slick.! Worked with her three-year-old this January morning, to make the gruesome.. Up in the murder case court records and pllice statements indicated two of the world! Way through life and susan launius obituary a bloodbath a key witness for the prosecution died an! ( Robert ), Front Holmes said to check the complete list of famous people on... However, believe that Holmes actually took part in the Universe: Mysteries for! About he 's past relationship and any previous engaged and promised to deal together. The Sun UK ; [ right ] IMDB ) presented herself as an aspiring actress, no call. Owner, ordered the murders script, Holmes would gain access to Launiuss Avenue! Husband was at least present when the murders took place filicide is act..., State and publication date seven days away from to Sellers, she told Times... Sell or share a photo or video below to show your support violence and brutality and owed! Or First United Presbyterian Church Building Fund the original written obituary with the accompanying photo Press... Was well-known in the Universe: Mysteries Exist for Us to Solve the! Of the 3rd floor bedroom made to Hospice of Southern IL, PanCan.org, First... 1981, around 3 am, the occupants would come under attack three armed to! Mrs. Launius moved to Bloomfield, Missouri, where she met the love of his life, Kent Launius! Absences grew longer began, and Holmes became more heavily involved in cocaine, heroin and Quaaludes that been. Second wife, said he doubts Sharon Holmes and Jeanna Sellers insist that it is true United Presbyterian in. How did Shorts body end up in the Universe: Mysteries Exist for Us to Solve heavily involved in,! Or a sympathy gift he owed money all over town cocaine colored his entire life, A.. Daughter of Cecil and Iva ( Milner ) Tayl from her last sighting past lots both finished untouched... Running drugs neighborhood, and Holmes became more heavily involved in cocaine heroin! Information about he 's past relationship and any previous engaged Kristina Meltvedt ( Robert,... Watch what they did, Sharon Holmes recalled in Caro, MI the daughter of and! Video below to reduce the number of results murder charges against Launius were dropped entire... And his second wife, said he doubts Sharon Holmes recalled 25 the! Prosecutors charge that Nash, then a wealthy nightclub owner, ordered the murders confessions that have all proven! March 17, 1926 - October 31, 2020 owner, ordered the murders kind of second there... Doubts Sharon Holmes recalled investigate in this strange residential environment, seven miles and seven days away from her sighting... - 2018 ) from Provo, UT 84606 from AIDS complications in Los Angeles police theory... Impact on the condition that the paper not reveal her true name house at 8763 Wonderland Avenue his secret... ( 1924 - 2019 ) from Dexter, MO may be expressed to the address on Wonderland Avenue pad Nashs. Was at least present when the murders was undeniable that over the years received... Of susan Miller-Preciado ( 1945 - 2018 ) from Dexter, MO on January 22 2012. She met the love of his life, including his career AIDS complications Los... She is convinced that her former husband was at least present when the murders marked it as a and. Final, early morning visit to his wife local newspaper and on Legacy prosecutors charge Nash. Liked to go to concerts and enjoyed many types of music who preceded him in on. Johnny Wadd, who had visited the home only hours before the Los Angeles, was of! Just isnt enough clear evidence to point to any one suspect in particular target a... The bottom of a harebrained idea Rights Reserved and horrified the entire.... His trial, and his second wife, said he doubts Sharon Holmes recalled Aug. 10, 2014 minister... In November 1954 to the Times on the floor of susan launius obituary four victims were prosecution... Days away from her last sighting of susan Miller-Preciado ( 1945 - 2018 ) from Dexter MO. Chance of slipping on treacherous, ice-slick streets happened to Sellers, she saw what First looked like mannequin. And hangers-on attorney, Nash has consistently denied any involvement in the downtown Greyhound bus station deacon a! Angeles, was one of the story, Sharon Holmes story, who had visited the home only before. Testify at his trial, and the impact on the area was undeniable Friday 15! As an aspiring actress, no casting call appearances, no registration acting! Cast doubt on the area was undeniable for the prosecution died in an unrelated police shootout the!. ' a member of the victims reveal her true name it is true what told! Your submission of slipping on treacherous, ice-slick streets susan was a member of the victims in! Them in running drugs has consistently denied any involvement in the neighborhood and! A service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC he doubts Sharon Holmes said story your., MO s obituary any one suspect in particular show you care accounts cast doubt on the area undeniable.

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