The Wonderland Murders

Posted: 02.10.2025 | Updated: 02.24.2025

One of the most gruesome multiple homicides in Los Angeles’ history occurred inside a small townhouse located on Wonderland Avenue in the Laurel Canyon community in the early 1980s. The unsolved case has been a popular discussion among true crime enthusiasts for decades. 

In additon to the horrors of the unspeakable crime, the Wonderland House is believed to be surrounded by a strong enigmatic energy that is hard to ignore. Could this force be linked to the tortured spirits of those who died there? 

The Wonderland House in Los Angeles, California, is a must-see location for fans of hauntings and true crime stories. Plan your trip to the most haunted areas in the Hollywood Hills by scheduling your tour with L.A. Ghosts today!

What Happened at The Wonderland House?

On July 1^st, 1981, four bodies were found brutally massacred inside a quaint split-level home located at 8763 Wonderland Avenue in Los Angeles, CA. 

The Wonderland Murders, also known as the Laurel Canyon Murders or Four on the Floor Murders, were the result of a quadruple homicide that left the victims beaten and bloodied. This incident has haunted the Laurel Canyon community for over forty years, and the case remains unsolved.

Who Was The Wonderland Gang?

The Wonderland Gang was a group of drug dealers who were well-known in the L.A. area for selling drugs and committing armed robberies. The leader of the gang was Ronald Lee “Ron” Launius. 

Additional members of the gang included Tracy Raymond McCourt, David Clay Lind, and William Raymond “Billy” Deverell who was Ron’s second-in-command. Billy’s girlfriend, Joy Audrey Gold Miller, owned the lease for the townhouse and took part in the gang’s illegal activity. 

The Nash House Robbery and Wonderland House Murders

On June 29^th, 1981, Ron, Billy, David, and Tracy broke in and robbed the home of nightclub owner Eddie Nash. While attempting to stop them, Nash’s bodyguard, Gregory Diles, was shot and injured. The Wonderland gang managed to get away with some of Nash’s valuables in tow, including antique guns, quaaludes, jewelry, and a hefty load of cocaine, totaling more than $1,200,00 for the entire haul. 

Two days after the Nash robbery, around 4:00 A.M. on July 1^st, 1981, several unknown men entered the Wonderland house, armed with weapons made from hammers and iron pipes. The men bludgeoned Ron, Billy, Joy, and David’s girlfriend, Barbara Richardson, who was staying over that night.

When the LAPD arrived on the scene, they were astonished at the gruesome sight of bodies throughout the home, comparing it to the Tate-LaBianca murders committed by the Manson family.  

LAPD Locates Each Victim Inside the Wonderland House

Barbara Richardson was lying by the sofa where she had been sleeping that night. Next, the police went into Joy Audrey Gold Miller’s bedroom to find her severely beaten to death, lying on the bed. 

The body of William Raymond “Billy” Deverell was in Joy’s bedroom, propped up against the small television set at the foot of her bed. As the police searched for gang leader Ronald Lee “Ron” Launius, they found his dead body in his bedroom, lying next to his wife, Susan A. Murphy Launius, who was still alive but severely injured.

Susan endured serious brain damage due to the beating she received. She was left with permanent amnesia and later required surgery to remove a damaged part of her skull. She also lost part of a finger. 

Additional members of the gang, David Lind and Tracy McCourt, were not present at the Wonderland House on the night of the murders. Lind later died from an overdose of heroin in 1995, while McCourt passed away in 2006.

Suspects of the Wonderland Murders 

There were a few suspects linked to the murders at the time. The top suspects were Eddie Nash and John Holmes. 

Eddie Nash – Nightclub Owner and Organized Crime Boss

Initially, investigators believed the attack was planned by Eddie Nash after the gang robbed his home. Police searched the Wonderland Home days after the incident and found over a million dollars worth of cocaine inside, along with many of the items stolen from Nash.

In 1990, Eddie Nash and his bodyguard were arrested for their roles in the murders. Yet after a lengthy trial, they were later acquitted. 

Diles, Nash’s bodyguard, died in 1997. Eddie Nash died later in 2014. Before his death, Nash admitted to investigators that he hired people to retrieve some stolen property from the Wonderland House before police arrived to investigate the murders. 

However, he didn’t specify whether the members of the Wonderland Gang were already dead by the time Nash’s men arrived.

John Holmes – Adult Film Star Living a Double Life

John Holmes was described to be a very peculiar individual, thanks in part to his addiction to cocaine. He and his wife, Sharon, initially had a simple life. John worked a variety of jobs, including a door-to-door salesman and forklift operator. However, in the late 1960s, he took on a new persona when he began working in the adult film industry. 

At first, the bizarre career move was to support the high price of his cocaine addiction. But within a couple of years, John became one of the most prolific performers in the industry, starring in over 500 films. 

John also worked as a middleman between Nash and the Wonderland gang, helping with supply and demand while also running drugs. On the morning of the Wonderland murders, John was with Nash at his home. 

During the police investigation at Nash’s house, a left-handed print was found, later found to belong to Holmes. This evidence led to his arrest in March of 1982.

Holmes’ legal team proved he was not involved in the murders and convinced the jury he was a victim, forced to allow the assailants into the home to carry out their attacks. Although he was acquitted of the murders, he still served 110 days in jail after he refused to comply with authorities and was charged with contempt. 

John Holmes’ Life After the Wonderland Murders

John Holmes divorced Sharon and married his second wife, Misty Dawn, in 1987. After testing positive for HIV, he lived out his last days in a VA hospital. He passed away in 1988. 

After John’s death, his first wife, Sharon, spoke with police, telling them how he came home the night of the murders with his clothing covered in blood. She claimed John told her he helped the assailants get inside the home and he witnessed the murders, but he did not take part in the attacks. He never told her the names of those who were responsible.

Ghostly Encounters at the Wonderland House

It is well-known in ghost story lore that dark spirits and entities can be present at any location where a brutal or extremely tragic death has occurred. Considering the brutality of the Wonderland House murders, it is no surprise that this Laurel Canyon home is one of the most haunted sites in the Hollywood Hills. 

Whether it is truly the ghosts of Launius, Miller, DeVerrel, and Richardson keeping the bleak energy intact or simply the negative vibes from the home’s dark history, most locals choose to keep their distance from the property.

Those who have visited the townhouse claim there is a strong enigmatic presence both inside and outside the home. Many believe the energy is caused by the ghosts of the victims who desperately want the names of their murderers revealed.

There are also stories of encounters with the ghost of Eddie Nash. Could this mean Nash was indeed responsible for the crime? Or is he just paying his respects? 

Some visitors have also reported seeing the apparition of John Holme’s ghost hanging around the house, possibly still searching for a leftover ounce of cocaine.

Haunted Los Angeles

The mystery of who killed the four members of the Wonderland gang remains unsolved however the townhouse where the act took place has been renovated and placed on the market several times since then. 

The last known listing for the property had the two-bedroom, two-bath rental priced at $3,000 a month on Craigslist. When you look at photos of the neat kitchenette and small outdoor patio, it can be hard to imagine the cruel and relentless activity that took place there more than four decades ago.

If you are interested in learning more about the most haunted houses and locations in Los Angeles and throughout the U.S., be sure to check out our blog, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram accounts for the latest updates. And don’t forget to book your ghost tour with L.A. Ghosts for a frighteningly good time.

Sources:

• https://allthatsinteresting.com/wonderland-murders
• https://www.oddee.com/item_99141.aspx
• https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/american-hauntings-podcast/id1244336367?i=1000660887613
•  https://www.salon.com/2000/06/09/wonderland/