Susan Bell Launius, nee Haywood, 70, of Belleville died Sunday, Aug. 10, 2014. 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. At 71 years old, Susan Launius height not available right now. Susan was a lifelong member of First United Presbyterian Church in Belleville, IL. . Receive obituaries from the city or cities of your choice. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? , neither was she a prostitute. Find the obituary of Lois Marjorie Launius Vaughn (1924 - 2019) from Dexter, MO. During Holmes murder trial in 1982, then Deputy Dist. Face of Ron Launius (May 18, 1944 - July 1, 1981) Ronald Lee "Ron" Launius was the leader of the Wonderland Gang, a squad of drug dealers that operated out of a dope house at 8763 Wonderland Avenue in the Laurel Canyon section of Los Angeles, California, moving large amounts of cocaine and small amounts of heroin. Officers made casts of the victims' wounds to help determine the weapon or weapons used in the attack. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. Dr. Blythe Denham-Kieffer officiating. He was never convicted of the Wonderland murders. You can search by first or last name, state and publication date. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. 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. The multiple homicide shocked the city, which was still somewhat innocent and trusting at the end of the halcyon hippie days. Susan Bell Launius. Perhaps the most horrifying sight was Launius's wife, Susan. Susan Launius, who lay wounded with severe head injuries for hours before being discovered in the house by neighbors last July 1, testified during Holmes' preliminary hearing that she could. 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. fishing with canned anchovies; pros and . Another victim, William DeVerell, 44, who lived at the house, had an arrest record in the 1950s, mostly for narcotics but had not been arrested in the recent case. Susan was a lifelong member of First United Presbyterian Church in Belleville, IL. He is also survived by nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends. Valhalla Read More, 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 charges have ever been filed in the Black Dahlia case, but that hasnt stopped people from confessing. She was later unable to identify her attackers. He is currently single. The 43-year-old actor died as a result of complications arising from his infection with the AIDS virus. Valhalla-Gaerdner-Holten Funeral Home & Valhalla Gardens, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Launius estranged wife, Susan, who was visiting, survived the assault but suffered severe head injuries. Sellers agreed to talk to The Times on the condition that the paper not reveal her true name. Perhaps youd be discovered, like Brad Pitt; or perhaps youd be discovered buried in a pit. Neighbors knew the place had more than a bad rep it had bad juju. ; her grandchildren, Kristina Meltvedt (Robert), Front . 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. The address: Waverly Drive. and his gang were cruising the city in their, 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. . The grotesque mass murder shocked and horrified the entire neighborhood. Holmes was quickly spirited away to Nashs house and beaten until he revealed all his secrets. 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. . That version of the story, Sharon Holmes said, is fiction. 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. 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. Star-struck seekers could end up on top of the heap. Cecelia passed away on January 22, 2012, and is buried in Marlin, TX. Police, however, believe that Holmes actually took part in the fatal beatings. 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. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. Roland Edward Launius. shed never seen the residence before the day of June 30, 1981. Echovita offers a solidarity program that gives back the funds generated to families. Susan was a lifelong member of First United Presbyterian Church in Belleville, IL. I know who did it.. 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. . . . There are, however, plenty more stories, to be sure, and theyll continue as long as young people are seduced by the allure of Los Angeles, seeking the fruition of their own dreams . 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. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. 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). Funeral, time pending, Friday at First Presbyterian Church, Belleville. A unique and lasting tribute for a loved one. COVID origins? How did Shorts body end up in this strange residential environment, seven miles and seven days away from her last sighting? Susan A. Murphy married Ron Launius in Carson City, Nevada on 16 April 1971, and the two of them were heavy drug users. Susan was a lifelong member of First United Presbyterian Church in Belleville, IL. 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. 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. Susan was a lifelong member of First United Presbyterian Church in Belleville, Ill Read More, SUSAN LAUNIUS Susan Bell Launius, nee Haywood, 70, of Belleville died Sunday, Aug. 10, 2014. 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. I said, John, how could you? 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. he didnt know what the truth was anymore; about himself, about anything, Sellers said. after spending a drug-fueled evening there a year before. 'We have interviewed her but we're not going to say anything about it.'. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. Inside was Ronald Launius, considered the leader of the group, his wife Susan, William Raymond "Billy" Deverell, his . At the house, Holmes told his wife, Nash pored over Holmes address book, and stopped when he came to the pages that listed addresses in Ohio, where Holmes was born and where his mother and other relatives still lived. In May 1974, he was arrested for and charged with the 1973 murder of a reputed police drug informant who had been killed over a botched drug deal. Manson had collected his death cult from the masses of young, aimless drifters who had descended upon the West Coast in the late 1960s, entranced by the supposedly good vibes of a scene populated with other young people, hippies, and freaks not to mention, crooks and hustlers peddling free love and other illusions. Theres somebody out there who wants to kill me, Holmes told Sharon, his wife of 16 years. He is from . Leave your condolences to the family on this memorial page or send flowers to show you care. 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. Neighbors in the canyon, where a conversation at night can be overheard blocks away, said they were used to rowdy, all-night parties in the house. 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. Family and friends are welcome to send flowers or leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family. He said, I had to stand there and watch what they did, Sharon Holmes recalled. He was predeceased by : his wife Susan; his parents, Carl and Fern; his sister Nancy; and his brother-in-law Darwin Kraft. . This time, flipping the script, Holmes would gain access to Launiuss Wonderland Avenue pad for Nashs ultraviolent retribution. 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. It was in prison that David Lind met Ron Launius. The scene: A tract of land being developed into new homes to accommodate young working-class families in postwar L.A. A host of musicians, actors and artists make their homes in the rustic canyon. She would survive her wounds. Sympathy Ideas. 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. Miss Miller's shiny white 1969 Mercedes 280 SL was used to deliver narcotics to her customers, detectives said. Lind and his girlfriend, Barbara Richardson, rode down to the Wonderland house on Lind's motorcycle and slept on the living room sofa. Echovita offers a solidarity program that gives back the funds generated to families. On December 17, 1948 in Sikeston, MO. 1969: The Manson Family Killing Spree; Night 2 Rosemary and Leno LaBianca. , money, salary, income, and assets. 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. there just isnt enough clear evidence to point to any one suspect in particular. But Detective Tom Lange of the Los Angeles Police Department, the lead investigator on the case, said, There is no mystery, because we know who is involved and we know why. 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. Charlie told the driver to head to. ? Charlie and Watson tied the LaBiancas up, convincing the couple theyd be safe if they cooperated. 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. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on . Create an obituary. 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. Write your message of sympathy today. . 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. Interment will follow in Valhalla Gardens of Memory, Belleville IL. Here is William E. Launius Sr.'s obituary. Confoundingly, after all these years we still havent been able to close the book on this investigation. is robert peston married to charlotte edwardes. 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". . The robbery was an inside job set up by Holmes, who was a close associate of Nash's, and whom Nash regularly referred to as "my brother". A gate was unlocked, and Holmes walked up the stairs to the entrance with the gunmen concealed behind him. So, Nash became the target of a harebrained idea. There was "a lot of screaming going. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. 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. Unfortunately, thats not always the case. Police sources said Vlick, who is charged with plssessing drugs and stolen property, is a 'fringe guy' in organized crime circles. So, how much is Susan Launius worth at the age of 71 years old? Court records and pllice statements indicated two of the four victims were under prosecution for dealing in cocaine, heroin and Quaaludes. Funeral: Mermorial service will be held Tuesday June 7, 2011 at 11 am, at First United Presbyterian Church, Belleville, IL with Rev. 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. And the character that caused all this trauma? Prior to her disappearance, shed packed up all her earthly possessions and locked then up in the downtown Greyhound bus station. March 17, 1926 - October 31, 2020. Visitation from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Grief Support. 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. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.valhallagardensandfuneralhome.com. A day or two later, Holmes gave a compressed, but similar account of what happened to Sellers, she told The Times. he married Edith Morris Launius who preceded him in death on May 30, 2013. 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. Perhaps youd be discovered, like Brad Pitt; or perhaps youd be discovered buried in a pit. I was involved. Find the obituary of Susan Miller-Preciado (1945 - 2018) from Provo, UT. Later she worked with her husband at Launius Marketing. Susan B. Launius. Holmes was quickly spirited away to Nashs house and beaten until he revealed all his secrets. Valhalla-Gaerdner-Holten Funeral Home & Valhalla Gardens, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Coroner Thomas Noguchi said early autopsy results on the bodies found Wednesday -- 12 hours after the neighbors ignored the screams for mercy -- indicated the victims had been beaten to death. 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. He said he was told he would be killed and people in the book would be killed if (Holmes) didnt do what (Nash) wanted. Susan was a lifelong member of First United Presbyterian Church in Belleville, IL. But we have more depraved murders to investigate in this ghastly, time-traveling tour of Hollywood-Land. He is survived by : his children, William Launius Jr. (Joan) of Millstadt and Lori Harris (Ken) of Waterloo; and his grandchildren, William "Trey" Launius III, Kasey Launius, Hunter Harris, Carter Harris, Tanner Harris and Cooper Harris. 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. Basically, he said, Im going to have to run, Sharon Holmes recalled, And I said, Youre going to have to tell me. . 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. Though she presented herself as an aspiring actress, no evidence exists of any actions to back up that claim. Clyde Alan Vaughn (Carol), Susan Lynne Vaughn of Jefferson City, MO and Dwight Thomas Vaughn of New Orleans, LA. He spent considerable time in the Colorado prison system, but when he was free he operated a successful mobile phone franchise. But before they headed east, Holmes paid a final, early morning visit to his wife. Would you like to offer William E. Launius Sr.s loved ones a condolence message? Personal Information the paper not reveal her true name Jefferson city, MO we have more depraved murders to in. The story of your loved ones unique life, Front details, birth signs and real ages customers, said... Manson family Killing Spree ; Night 2 Rosemary and Leno LaBianca in prison that Lind! Suffered severe head injuries Sharon Holmes recalled happened to Sellers, she told the Times on the condition that paper... Heroin and Quaaludes we recommend you to check the complete list of Famous people born on or weapons used the... We are reviewing your submission 22, 2012, and Holmes walked the... 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