Det. Bob Souza: Launius Was A Tough Son Of A Bitch
Holmes was afraid of Ron Launius, the leader of the Wonderland Avenue Gang. Launius called Holmes “donkey dick,” which would be a compliment to most guys, but it was the way Launius said it, as an insult. Launius used to say to Holmes, “Hey, show ’em your dick. Pull it out.”
You know, Launius just treated Holmes like a butt boy. And Launius was a tough son of a bitch.
So Holmes was shootin’ off his mouth at the Wonderland house about Eddie Nash, and Ron Launius heard him talking. And Launius started asking a lot of questions about Nash: “Has he got any dope? Has he got guns? You know, what’s he got? Got any jewelry in there?”
Ron Launius was a fuckin’ thief from way back, so he’s thinking, Hey, this looks like a pretty good score.The Wonderland Avenue Gang was doing residential robberies at that time; that was their big thing. They were going out and ripping off other drug dealers. So you know you got some tough bastards when they’re robbing other dope dealers. ‘Cause you know you’re gonna face some guns.
— Bob Souza (L.A.P.D. homicide detective)
“It’s a 10 minute drive, he’s been gone 8 hours, I’m gonna kill that snake!”
Source:
“Pop Shots: The Uncensored Oral History of the Adult Film Industry” by Legs McNeil
Bryan, 
brian, 
Bryan 2:08 pm on December 1, 2020 Permalink |
I have been trying to research Ron Launius and his Air Force service. This blog provided good information I didn’t know he was in for 10 years for example. He was probably stationed at Beale AFB, California if he lived in the small town of Oliverhurst. I was also stationed at Beale from 1980 to 1983 and I knew and visited people who lived in Olivehurst as well. I’m trying to find out at least the year he entered the Air Force. There is a website that has basic training group pictures beginning from the 1940’s. I have looked at some from the early 1960’s but have not found it….there are many and most group pictures in the 60’s provided names. I drove to the Wonderland house a few years ago and got a few pictures. Ron’s grave is about an hours drive from me and I will take a trip to see it sometime soon. Interesting and informative blog, John. Thanks.
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John 9:32 am on August 28, 2020 Permalink |
Reblogged this on Wonderland1981 – The Wonderland Murders.
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Anthony 3:44 pm on April 1, 2013 Permalink |
Hello — I recently watched Wonderland and absolutely loved it! I’ve been Googling information about the Wonderland gang and this website came up. I’ve been reading through some of the posts and appreciate the information because there really isn’t much about them aside from the actual police footage of the murder scene, which was beyond disturbing.
I’ll try and find the source but I read the Wonderland gang had a contract put out against them because they sold fake coke to some drug dealers. Apparently they were known for ripping people off. If I find anything more about them I’ll let you guys know.
*Wonderland trivia — If you watch the police footage very carefully next to Ron Launius’s was a draw full of cigarettes. What brand didhe smoke?
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Anthony 3:47 pm on April 1, 2013 Permalink |
From Wikipedia:
“When the crime scene was discovered by the LAPD, there was no shortage of suspects, as the Wonderland Gang had made many enemies during its reign at the top of the LA cocaine trade. A contract was out on their lives as they had scammed a fellow drug dealer by selling him baking soda of an amount that seemed to be $250,000 worth of cocaine.[citation needed] But in the end, given Lind’s leads, police zeroed in on the murders as a “revenge hit” ordered by Nash.”
..”reign at the top of the LA cocaine trade” — I’m not sure they were big time drug dealers.
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John 7:33 pm on April 1, 2013 Permalink |
Yes, I saw the cigs in the drawer by his bed too. I think they were Pall Mall or Chesterfields? It was some old school brand of smokes for sure. From the crime scene footage, it is shown that Barbara Richardson smoked Salem Lights (menthols). Great stuff, and adds to their characters a bit. Thanks!
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Anthony 8:57 pm on April 1, 2013 Permalink
Pall Mall! I’m not surprised a psychopath like Ron Launius smoked non filtered cigarettes.
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John 7:23 am on April 2, 2013 Permalink
Yes, it was Pall Mall reds… probably the non-filtered style. You can see the packs in his night stand at :38 mark of this video- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CET-FAPGMHI
He also wore cowboy boots, and there is a striped Polo type shirt hanging from a chair nearby his dresser. In the movie, Ronnie is wearing an Ocean Pacific type of Polo shirt (the scene where they threaten Holmes in Ron’s bedroom… “Are we supposed to just bust in there like the Guns of Navarone!??”).
We can and have learned a lot about the key players by what is seen in the crime scene video. The blood does not bother me so much anymore. I’m getting to be like a seasoned L.A. detective LOL. No.
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Anthony 9:07 pm on April 1, 2013 Permalink
Th last part of the police footage showed Billy Deverell’s truck. I wonder what ever happened to it? I’d buy it 🙂
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John W 3:13 pm on March 25, 2013 Permalink |
That’s great info. He was at McNeil Federal Prison in Wash state, i think when transferred to Chino or near LA is where he met David Lind?? I beed to confirm that though. I believe his brother not having contact after prison, I did the same when my brother got out, libg story. I will post soon about Ron’s murder charges that were dropped in 1974. A rare find, and Ron’s appeal set a legal precedent that has been cited in later court house. Stay tuned!!
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localarts 4:31 pm on March 25, 2013 Permalink |
Not sure where he met David Lind. In the movie Lind did say Chino in 1973. I have no doubt Launius was someone you wouldn’t want to mess with. Can’t wait to read more of your posts!
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localarts 8:36 am on March 24, 2013 Permalink |
John, there were several interviews done with Launius younger brother right after the murders, I believe his name is Rick. The younger Launius kinda puts a time line on Ronnie’s life to a degree. I’m sure the interviews are still online somewhere.
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John 7:51 am on March 25, 2013 Permalink |
Thank you, I will search for those interviews!
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John 9:38 am on March 25, 2013 Permalink |
Thanks, I have been looking but have not found anything. I remember his mother saying nobody in the family wanted to be contacted, right after the murders. Ron’s dad is still alive and is a retired truck driver in Nevada City.
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localarts 2:15 pm on March 25, 2013 Permalink
I read it around 07 or 08. It was either a local paper LA or the sacramento bee, can’t remember. The long and short of it as I recall is Rick Launius said he really didn’t see much of his brother after being released for prison. he said Ron was transeferred from a prison in washington state ( cant remember the name) to a minimum security facility in the los angeles area in 1977 and released a year later in 1978. He said the last time he saw his brother was in January of 81 and he was very sick. If I can find it again, I’ll post it.
I remember reading that same interview with his mother as well. She sounded very scared, can’t blame her. I think her name was Maggie or somthing like that.
I also believe alot of things written about Launius and the “Wonderland Gang” are over dramatized fabricated nonsense.
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brian 1:29 am on August 29, 2020 Permalink
I wonder what Ron’s dad thought about the movie Wonderland.
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John 4:17 pm on April 5, 2013 Permalink |
I was looking at Nevada Union High yearbook for 1964. It lists two Launius boys… a Rickey and a Dave. I read an early news piece on the murders where it stated he had two brothers. Maybe I’m mistaken and Dave is a cousin? Rickey’s junior photo was not printed, but it showed Dave on the school baseball team sliding into home plate.
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Pixie 2:46 pm on March 22, 2013 Permalink |
Scabies-that’s hilarious!
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scabiesoftherat 12:40 am on March 22, 2013 Permalink |
Josh Lucas was so great in that flick. My buddy Paulie and I do impressions of him (in that film) at work. “You think I wanna pizza!! I want some god****ed smack!!” Makes for great hi-jinks in the queue for the time clock at the beginning of the day. LOL
“You want the guns from the Nash?….mudder-f**k?….then try and take the guns from the Nash….ehhh.”
We’re not normal, I guess….
LOL
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John W 6:02 am on March 22, 2013 Permalink |
This is funny. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTTjBdW_2wM
Ron has quite a few short, strung out scenes. Josh should have been nominated for an Oscar. Best supporting Actor!
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John W 6:05 am on March 22, 2013 Permalink |
That pizza scene is so great. That radio host had it right- Josh Lucas was menacing in that movie.
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