John Holmes Visits With Dr. Vonda Pelto While In Jail
Dr. Vonda Pelto worked for years as a criminal psychologist in Los Angeles at the men’s central county jail. She was basically put in charge of examining killers and keeping them alive, so the cases could be fully investigated, tried in court and all victims identified, cases solved, etc. She wrote a book about her experiences. Her job was to see anyone in jail who needed to talk, and who was famous or newsworthy. The book is $4 on Amazon, so I am going to order it!
Part of an online review:
One bright side of Pelto’s work at the prison is her meeting with the late porn star, John Holmes, while he was awaiting trial and subsequently held for contempt of court. As with her other patients, Pelto’s believable dialogue with “The Wadd” brings him to life and offers insight to John and his 111 days in jail.
In the book, you get to know this laundry list of classic L.A. characters a bit better:
- The Trash Bag Killer
- Hillside Strangler
- Sunset Killer
- Arthur Jackson, Theresa Saldana’s stalker and attacker
- Good Time Charlie Manson
- Porn star John Holmes. Johnny Wadd would collect cockroaches and mice. He was lonely and kept them as pets in his cell. At one point, John even propositioned her, saying “anytime you want a little, Doc… he’d like to come out for a ride”. (meaning his penis… Niiice). He also promised her marriage if she would sneak him a Cadbury chocolate bar during his hunger strike.
Her book is titled “Without Remorse”, and this is a great video:
A much longer interview video:
John 9:04 am on May 29, 2013 Permalink |
Also… at work… I have a customer named David Lind. I made a comment once about the movie, Wonderland, but he didn’t know what I was talking about. LOL. I had to do it.
dreamweaverjenn 10:24 am on May 29, 2013 Permalink |
I bet this is a very interesting read. I will have to try to get my hands on it.
localarts 2:46 pm on May 29, 2013 Permalink |
I wonder if Dr. Pelto encouraged Holmes to write “Porn King” while he was doing time. I doubt Holmes realized Dr. Palto could see right through his colossal load of BS
dreamweaverjenn 4:09 pm on May 29, 2013 Permalink
You’re right! I bet he thought he was “charming” her. Lol.
John 4:24 pm on May 29, 2013 Permalink
L.A. has had all of the classic killers… And the media is quick to label them with a nickname asap…. The Freeway Killer, the Vlasic Pickle Jar Killer and the Zip-a-Dee-Doo-daw Killer!
localarts 5:11 pm on May 29, 2013 Permalink |
I guess if Holmes were convicted, his nick name would have been the “King Dong Killer” just sayin.
dreamweaverjenn 10:46 pm on May 29, 2013 Permalink |
Maybe, lol
localarts 10:31 am on May 30, 2013 Permalink
Better yet, the “Pipe – Wadd Slayer” Seems more appropriate given all the facts we know.
dreamweaverjenn 12:02 pm on May 30, 2013 Permalink |
I like that one even better! lmao!
Jill C. Nelson 1:11 pm on June 1, 2013 Permalink |
“I wonder if Dr. Pelto encouraged Holmes to write “Porn King” while he was doing time. I doubt Holmes realized Dr. Palto could see right through his colossal load of BS.”
Freelance journalist/reporter Barbara Wilkins (who became another one of Holmes’s eventual longtime girlfriends) encouraged Holmes to write his memoirs. They met while he was in jail for contempt when she was commissioned to write an article about him for Hustler magazine which was published in a 1983 issue.
Holmes knew full well Dr. Pelto “got” him and she knew he knew. They both played along. Dr. Pelto was disappointed when Holmes didn’t keep his promise to take her out for a lobster dinner date after his release.
To this day, Dr. Pelto misses “The Wadd” as she fondly refers to him. She’s a great lady with an awesome sense of humour. She is currently working on her second book and attended our book launch in 2008.
dreamweaverjenn 2:31 pm on June 1, 2013 Permalink |
I am waiting for a friend of mine to give me her kindle so I can get the kindle edition of your book.
John 9:55 am on June 3, 2013 Permalink |
Great info thanks!
dreamweaverjenn 2:28 pm on June 1, 2013 Permalink |
Jill C. Nelson-did you meet him in person?
Jill C. Nelson 3:45 pm on June 1, 2013 Permalink |
No, neither Sugar or I met John Holmes in person. Sugar was only 5 years old when Holmes passed away in 1988. Apart from being aware of who Holmes was during my teen years and early-mid twenties, etc., I was not really interested or knowledgeable about the adult film industry or any of the people involved. However, I was always a fan of true crime which lead to my eventual interest in Holmes and the Wonderland murders.
dreamweaverjenn 9:35 pm on June 1, 2013 Permalink |
I am a HUGE true crime fan. Some people have worried about me, lol.