Suspects who turn out to be guilty (Steven Avery) usually go on television to declare their innocence. And so did one Eddie Nash. Check him out here on NBC Channel 4 in Los Angeles: New suit and tie, hair nicely styled, a face lift? What a smooth talker. All this shit will be in my book, which is titled “Angels in the Smog – The True Story of the Wonderland Murders.” Release date: TBD.
I am still checking email, but I have to go MIA for a while from the blog because I have stuff to do. Thanks for your support and for visiting this blog, which has over 800,000 views in 4 years. Thank you for coming here for the truth.
The Nash, using his hands a lot … a sign of guilt? LA New Times, May 2001. NBC Channel 4 LA.
Legend has it that when the arrest warrant was issued for him after he was caught disobeying a judge’s order during the RICO investigation (talking on an illegal phone in his house to gangsters about marijuana), he was on vacation with that wife of his in China. What a long flight back knowing you’re going to jail. Poor Eddie. I hope the in-flight movie was not Shawshank, because everyone in prison is innocent. You didn’t know that?
Although housed at a federal jail for the RICO beef, Eddie knew the LA county jail well, as he spent two years there awaiting his murder trials of the early 1990s – He was kept separated from the general population like OJ, Todd Bridges, Menendez brothers, Richard Ramirez, etc.
Todd was neighbors in jail with Eddie but the two could not relate, although both killers got along well. “Ed was older than me, but a really nice guy”, said Todd. Bridges is a killer who got off thanks to Johnnie Cochran. Bridges suddenly forgot what happened that day when he killed that crackhead. My God, the damage that hack lawyer did to the justice system:
But defense attorney Johnnie Cochran argued that Bridges was so intoxicated with cocaine at the time of the incident that even if he did shoot the victim, he could not have intended to kill him. Therefore, Cochran argued, Bridges should not be convicted.
-LA Times, Nov 4, 1989
Back to Nash… “he got punked around pretty good by some black guys in there, he did not have a pleasant stay” (allegedly) while serving his three year sentence at Terminal Island Federal Prison in the early 2000s for his RICO activities. Included in the indictment was John Holmes (by then deceased), and three of Nash’s arson and fraud buddies from the old days, all of whom were stumbling bumbling idiots the Nash used as buffers.
Terminal Island is the former home of Charles Manson, Tim Leary and heroin addict & jazz singer Anita O’Day, among others (Al Capone). The exterior of the prison is also featured in a few crime movies. Don’t drop the soap.
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Wonderland1981 - The Wonderland Murders 
localarts 11:28 am on April 2, 2018 Permalink |
From an intimidation and scare tactic standpoint, the 82 and 90 trial’s were a stark contrast in the demeanor of David Lind, thats for sure!
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John 12:40 pm on April 7, 2018 Permalink |
David had two kids with his first wife in the 1960s. I was told he was estranged from both children, and they didn’t know them at all. In the early 90s with a different woman, his other son was born just after the Nash-Diles trials, and this kid was a toddler when his father died in ’95. I have seen a photo of him, and it looks like he is studying in school and making something of himself. Maybe Dave is looking down on him from that smoky, beer joint in the sky…
If there’s a nice ending to this whole bloody mess, it’s that most of the relatives of the victims, near-victims and or perpetrators, have had remarkable and happy lives (from the ones I have met or talked to). I say “most”… I don’t know about all.
(I haven’t forgotten about you, Kevin D., and will give you a shout soon so we can talk about your dad more. I am planning a month-long road trip out west this summer…. So Adam, please let your dad know I took a hiatus from the blog last year, but am now back and my book is a go!)
Peace~
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localarts 8:36 am on March 31, 2018 Permalink |
For someone who’s just discovering the story about Wonderland, I would recommend this show. It’s a good primer. The only mystery left is who swung the pipes.. We know Holmes, the Diles brothers; Greg & Danny or Samual were there. Speculation consist of Hovsep Mikaelian and members of the Russian mafia as the others. Weather or not Holmes murdered Launius is somewhat irrelevant. A far greater crime was John Holmes orchestrating the robbery of Ed Nash in the first place. That one single act changed so many peoples lives in a negative way. It was Devastating.
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criticextraordinaire 1:04 pm on March 31, 2018 Permalink |
The one thing I saw in the show that I never knew before was Eddie showing up at John’s trial and sitting in the back. That had to have been sending John a MASSIVE signal to continue keeping his mouth shut. For all of John’s bad decisions, the one good decision he made was to keep his mouth shut re: Eddie, all the way to his grave.
Well Holmes certainly deserves his charge of the blame for the robbery of Eddie Nash. But he dIdn’t hold a gun to Ronnie or David’s heads either. They bought on to the idea as a way to make a huge score, and probably as a big “FU” to a more established player in the drug business. If they had not been using as much dope as they sold, they (including Holmes) might have thought twice about the wisdom of robbing Eddie Nash and letting him live.
One thing that I have always wondered about Eddie is why he never ordered a hit against the guy (Robert Garceau) who murdered his son (Telesforo Bautista). I would have thought that situation would have resulted in a retaliation that would make Wonderland look like a tea party.
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localarts 4:04 pm on March 31, 2018 Permalink
According to McCourts testimony, “everybody backed out” of the robbery at one point. Obviously, we don’t know what made them change their mind. I bet when Eddie walked in that court room, the lights flickered on & off, the clock on the wall stopped ticking & the moon passed in front of the sun. When the prince of darkness sends a message, he makes sure there’s no room for misinterpretation.
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criticextraordinaire 4:17 pm on March 31, 2018 Permalink
I think that Ron Coen would have wet his pants if he were ever confronted by Eddie.
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John 10:33 am on April 1, 2018 Permalink
When Eddie walked in to court, it was like that movie, Scanners, the DAs heads all exploded!
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John 10:37 am on April 1, 2018 Permalink
Ed showing up at the trial is mentioned in the Holmes bio INCHES by Jill Nelson and Jennifer Sugar. I believe they say Ed was there more than once! They have a great chapter on Wonderland. This business about Ed at Holmes trial has been posted on the blog before…btw.
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criticextraordinaire 8:46 am on March 30, 2018 Permalink |
It’s too bad that Rodger Jacobs is not still alive to see this. He deserved boatloads of credit for keeping the interest going in this case. I wonder if Oxygen finally managed to get Susan to break her silence?
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John 9:36 am on March 30, 2018 Permalink |
At the time, when Rodger’s health was failing and he was living at the Hotel Cecil, or whereever it was, I wanted to go rescue him from his strife, let him come live with me. I’ll never forget his story, probably around 1985, when he took his last six bucks to the package store, and was walking back to his apartment near some freeway in LA – a govt issue sedan pulled up, a secret service guy asked to look in his paper bag, made a comment that he too was ready for a Heineken. Then, President Reagan’s motorcade zoomed by.
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criticextraordinaire 5:07 pm on March 30, 2018 Permalink
Yeah I always wanted to help Rodger too, even though I was fairly sure that things would end kinda they way they did. I did manage to make contributions to him at his blog, and recruited a few others to do the same. Eyes open, I knew the score. But still he was a human being and you want to help.
I once got similarly accosted by the Secret Service. O’bama was making an unannounced visit to town. Couldn’t get out until his campaign bus was long gone. The town’s name? Beaver PA. 😀
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John 11:10 am on March 30, 2018 Permalink |
Susan doesn’t remember anything, hardly remembered arriving at the house even. However, I’m like you, if only to hear her tell stories about Ronnie. But, I have interviewed three people who were close to him- hopefjlly a fourth, hopefully by this summer, and that is all in my book (I don’t post everything on the blog). If you have read Malice… Susan was traumatized by the Mexico business. It was bad. I have prayed for her and wish her well.
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John 7:14 am on March 29, 2018 Permalink |
Scott Thorson is not referred to by name in the Mysteries & Scandals episode. I just watched it. That is because, and like many of the surviving Manson family who aren’t in prison, feels he should be paid, as if his name and story, are a cashable commodity. They used to be, nobody gives a flip any longer. That Candelabra film was good, but did nothing to lessen his ego.
The episode on Oxygen was a surface piece: no new photos, no talk of victims lives, peripheral motives, side characters, the subculture, the things my book digs into. Tom Lange looks, a bit older, and always wise. However, nobody knew Nash had died, but… we at the blog knew~ at least got whiffs back in 2014. At about the same time my friend was ringing Nash’s intercom buzzer at his Tarzana condo, only to hear the greeting play – it was a woman’s voice, with an accent – asking to please leave a message, and Eddie will get back to you. Little did we know, he was probably already gone. His last name means Victory of God in Arabic. The survivors and,the victors tell history’s story – and his will never properly be told, but I will try.
Ten years ago, when asked about an interview to discuss Holmes life for the outstanding book “Inches”- the definitive story of John’s life – Nash said he would sleep on it over the weekend. The authors waited… Monday or Tuesday rolled around, and through his attorney, Nash, the one-time bit actor and stuntman and horseman… said, “No thanks.”
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criticextraordinaire 7:00 pm on March 30, 2018 Permalink |
I just hope that the Oxygen show does not turn into a one-dimensional character assassination of John Holmes. Seems to be a sport with some people, including those who were John Holmes “hangers on” while he lived, then stood in line to defame him after he died.
If the show tells the story, the WHOLE story without devolving into a John Holmes bashfest, then OK.
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criticextraordinaire 9:00 pm on March 30, 2018 Permalink
Well Dawn seemed to take over a considerable piece of the show. You woulda thought she was one of the people at 8763. Even threw in a nice tear-jerker segment saying that Johnny Wadd was “no hero”. Thanks for the heads up.
Ron Coen came across as a douche, as he did in the “Wadd” documentary. Bottom line he lost his case in court and Holmes was found innocent on all charges. Coen had one job to do and he didn’t get it done.
Got a laugh where they kept showing a Mercedes Benz representing John making his various moves. What was it he was really driving? If I recall a Chevy Nova (or similar) that he and Dawn repainted with spray cans.
No mention of Tracy McCourt. Bummer, he was the wheel-man for the Nash hit; you’d think he would get his due.
The footage of Susan was the first I’ve ever seen. Nice. I just wish she would have done a bit for the show giving is background on Ronnie.
A highlight was Soledad O’Brien as hostess. She’s as hot as ever.
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John 11:22 am on April 1, 2018 Permalink |
The show was great though, overall. They touched on the lifestyle, music and what had become of the Canyon by 1981. But with 44 mins of running time, it’s a long case to discuss. I decided to grow a mustache since watching it, a prison stache though, so I can infiltrate Aryan Brotherhood on my Honda Gullwing with rainbow flag on the back waving in the breeze, find out more about David Lind. Tell them I used to run with Liberace, or Lee, as we called him!
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criticextraordinaire 2:59 pm on April 1, 2018 Permalink
If they think you were running with Lee, get ready for some SERIOUS jailyard abuse.
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smauge 5:02 am on April 3, 2018 Permalink |
I hope this show ends up on the internet at some point. I’m sure you’d post a link, John. Don’t think we’ll get it here in Australia. I’d love to see some vision of the mysterious Susan Launius!
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John 8:59 am on April 5, 2018 Permalink
You get to see and here her briefly on the witness stand. Very beautiful.
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localarts 4:11 pm on March 28, 2018 Permalink |
I’ll probably watch it. However, I’m not sure the Oxygen network can reveal anything we don’t already know. As a matter of fact, I would be willing to bet that John and the collective members of this forum know more than they do! This blog is the equivalent of a “Wonderland Graduate Degree”. Once you’ve been here, theres really no need to search anywhere else…
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