In the early morning hours of July 1, 1981 The most notorious and macabre crime in LA history occurred. Four people were murdered in a house on Wonderland Ave. in Laurel Canyon. The brutality of this crime and the circumstances in which it occurred, have made this story LA’s darkest chapter in its true crime history.
Adult film star John Holmes was “friends” with a group of drug dealers that lived at 8763 Wonderland Avenue. He was a house regular who would buy, sell, and use drugs amongst the residents. Historical accounts of Holmes indicate he was deeply addicted to cocaine at this point. Lying and stealing had become commonplace. It was undoubtedly a dark time in his life.
In the midst of sleazy early 1980’s living, Holmes had also befriended a powerful night club owner and drug connection in Eddie Nash. For Holmes, Nash was another means to feed his ever growing cocaine habit. There was never any known connection between the Wonderland House and Eddie Nash other than John Holmes.
Holmes came to the Wonderland gang with a plot to set up a robbery at Nash’s house. He would go to score some drugs in the evening and leave a door in the kitchen unlocked. Then later in the night, a few people from Wonderland would go through that same door and initiate an armed robbery. The plan was to gather thousands in cash and cocaine. Holmes was to be rewarded handsomely for his instrumental role in the planning.
In the few days following the robbery, one of Nash’s minions saw Holmes walking in Hollywood. Holmes had apparently been wearing jewelry belonging to the night club tycoon. He was scooped up and taken to Nash’s house. Supposedly John Holmes was beaten and the lives of all of his family in Ohio and Los Angeles were threatened. The only way he and his family could be let off the hook, is if he agreed to facilitate a revenge plot on the Wonderland gang. Holmes agreed.
Around 3 am Holmes showed up at 8763 Wonderland and asked to be let in. He claimed he had some drugs to share. He was let in, but behind him were several of Nash’s goons. They proceeded to bludgeon everyone in the house to death with lead pipes. Forensic evidence shows Holmes was also a perpetrator in the killing. It is not known whether he was a forced or willing participant.
The initial stages of the investigation suggested Holmes was the glue in this whole mess. Shortly after the police had finished interrogating him, Holmes fled California with his girlfriend. He was turned in by the same girl in Florida later that December 1981. Holmes was extradited to LA to stand trial for his participation and knowledge of the slayings. He never gave up Nash for being the culprit. He simply denied any knowledge or involvement. John Holmes was later acquitted and returned to making adult films.
