The Wonderland Murders: Unraveling the Secrets Behind Hollywood's Darkest Crime

Over four decades after the gruesome Wonderland murders rocked Los Angeles, author Michael Connelly believes that adult film star John Holmes held crucial information about the crime. Connelly claims that Holmes' intimate involvement in the drug underworld and his subsequent drug addiction may have prevented him from revealing the truth until his death. A new true-crime docuseries explores the unsolved case, featuring interviews with surviving witnesses and a final testimony from Liberace's former lover, Scott Thorson.

The Wonderland murders of 1981 remain an unsolved mystery that has haunted Los Angeles for over four decades. On July 1, 1981, the bodies of Ron Launius, William "Billy" Deverell, Joy Miller, and Barbara Richardson were discovered in a Laurel Canyon home on Wonderland Avenue. The victims had been brutally beaten with hammers and metal pipes, leading police to compare the killings to the Tate-LaBianca murders committed by the Manson family just 12 years earlier.

The Wonderland Murders: Unraveling the Secrets Behind Hollywood's Darkest Crime

Adult film star John Holmes' connection to the Wonderland murders has been a subject of intense speculation. A palm print found at the crime scene linked Holmes to the killings. Holmes, who had become known as "The King" of X-rated films, had developed a severe cocaine addiction in the early '80s, leading to petty robberies and involvement with the Wonderland Gang, a notorious drug-dealing group.

Crime author Michael Connelly believes that Holmes possessed critical knowledge about the murders. "He was so involved ... and this was about one drug rip-off," Connelly stated. "But to think that he was the only one involved — or he was the only one who knew [what happened] — I don’t believe that. I think he knew a lot of stuff and left with it."

The Wonderland Murders: Unraveling the Secrets Behind Hollywood's Darkest Crime

Eddie Nash, a one-time actor turned nightclub owner and drug dealer, is believed to have played a central role in the murders. Two days before the killings, Nash's home was robbed, and a bodyguard was shot. He allegedly ordered associates to question Holmes about the theft.

Liberace's former lover, Scott Thorson, testified that he witnessed Holmes being beaten and threatened at Nash's house, fearing for his life, Holmes revealed the identities of the thieves. Thorson's claims have been questioned, but producer Alison Ellwood believes his story. "His story is at times so outrageous," she acknowledged. "It’s hard to imagine that it’s true or that he’s embellishing. … But you see Michael really working with him to get the details and corroborating things with the detectives and the prosecutors. And his story does hold up."

The Wonderland Murders: Unraveling the Secrets Behind Hollywood's Darkest Crime

Holmes was charged with four counts of murder and one count of attempted murder but was acquitted of all charges. In 1984, his wife divorced him, and in 1985, he tested positive for AIDS. Sharon, Holmes' wife, claimed he confessed to playing a role in the murders but never disclosed the names of the assailants and maintained his innocence.

The Wonderland murders have been the subject of numerous theories and speculations. Some believe that Holmes acted on Nash's orders, while others suggest that he may have been a victim of the drug underworld. The truth may never be fully known, but the case continues to fascinate criminologists and true-crime enthusiasts.

The Wonderland Murders: Unraveling the Secrets Behind Hollywood's Darkest Crime

A new true-crime docuseries entitled "The Wonderland Murders & The Secret History of Hollywood," based on Connelly's Audible podcast of the same name, explores the unsolved case. The series features interviews with surviving key players, including original detectives, prosecutors, and undercover cops. It also includes a final sit-down with Scott Thorson, who passed away shortly before its release.

The Wonderland murders provide a glimpse into the social history of Los Angeles in the late '70s and early '80s, when drug use and violence became rampant. "This project is the social history of it," said Connelly. "It is an individual story of how drugs destroy people."

The Wonderland Murders: Unraveling the Secrets Behind Hollywood's Darkest Crime

The Wonderland murders remain a haunting reminder of the destructive power of drugs and the dark underbelly of Hollywood's glamour. The case continues to inspire new investigations and keeps alive the hope that the truth will one day be fully revealed.