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May 1, 2005 In 1994, the movie "Wonderland" starring Val Kilmer was theatrically released. A tale of sex, drugs, and murder, it was an instant hit. But most of the public thought that this movie was, like "The Blair Witch Project," a total fantasy made up by the Hollywood machine for sheer entertainment value. Had they paid more attention to the words at the opening and the closing of this particular movie, they would have realized that "Wonderland" is based on a factual event that occurred July 1, 1981 at 8763 Wonderland Avenue. The two detectives that worked on the murders at Wonderland Avenue would go on to write a book called "Four on the Floor" about their experience with this case. Later, before their retirement from the Los Angeles Police Department, they would work on another infamous case; the O.J. Simpson murders. As the investigation into the "Wonderland Murders" proceeded, the detectives were shocked to learn that the pivotal character in these murders was the 1970s adult film star, John C. Holmes, aka Johnny Wad. For years since, the question surrounding Holmes has been just exactly how much he was involved in the murders. According to the movie, the brutal murders of four people and the near death of a fifth person at 8763 Wonderland Avenue were in retaliation for the victims' robbery of notorious Los Angeles night club owner Eddie Nash, who was under investigation by the LAPD on racketeering charges. Nash wasn't charged with anything until 1982. He was acquitted of any charges relating to the Wonderland Murders, but did serve time for the federal racketeering charges. Not once has he ever spoken of the events that occurred on Wonderland Avenue, or of his role as to whether or not he sent people over to the house. Allegedly, he sent his men there to kill the occupants in retaliation for their raiding of his own home the night before and obtaining over a million dollars in cash, drugs, jewels, and guns. Eddie Nash found out that John Holmes had unlocked his kitchen door in order to allow access to Nash's home by the Wonderland Gang. Nash told Holmes that if he (Holmes) didn't lead Nash's men into 8763 Wonderland Avenue, Nash would torture everyone in Holmes' address book, including his wife and mother. Six months after the murders, John Holmes confessed to his then teenaged girlfriend, Dawn Schiller, everything that had occurred that night in explicit detail. Frightened by what she heard, Dawn went to the police in Florida, where they had run to after the murders, and she told the police everything that Holmes had told her about the Wonderland Murders on the night of July 1, 1981. In 1982, Holmes was brought to trial for the Wonderland Murders. Evidence pointed to John Holmes as far as setting up the robbery of Eddie Nash's house and then turning around and leading Nash's men inside the Wonderland house. Even a palm print belonging to Holmes was found in the Wonderland house, suggesting that Holmes took an active part in the murders. But despite all of this, he was acquitted of all charges. To this very day, questions remain in the minds of the Los Angeles Police Department and the two detectives that worked the case as to the extent of Holmes' participation in the Wonderland Murders. Did he participate by taking a threaded lead pipe and deliver some of the killing blows? Or did he simply witness the brutality, as he has confessed to his girlfriend, Dawn? No one will ever know, because the one survivor of that night testified that all she saw were shadows on the wall before she slipped into unconsciousness. And certainly Eddie Nash will never reveal any information he may have about what really happened on July 1, 1981 at 8763 Wonderland Avenue. ------------ About the author: Kaycee Nilson has completed her first novel, "Night Falls on Chicago." The first two chapters can be viewed at http://www.KayceeNilson.com. Besides writing columns for Useless-Knowledge, Kaycee is currently working on two more novels, "From the Mind of a Vampire", and "I'll Love You Til You Die." If you have enjoyed what you read, or would like to leave Kaycee a message, please visit her message board at http://www.KayceeNilson.com/Board Email: Kaycee@kayceenilson.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com. Please link to this article rather than copying and pasting it onto your site (which would be unauthorized and illegal). |
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