Ronald
Lee
(Ron)
Launius
Born in Shawneetown, Gallatin, Illinois, United States
[uncertain]
Ancestors [uncertain]
Son of Arlin Launius
and [private mother (1920s - unknown)]
[sibling(s) unknown]
Husband of
Fay Blanche (Wetzel) Ragsdale
— married
[date unknown] (to May 1970) [location unknown]
[children unknown]
Died
at age 37
in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States
Profile last modified
| Created 21 Jun 2018
This page has been accessed 3,141 times.
Biography
Ringleader of the Wonderland Gang, a group of drug dealers and thieves operating out of L.A.'s Laurel Canyon section. In 1981, after robbing L.A. businessman/gangster Eddie Nash (with the help of pornographic actor John Holmes) Launius and his associates were found brutally beaten to death in their home on Wonderland Avenue.[1][2][3]
Sources
- ↑ "California Death Index, 1940-1997," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VGBK-LGT : 26 November 2014), Ronald Lee Launius, 01 Jul 1981; Department of Public Health Services, Sacramento.
- ↑ "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V9Y9-6PR : 19 May 2014), Ronnie Launius, Jul 1981; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
- ↑ Find A Grave, database and images (accessed 27 November 2019), memorial page for Ronnie L. Launius (18 May 1944–1 Jul 1981), Find A Grave: Memorial #29045828, citing Lodi Memorial Park and Cemetery, Lodi, San Joaquin County, California, USA ; Maintained by HalfBloodPrincess (contributor 46529909) .
See Also
- "Nevada Marriage Index, 1956-2005", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VVDM-R71 : 20 September 2019), Ronnie L Launius and Susan A Murphy, 4.
- UPI (July 7 1981). "Mother blames Agent Orange for late son's problems".
- The Story Of The Gruesome And Still Unsolved Wonderland Murders
Other associates of the Wonderland Gang:
- Billy DeVerell, died July 1, 1981.
- Joy Miller (DeVerell's girlfriend), died July 1, 1981.
- Barbara Richardson (Lind's girlfriend), died July 1, 1981.
- Tracy McCourt, died 2006.
- David Lind, died 1995.
Is Ron your relative? Please don't go away!
Login to collaborate or comment, or
contact
the profile manager, or
ask our community of genealogists a question.
Login to collaborate or comment, or contact
the profile manager, or ask our community of genealogists a question.
Sponsored Search by Ancestry.com
DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Ron:
It may be possible to confirm family relationships. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Ron:
-
~0.78%
Jared Olson
:
23andMe
+
AncestryDNA
-
~0.78%
James Olson :
23andMe
Images: 1
Comments
Leave a message for others who see this profile.
There are no comments yet.
Login to post a comment.
Featured Asian and Pacific Islander connections: Ron is 28 degrees from 今上 天皇, 22 degrees from Adrienne Clarkson, 22 degrees from Dwight Heine, 24 degrees from Dwayne Johnson, 24 degrees from Tupua Tamasese Lealofioaana, 16 degrees from Stacey Milbern, 23 degrees from Sono Osato, 33 degrees from 乾隆 愛新覺羅, 21 degrees from Ravi Shankar, 27 degrees from Taika Waititi, 27 degrees from Penny Wong and 14 degrees from Chang Bunker on our single family tree. Login to see how you relate to 33 million family members.
L > Launius > Ronald Lee Launius
Categories: Lodi Memorial Park and Cemetery, Lodi, California | Gangsters | Criminals | United States Air Force | Murder Victims