The Notorious Wonderland Gang

The Wonderland Gang was a notorious group of drug dealers involved in the Los Angeles cocaine trade during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Their home base was located on Wonderland Avenue in the Laurel Canyon neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. On July 1, 1981, three members of the gang and one associate were brutally murdered in what became known as the Wonderland murders, also referred to as the “Four on the Floor murders” or the “Laurel Canyon murders.”

Primarily engaged in the booming cocaine trade, the Wonderland Gang was one of the most feared and influential drug distributorships of its time in Los Angeles. Despite their power, some members were heroin addicts, and drugs were frequently dealt from their residence at 8763 Wonderland Avenue. The house, a two-bedroom split-level home, was leased in the name of Joy Miller, who lived there with her boyfriend, Billy DeVerell. Ron Launius and his wife, Susan, were staying there as house guests.

David Lind, originally from Sacramento, came to Los Angeles in the summer of 1981 at Launius’ request to help with their expanding drug business. Lind and Launius had become friends while serving time in prison and had agreed to work together upon their release. Lind and his girlfriend, Barbara Richardson, rode down to the Wonderland house on his motorcycle and often slept on the living room sofa. Another frequent visitor…