Dating back to the 50s, Eddie Nash took his destiny into his own hands by leaving Palestine where he was born and raised for California. He has only $7 to his name but built a fortune of $30 million through business in the nightclub industry, real estate, and drug dealing.
Interestingly, he met with equally shrewd characters one such being John Holmes. The story changes to murder when Holmes likely crosses the notorious Wonderland gang and plans Nash’s robbery.
While they successfully robbed Nash and made away with valuables, many were killed in one of the most gruesome murders leaving the police with the task of finding the identity of the murderer. As a prime suspect, Nash never admitted to committing the murders.
Eddie Nash Fled Palestine to Start a New Life in America
He was born Adel Gharib Nasrallah in Ramallah, Palestine to a wealthy Palestinian family that ran a string of hotel businesses. However, in the 50s, he changed the course of his life by emigrating to the US.
Apparently, His move was due to the loss of the family’s fortune as well as their home caused by the creation of Israel.
He became a Wealthy Man through Shrewd Business
For context, Eddie had only $7 when he came to the US in the 50s but had a vast wealth valued at $30 million by the 70s.
He started as an actor, stuntman and hot dog seller. Nash later added real estate to his growing business. While these are businesses that many use to achieve the American dream, he soon added shady business that many are likely to frown against.
Eddie ventured into nightclub business and dealing in drugs. He had many night clubs and restaurants. Throught this, he grew a wild reputation as a shrewd business man that should not be crossed. Some who visited his nightclubs remember him wearing colourful panties.
Nash Formed a Formidable Friendship with John Holmes
More on his business deals, Nash was a cocaine traffiker that soon got acquitted with people in the adult entertainment industry.
One such men was John Holmes, a man that was renowned for his work in the pornographic industry. In his prime, Holmes starred in many adult films and as his popularity grew, he also developed an expensive cocaine habit that cost him $1500 per day. The addiction worsened and prevented Holmes from work pushing him to stealing and drug dealing too.
Considering a shared interest in shady businesses, Nash and Holmes formed a formidable friendship whereby Holmes stole luggage at LAX and sold to Nash in exchange for drugs. Some sources say Holmes addiction made him indebted to Nash and sometimes even did unthinkable things for the businessman.
Meanwhile, Nash was not the only supplier for Holmes addiction. Holmes was also involved with the Wonderland Gang, a group of drug dealers living on Wonderland avenue who had a reputation as one of the most feared in Los Angeles.
The Friendship Ended After a Robbery
To feed his addiction, Holmes also stole things from the Wonderland gang and sold to Nash. Knowing how wealthy Nash was, the heavily indebted Holmes mentioned how the nightclub owner was ripe for a robbery.
Allegedly, he planned the robbery of Nash’s home but did not participate.
On the ill-fated day, Holmes is said to have visited Nash in the morning to leave a door open for the robbers. he robbers later made it to the house and made Nash beg for his life while carting away with valuables to an amount as high as $1.2 million.
Considering the humiliation of begging for his life, Nash soon figured out Holmes’ role in the robbery. He had him beat up till he confessed the address of the Wonderland gang.
He May have Orchestrated the Wonderland Murder
Few days after the encounter, four people, all connected to the Wonderland gang were brutally murdered at 8763 Wonderland avenue. They are Wiliam Deverell, Ronald Launius, the leader, Joy Miller, and Barbara Richardson.
The brutal murders were done with pipes leaving the victims skulss cracked and crushed. The blood splattered on the walls and ceiling.
While neighbors heard thundering and groaning on the night the Wonderland murders happened, no one ever imagined a crime was happening. One neighbor claimed she thought it was the usual noise from the house and turned up her television to drown the noise.
Due to the brutality, many compare the massacre to the Manson murders.
See Also: Pam Hupp: All There Is To Know About Her Crimes, Murder, And Sentencing
Did he Commit the Wonderland Murders?
After the murders, the police rounded up suspects one of whom was Holmes. Somehow Nash also became involved.
At trial, Holmes was released because the jury was not sure of his involvement.
Yet, Nash became a primary suspect. The police searched Nash’ home and found a huge stash of cocaine. Though he was sentenced to eight years, the drug king was released after two years due to bad health.
In 1990, he was put on trial for the murders but escaped after bribing to have a hung jury. 11 members of the jury voted to have him convicted while one held out.
Despite this, his innocence was in doubt and the government kept coming after him with no success. Though he later confessed to sending cronies to retrieve his properties from the Wonderland gang but never admitted to the murders.
Sadly, he died from emphysema in 2014 making this another case that will be speculated upon.
