John Holmes, The Porn Film Star Who Died Reportedly... - UPI Archives

LOS ANGELES -- John Holmes, the porn film star who died reportedly of AIDS, told a biographer that he did not know the killers who battered four people to death in Laurel Canyon in an unsolved mass murder of which he was acquitted, it was reported today.

Holmes told an author writing his biography that he was held at gunpoint in the hours before the grisly 1981 slayings and never knew the identity of the killers, sources who said they had seen the manuscript told the Los Angeles Times.

Holmes died early Sunday at Veteran's Hospital in Sepulveda. The hospital did not announce the cause of death, and the coroner's office said no autopsy was planned because the death was not suspicious. Holmes's second wife, Laurie, said he died of pneumonia brought on by AIDS.

Holmes's wife told the Times AIDS test results were negative when her husband was first tested for the virus in 1985. A year later, she said, he tested positive.

During that year, Holmes made half a dozen porn films.

'It's my belief that AIDS is running rapidly through the adult entertainment business,' his wife said.

Shortly before his death, Los Angeles police re-interviewed Holmes about the Laurel Canyon killings.

The Times said Holmes, who never testified during his trial, either was unable to answer questions or refused to do so. In extensive interviews with the author of his unpublished biography, however, Holmes disputed the police version of his involvement.

Prosecutors alleged Holmes was present at the killings, which were believed to be drug-related, and that he participated directly in at least one of the slayings.

In his conversations with his biographer, Holmes denied knowing the identity of the killers.

'John was held at gunpoint at the home of one of the figures who has been mentioned in connection with the Laurel Canyon murders for several hours ... prior to the killings on the date of the murders,' the source told the Times.

'After he was released from being held at gunpoint, he went to the ... house and he discovered the bodies,' the source said.

Attorneys James M. Eisenman and William D. Klibanow, who represent Laurie Holmes and her husband's estate, told the Times that a biography has been offered to several publishing houses but theattorneys declined to discuss its contents.

Prosecutors have said the Laurel Canyon massacre victims committed burglaries and gave stolen property to Holmes, who turned it over to Eddie Nash, a nightclub owner and convicted drug dealer, in exchange for the drugs on which he was dependent.

When Nash allegedly discovered that Holmes had set up a robbery at Nash's home, prosecutors said he had Holmes lead the killers to the Laurel Canyon house where the victims were bludgeoned to death. A fifth person was badly maimed but survived.

The jury found insufficient evidence to support prosecutors' allegation, and acquitted Holmes.

Police refused Monday to release any information on their recent interviews with Holmes. The sickbed questioning was believed to have been prompted by the emergence of a new witness in the case.

Holmes spent 111 days in jail in 1982 on contempt charges for refusing to identify the killers -- saying he feared retribution against himself and his family -- until he finally agreed to appear before a grand jury. His testimony has never been made public.

Police say Nash and his bodyguard, Gregory Diles, are still suspects in the murder case.