You are an incredible survivor!!!!!!!!!!! I have watched wonderland HUNDREDS of times and finally decided to try and find you! I have over 10 years sober, am married and have 2 beautiful children. I am a FORMER addict and I just wanted to thank YOU for allowing the public to see that you can GO THRU ABSOLUTE HELL and come out better than ever!!!! I will continue watching wonderland….with respect for everyone who died…they are/wer people TOO, not just addicts.

Thanks Dawn!

I noticed that you made two responses in relation to statutory rape. This really isn’t the forum to address this issue and I suggest you have a look on some legal sites to address your questions. In the meantime, read on….

Most young girls at that age, are co-erced into sex and therefore believe (rightly or wrongly), that they, themselves are also to blame and therefore remain silent about the union.

Also the Police were after bigger fish at the time, and although you raise a fair question about Dawns age, I would almost guarantee that Dawn lied about her age to the Police. She was running on pure energy at the time and had been subjected to the worst sort of manipulation, to the point where she could not exist without Johns support. She would hardly have “dobbed” him into the Police. Also consider the fact, that the Police were probably dealing with massive numbers of unsolved crime and poor Police numbers and would hardly have the time to deal with a drug affected teen.

You need to put things into prospective here.

Also, consider the fact, that all those years ago, that the Police actually would have cared about such a crime in the first instance. I think not.

Consider the whole thing rationally and it will all make perfect sense.

Apart from that, visit some sites on the law that deals with these issues and stop making Dawn stand trial for something she had no control over.

I just wanted to add…

Val Kilmar did a wonderful job on showing exactly how you were manipulated by John.
I think that most women have met men like this. They are charming and intoxicating, but have a side to them that never quite rings true.

I think this is why you have so many supporters. You are not a victim but a survivor.
You were only 15 at the time and I think that any young girl would have willingly gone anywhere with this man.

I applaud Val for portrayal of this person. He obviously is a method actor ( as also seen in his portrayal of Jim Morrison in the Doors movie ). This was an excellent choice. The other actors that played the Wonderland characters, including David Lind, gave an impression that these were indeed dangerous characters and not to be taken lightly.

I am not sure, but I believe that John loved you enough, not to involve you with these people. If I am wrong about this, then I am sincerely sorry. Whatever his motives at the time (and I’m sure we will never know), it saved your life. I remember seeing the bits in the movie where you were basically abandoned for days on end and through your addiction were a prisoner within the confines of your own space. No one was more aware of this, than John, who used it to his full advantage.

I also think that most people are fascinated by the fact, that through everything that happened to you, that you managed to go on and live a relatively normal life (assumption). You are a testament on how strong women are and how you have managed to cope for all these years. I tip my hat to you.

Jane

Wanted to take the opportunity to comment on the Wonderland Movie.

I have watched this movie several times over the years. The actors in this movie are chilling to watch. I loved the scene where (you), get picked up in the park by a concerned citizen and subsequently go back to their home and are trying to get in touch with John. I don’t know how accurate this scene is compared to real life, but I think it gave an accurate concept of how transient your life was at that time.

John Holmes was an interesting individual and still has a hold on the public today. I don’t wish to say anything nasty about this person as I am sure we all have our own thoughts and ideas about who we think this man was. I will say this though. He had the “gift” of the “gab”, could “sell ice the Eskimos”, and you have to admire that. I don’t admire what he did with this gift, but he had it none the less. I also like his “Brass” in that he used to take luggage from the Airport. I bet he never ever got caught. Very clever.

As for the Movie. It’s in my top 5.

I MUST get a copy of your book.
All the best
Jane

the movie is captivating and ironically addicting in it’s own right. i was curious as to how true the events in the movie were as “based on real events” is typically a loose term on Hollywood.

i commend the work you’ve done on the film and even more so for being able to relive those memories over and over again.