Glenn Helzer

Glen Taylor Helzer (born July 26, 1970), also known as Jordan Helzer, is an American self-declared prophet and spree killer who founded and led the Children of Thunder, a Mormon cult, until his arrest in 2000. Helzer and his followers murdered five people as part of an extortion plot intended to culminate with Helzer taking over the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and hastening the return of Jesus; among their victims was Selina Bishop, daughter of blues guitarist Elvin Bishop.

Early life Glen Taylor Helzer was born in Lansing, Michigan, on July 26, 1970, to Gerry and Carma Helzer, both devout Mormons. He had a younger sister named Heather and a brother, Justin. A graduate of Ygnacio Valley High School, he served a two-year tour as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in Brazil before serving in the Texas National Guard. He worked as a stock broker for Morgan Stanley Dean Witter until August 1998, when he went on disability after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Helzer married his wife, Ann, in April 1993. They had two daughters before separating in June 1996.

Children of Thunder Helzer and his brother Justin met Dawn Godman on Memorial Day 1999 at a murder mystery dinner hosted by an LDS Church congregation in Walnut Creek, California. Justin and Godman became romantically involved and she moved into a house in Concord with the Helzer brothers the following April.

Helzer was excommunicated from the LDS Church in 1998 due to drug abuse. Helzer had plans to train Brazilian orphans to assassinate LDS Church leaders so that he could take over the church and start a self-help group called Transform America, which was intended to “create a state of peace and joy.” To extort the Stinemans' money, Helzer convinced Bishop to open bank accounts in her name for his use; he told her that he was inheriting a large sum of money, which he needed to hide from his ex-wife. Helzer and Godman then went to Bishop's apartment, where her mother, Jennifer Villarin, was staying; Helzer decided to eliminate Villarin out of fear she could identify him. He murdered Villarin and her friend, James Gamble (who was incidentally at the apartment that night), using a gun registered to Justin.

On August 7, 2000, police arrested Justin and Godman at their Concord home. Helzer fled to a nearby house, where he threatened a woman and demanded money, a gun and a car. He cut off his ponytail and then left through the back door; he was arrested shortly afterward. Glen Helzer pleaded guilty to all charges and was sentenced to death. Justin Helzer pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, with his attorneys claiming that he had a delusional disorder.

Brother's incarceration and death Justin was found guilty and sentenced to death; he was incarcerated at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center. He attempted suicide in 2010 by ramming pens into both his eyeballs. He survived but was left blinded and with brain damage. Justin committed suicide by hanging on April 14, 2013, while incarcerated.