10/16/2025
They called themselves the Children of Thunder, but their path was soaked in lies, murder, and delusion.
Glen Taylor Helzer was born in Lansing, Michigan in 1970 and raised in a devout Mormon household. He worked as a stockbroker before being diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Somewhere along the line, he declared himself a prophet.
By 1999, Glen and his brother Justin met Dawn Godman at a church event. She moved in with them, and together they conceived a twisted plan filled with faith and violence. Glen claimed his mission was to take over the LDS Church, hasten Christ’s return, and overthrow religious authority.
He wrote his own creed called “The Twelve Principles of Magic” and recruited followers who believed in his spiritual power.
Then came the crimes. To fund his so-called mission, Glen targeted one of his former clients, the elderly Stinemans in Concord, California. On July 30, 2000, he and his followers kidnapped Ivan and Annette, forced them to sign checks, and murdered them soon after.
Days later, Glen turned on more victims to cover his tracks. He killed Selina Bishop, his girlfriend who had learned too much. He then murdered Jennifer Villarin, Bishop’s mother, and her friend James Gamble after they became suspicious of him.
Police eventually found duffel bags dumped in the Sacramento River Delta containing dismembered human remains. Justin, Glen, and Dawn were all arrested. Dawn agreed to testify against the brothers in exchange for a plea deal.
In court, Glen pleaded guilty to all charges and received the death penalty. Justin was also found guilty but was declared mentally ill and placed on death row. In 2013, he died by su***de in prison.
The Children of Thunder built their cult on promises of cosmic power and divine purpose. What they left behind were five victims, broken families, and a legacy of horror.
They were never supernatural. Just human monsters blinded by their own delusions.
| 🎙 True crime + horror, follow for more.
