The Children of Thunder

  • Helzer Siblings are Born

    Helzer Siblings are Born
    Glenn Tayler Helzer and Justin Alan Helzer were both born in the early 1970s. These two, along with another person, Dawn Godman, were the main figures of the "Children of Thunder."
  • Glenn Helzer's Mormon mission

    Glenn attends a Mormon mission in Brazil in the early 90s. However, the views he gained there were much different from traditional Mormon views. He wanted to defeat Satan because he believed that he was making the Mormon church go in the wrong direction.
  • Glenn is removed from the LDS Church

    Because of his drug usage (and his unorthodox views), Glenn is removed from the LDS Church (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints).
  • Forming of the "Children of Thunder"

    At a murder mystery diner hosted by a Mormon Church, Glenn, his brother Justin, and another woman, Dawn Godman, heard about Glenn's plans in killing people from the Mormon Church. Because of Glenn's status as a self-proclaimed prophet, they believed his words and formed the group known as the "Children of Thunder."
  • Glenn Creates "Transform America"

    Glenn creates a self-help group, "Transform America," and in order to fund it, and his later plans, he decides to sell drugs and have his girlfriend and Dawn pose for Playboy magazine. Also for his church, he made a list of rules known as the "Twelve Principles of Magic" for his followers.
  • Deaths of the Stinemans

    The first victims of the Children of Thunder were an elderly couple, Ivan and Annette Stineman, who were former clients of Transform America. The group forced them to write checks for $100k before being brutally murdered.
  • Death of Selina Bishop

    A few days later, in order to cash in the checks that the Stinemans wrote, Glenn Helzer had his girlfriend, Selina Bishop do it for them. In order for her to not potentially expose them later in the future, Glenn killed her with her own hands.
  • Deaths of Jennifer Villarin and James Gamble

    In order to remove suspicions, Glenn decides to kill Selina's mom, Jennifer Villarin, as well as another man, James Gamble who was a witness to the scene. They were both shot in the head by Glenn, who used Justin's gun. The group all fled in Dawn's car.
  • The Children of Thunder are caught

    Through the investigation that the police were already doing with the prior murders, they were able to connect the killings to the group and arrest them at their house.
  • Trials of the Children of Thunder

    Happening throughout September 2000, each member had different punishments. First, Dawn Godman received a 38-year sentence. As for Justin Helzer, he actually pleaded not guilty because of claims of him having a mental disorder. As for Glenn, he pleaded guilty and was put on death row.
  • Justin Helzer Convicted

    In June of 2004, Justin Helzer was convicted of 5 counts of first-degree murder and was also put on death row along with his brother.
  • Glenn Helzer Death

    After an attempted suicide in his jail cell a few years prior, Glenn Helzer decides to commit suicide by hanging himself in his jail cell.