In the summer of 2000, the all-American calm town of Concord in California was rocked by two brothers’ horrific murders with their accomplice. Investigation Discovery’s “The Playboy Murders: The Centerfold and the Serial Killer” dives deep, revealing the calamitous motives and crimes of Glenn Taylor Helzer and his brother Justin Helzer while focusing on the tragic murder of Selina Bishop. Let’s find out who these brothers were, the shocking crimes they committed, and uncover their disturbingly self-deluded cult with the name ‘Children of Thunder’ founded alongside their outrageous claims.
The Helzer Brothers: A Devout Beginning
Glenn Taylor Helzer (Born on 26 July 1970) and Justin Alan Helzer (Born on 12 February 1972) were raised in a devout Mormon family with a sister. Their father, Gerry, and mother, Carma, emphasize the importance of religion, family, and morals. The latter part of Glenn’s life includes a phase where he worked as a Mormon missionary in Brazil and subsequently settled as a stockbroker for Morgan Stanley Dean Witter. Justin was depicted as soft-spoken and gentle in nature. To many, his life seemed simple; but his dietary choices and preference for meditative practices paint a slightly more complex picture. Ultimately, however, he shattered the image of a normal upbringing.
In 1998, Glenn’s life drastically changed. Going through a midlife crisis of sorts, Glenn was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, leading him to go on disability leave from work and later face excommunication from the Mormon Church (due to alleged drug abuse). This dismissal only worsened his delusional state. He declared himself a prophet, claiming divine visions, and created a manifesto called the “Twelve Principles of Magic.” What is the most terrifying principle? “There is no such thing as right and wrong.” Glenn’s charisma was magnetic, and he quickly drew followers, starting with his younger brother Justin, who believed Glenn spoke for God.
The Children of Thunder: A Cult with Deadly Plans
By 1999, Glenn had formed a small cult called the Children of Thunder, with Justin and Justin’s girlfriend, Dawn Godman, as his devoted followers. Glenn’s grandiose schemes included “Transform America,” a plan to overthrow the Mormon Church by assassinating its leaders and replacing them with himself. He believed this would usher in a new era of “peace and joy.” To fund this, he planned to extort money, traffic Brazilian orphans, and even start a self-help group. But these wild ideas needed cash, and that’s where the Helzers’ crimes began.
Glenn targeted Ivan and Annette Stineman, an elderly couple from Concord who were former clients from his stockbroker days. He knew they had wealth, making them perfect targets for extortion. On July 30, 2000, Glenn, Justin, and Dawn kidnapped the Stinemans, forced them to write checks totaling $100,000, and drugged them with Rohypnol. Then, in a horrifying act, Glenn slit Annette’s throat, and Ivan was beaten to death. The brothers dismembered their bodies and dumped the remains in duffel bags in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.
The Tragic Murder of Selina Bishop
The Helzers’ crimes didn’t stop there. Glenn, using the alias “Jordan,” began dating Selina Bishop, a young woman unaware of his true identity. He manipulated her into opening bank accounts to launder the Stinemans’ extorted money, claiming it was an inheritance to avoid his ex-wife. Selina, the daughter of blues guitarist Elvin Bishop, trusted Glenn completely. But on August 2, 2000, fearing she might talk, Glenn bludgeoned Selina to death. Like the Stinemans, her body was dismembered and discarded in the Delta.
The violence continued. The next day, Glenn, Justin, and Dawn went to Selina’s apartment to destroy evidence. There, they encountered Selina’s mother, Jennifer Villarin, and her friend James Gamble. To eliminate witnesses, Glenn shot them both with a gun registered to Justin. Five lives were taken in just a few days, all to protect Glenn’s delusional vision.
The Playboy Connection: Keri Mendoza’s Role
The Playboy Murders episode showcases a more tenuous connection to the Playboy brand via Keri Mendoza, Glenn’s girlfriend from 1998 to 2000, who posed for Playboy under the name Kerissa Fare. Keri shared the details of her encounter with a man who, in her words, was very controlling. She detailed how he funded her drug-fueled modeling career, which included ecstasy, and later convinced her to undergo breast implants. Keri depicted a man who, in my view, was deeply manipulative and, in fact, used several people to achieve his goals, including Justin, who was described as childlike and easily manipulated. Although Selina Bishop didn’t model for Playboy, Keri’s connection to the case brings it back to the show’s exploration of crimes associated with the world of Playboy—specifically its glitzy side.
How the Helzers Were Caught
The Helzers’ spree ended quickly. On August 7, 2000, police arrested Glenn, Justin, and Dawn after divers found nine duffel bags containing the dismembered remains of Selina, Ivan, and Annette in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. Key evidence sealed their fate: a note from Ivan Stineman mentioning Glenn, fingerprints in the Stinemans’ van, and witness descriptions of the brothers’ vehicle. Glenn tried to evade capture by cutting off his ponytail and threatening a neighbor, but it was too late.
Trials and Consequences
The legal outcomes for the Children of Thunder members varied:
- Dawn Godman: In 2003, Dawn took a plea deal, testifying against the Helzers for a reduced sentence. She received 25 years for murder plus 12⅔ years for related charges, totaling 38 years to life, with parole possible after 35 years. She remains in prison.
- Glenn Taylor Helzer: In 2004, Glenn pleaded guilty to 18 felony charges, including five counts of murder, hoping to avoid the death penalty. A jury disagreed, sentencing him to death in 2005. Now 54, he’s on death row at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, California. His 2008 appeal was denied by the California Supreme Court in January 2024.
- Justin Helzer: Justin pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, arguing he was under Glenn’s spell, believing him a prophet. Despite testimony about his vulnerable nature, a jury convicted him of five murders in 2004, and he was sentenced to death. In 2010, Justin, who was struggling in San Quentin State Prison, tried to end his life by forcing pens into his eyes, which left him blind and brain damaged. On April 14, 2013, at age 41, he died by suicide, hanging himself in his cell.
Where Are They Now?
Given the severity of his crimes, Glenn Helzer continues to remain on death row. Justin’s death in 2013 marked the heartbreaking conclusion to a disturbing narrative, but the suffering for the victims’ relatives will endure forever. Dawn Godman, who hasn’t been exonerated despite being the last alive from the trio, is still incarcerated and continues to dampen her sentence with an ever-so-slight possibility of early release. This case continues to serve its purpose as an unexplainable monologue illustrating the terrible extent of violence vying with humor and softened, misguided fantasies.
What do you think drove Glenn to such extremes? Share your thoughts, and let’s keep the conversation going!
Must Read: Susan Winters Murder: Unraveling the Truth Behind a Tragic Death
