In the early 2000s, Kerissa Fare—known to some as Keri Mendoza—was living a life that many would consider a dream. She had just landed a major career opportunity as Playboy’s September 2000 Playmate of the Month. However, just as her modeling career was flourishing, her past abruptly collided with her present. Her connection to Glenn and Justin Helzer, two brothers later convicted of multiple murders, pulled her into a shocking criminal case that stunned California.
This gripping true story, recently revisited in Investigation Discovery’s series The Playboy Murders: The Centerfold and the Serial Killer, shows how Kerissa’s life took a sudden turn from photo shoots to courtrooms. At NetFilming, we dig deeper into her past, her testimony, and where she is now.
Troubled Childhood and the Beginning of a Dangerous Relationship
Kerissa Fare, born Keri Lynn Furman Mendoza on December 31, 1976, in Orange County, California, had a rocky start in life. Raised primarily without proper adult supervision, she still managed to do well in school, both academically and in sports. She was a cheerleader and track team member at La Sierra High School in Riverside.
However, life took a darker turn when she got into an abusive relationship. This experience made her vulnerable, and in 1998, she met Glenn Taylor Helzer, a man whose confidence and charm quickly drew her in. At the time, Glenn was a former stockbroker with a mysterious personality that intrigued her. Their relationship escalated quickly, and soon, Kerissa moved in with him and his younger brother, Justin Helzer.
Life with the Helzer Brothers
Living with the Helzer brothers, Kerissa believed she had found something special. She described their home as “very loving,” something she hadn’t felt before. However, Glenn was controlling and manipulative—especially toward his brother, Justin. According to Kerissa, Glenn often told Justin, “I am number 1, you are number 2,” while exercising total control over his life.
Glenn believed he had a spiritual calling and developed what he called the “12 Principles of Magic”, a strange manifesto with teachings that disregarded concepts like right and wrong. Kerissa didn’t agree with these beliefs but stayed in the relationship for a while longer.
She claimed Glenn once gave her ecstasy disguised as aspirin, leading to a drug problem. He even took her to Mexico to buy date rape drugs and spoke about plans involving trafficking underage girls from Brazil. These shocking revelations would later become part of her testimony during the trial of the Helzer brothers.
Leaving the Chaos Behind
In early 2000, Kerissa made a life-changing decision. She left the Helzer household and moved to Southern California to pursue a career in modeling. It turned out to be a big step forward—she was soon featured as Playboy’s Playmate of the Month for September 2000.
But shortly after reaching this milestone, she was dragged back into the dark world she had escaped. Police connected her ex-boyfriend Glenn and his brother Justin to the brutal murders of five people, including an elderly couple and Glenn’s then-girlfriend Selina Bishop, along with Selina’s mother and a family friend.
Kerissa had no involvement in the crimes, but because she had lived with the brothers and knew them well, prosecutors asked her to testify in court—an experience that brought back disturbing memories.
Her Testimony and the Trials
In 2004, Kerissa was called to testify at Justin Helzer’s murder trial. He had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, while Glenn had already pleaded guilty. Kerissa missed her initial court date due to a flight issue, but she did appear later that day to give her statement under immunity from prosecution.
During her testimony, Kerissa explained how controlling Glenn had been and how he manipulated Justin under the guise of spiritual leadership. She described how Glenn spoke about his calling from God, his strange beliefs, and criminal ideas he once shared with her.
Her words painted a clearer picture of how the brothers operated as part of a cult-like group they called “Children of Thunder.” The group also included Dawn Godman, Justin’s girlfriend at the time, who later played a direct role in the murders and was sentenced to 38 years in prison after a guilty plea.
The Crimes of Glenn and Justin Helzer
The Helzer brothers, along with Dawn Godman, were responsible for a series of horrifying murders in 2000. Their victims included:
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Ivan and Annette Stineman, an elderly couple who had once been Glenn’s clients
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Selina Bishop, Glenn’s then-girlfriend
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Jennifer Villarin (Selina’s mother) and James Gamble, who were also killed to cover up the crimes
Glenn, the self-proclaimed prophet, wanted to fund his cult’s vision and believed extortion and murder were necessary to achieve that. All three were arrested on August 7, 2000.
Glenn and Justin were later sentenced to death. While Glenn remains on death row at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility, Justin died by suicide in 2013 after a previous failed attempt that left him blind and with brain damage.
Where Is Kerissa Fare Now?
Following the trials, Kerissa Fare retreated from public life. Other than a brief spell of modeling and acting with Playboy, she has preferred to remain out of the public eye. Now, at 48 years old, she is said to be living in Meridian, Idaho, where she appears to enjoy the company of friends and family.
There is no verified public information related to her profession or private life, which further indicates that she is living a more peaceful life away from the public eye due to the traumatic incidents in her life. She has not re-entered the entertainment scene and does not appear in public very often.
At NetFilming, we focus on telling the stories of the crimes; the resilience of people like Kerissa, who find ways of moving forward after going through unimaginable circumstances, is equally important.
Must Read: Glenn & Justin Helzer Now: Inside the Children of Thunder Murders
