In the summer of 2000, a trio of killers terrorized the San Francisco Bay Area with a string of bizarre, religiously motivated murders. Their goal? To rid the world of “evil” and usher in a new holy order.
They called themselves The Children of Thunder, and they believed they were chosen by God to cleanse society.
At the center of it all was Glenn Helzer, a former Mormon missionary turned self-declared prophet. He claimed to receive direct revelations from God—and that through murder, extortion, and manipulation, he would prepare the world for a coming apocalypse.
What followed was a horrifying blend of cult delusion, calculated violence, and divine justification.
The Prophet and His Vision
Glenn Taylor Helzer was once a clean-cut, well-liked member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But after being excommunicated and diagnosed with bipolar disorder, his spiritual beliefs twisted into a dangerous new form.
He proclaimed himself the “chosen son” and began recruiting followers—starting with his younger brother Justin Helzer and girlfriend Dawn Godman.
They believed they were destined to usher in a new world by forming a self-help movement called “Transform America.” But first, they needed funding. And to get it, they would kill in the name of righteousness.
The Victims
Their plan began with Ivan and Annette Stineman, an elderly couple who knew Glenn through a former job. Glenn convinced them to hand over their financial information under the guise of helping his cause.
He then drugged them, forced them to write checks, and ultimately murdered them. Their dismembered remains were placed in duffel bags and dumped into the Sacramento Delta.
But the carnage didn’t stop there.
The trio also killed Selena Bishop, daughter of blues guitarist Elvin Bishop. Selena was Glenn’s girlfriend at the time—unaware of his true identity or motives. Glenn murdered her to eliminate a witness and then killed her mother and a friend when they began asking questions.
In just a few days, five innocent people were brutally slain—all as part of a divine plan that only Glenn seemed to understand.
The Arrest and Trial
The killers were eventually caught after one of the bags containing human remains surfaced. Inside were identifying materials, leading police back to the Helzers.
What emerged during the investigation was chilling: a manifesto titled “The Twelve Principles of Magic,” outlining Glenn’s plan to transform America through violence, deception, and spiritual cleansing.
All three were arrested. Glenn was sentenced to death. Dawn Godman received 25 years to life. Justin Helzer, who had become deeply mentally ill, took his own life in prison in 2013.
The Children of Thunder believed they were chosen by a higher power. But in the end, they were nothing more than murderers using scripture as a mask.
Their killings were not random—they were sacrifices, in a warped theology crafted by a madman with charisma and conviction.
And when faith becomes a weapon, no one—not even the devout—is safe.
Want to explore the shadows even deeper?
Click here to read about the Helzer trial, or click here to explore how charismatic delusions fuel cult violence.
For more chilling cases like this, visit SinisterArchive.com—where the legends are real.
