Selina Bishop was a 22-year-old waitress and the daughter of blues guitarist Elvin Bishop, and she was one of five people killed in August 2000 in what became known as the Children of Thunder murders. Her boyfriend, former stockbroker Glenn Taylor Helzer, had begun dating her three months earlier for the sole purpose of using her bank accounts to launder money extorted from an elderly couple, then killing her to erase the trail. Her dismembered remains were pulled from the Mokelumne River in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta on August 7, 2000.
Who Selina Bishop Was
Bishop lived alone in a studio apartment in Woodacre, a small community in western Marin County, California. She had moved from Pennsylvania and spent about eight months waiting tables at the Two Bird Cafe in rural Marin County. Friends described her as sensible and energetic.
She was close to her father. She regularly attended Elvin Bishop’s concerts and babysat his younger daughter from a second marriage. A family friend told the Los Angeles Times, “Elvin really loved Selina. They had a wonderful relationship.”1Los Angeles Times. Dismembered Bodies Identified
How She Met Glenn Taylor Helzer
In May 2000, Bishop began dating a 30-year-old man who introduced himself to her mother as “Jordan.”2People. Helzer Brothers: Stockbroker Turned Cult Killer His real name was Glenn Taylor Helzer, and he had recently been a financial advisor at a Morgan Stanley branch in Concord, California.
Friends said Bishop became infatuated with him but seemed uncertain about the relationship, once telling a friend, “I don’t know why I even go out with him.”1Los Angeles Times. Dismembered Bodies Identified What she did not know was that Helzer had chosen her because she was young, trusting, and unconnected to the Concord clients he intended to rob. From the first date, she was part of a plan that ended with her death.
The Children of Thunder Group
Helzer led a three-person group he called the Children of Thunder, made up of himself, his younger brother Justin Helzer, and their roommate Dawn Godman. The three moved into a rental house on Saddlewood Court in Concord in April 2000.3SFGate. Killer Lays Out Grisly Details Both brothers had been excommunicated from the Mormon Church in 1998 for drug use.4SFGate. Details of Bizarre Plot to Kill
Glenn Helzer styled himself as a prophet. He said he was raising money for a self-help organization called Transform America, which he claimed would “defeat Satan” and hasten the second coming of Jesus Christ. He also talked about eventually taking over the Mormon Church by training Brazilian orphans to assassinate its leaders so he could install himself as prophet.5SFGate. Justin Helzer Hangs Himself in Prison
He dominated the group. He told his brother, “I’m No. 1, and you’re No. 2.” Godman, who had come to the group while struggling with a methamphetamine addiction and a failed marriage, later testified that Helzer required those around him to attend self-awareness classes meant to “break down people’s walls.” After two levels of the program she was convinced he was a genuine prophet, and she still believed after her arrest that he would “work with the angels” to free them.4SFGate. Details of Bizarre Plot to Kill
The Extortion Plot
To fund his plans, Helzer drew up a list of five former brokerage clients with account balances of at least $100,000.6Stanford Supreme Court of California Resources. People v. Helzer The scheme was to kidnap a wealthy client, force them to sign over their money, kill them, and then eliminate anyone who could connect him to the crime.
Bishop’s assigned role, though she never understood it, was to move the money. Helzer told her he expected to inherit between $100,000 and $125,000 and wanted to keep it away from his ex-wife during divorce proceedings. He had her open accounts at California Federal in San Anselmo and agreed to give her a 20 percent cut for depositing the funds $25,000 at a time. Investigators found no evidence Bishop knew the money came from a crime. Friends described her as “very naive” and said Helzer had manipulated her with promises of money and devotion.7SFGate. Victim’s Mystery Bank Account
The Murders of the Stinemans and Selina Bishop
The first name on Helzer’s list was not home on July 30, 2000. The brothers moved to the second: Ivan Stineman, 85, and his wife Annette, 78, a retired couple in Concord who had spoken of Glenn fondly.3SFGate. Killer Lays Out Grisly Details Wearing business suits and carrying a briefcase with handcuffs, a gun, a blowtorch, and a Taser, the brothers took the couple captive and drove them to the Saddlewood Court house.6Stanford Supreme Court of California Resources. People v. Helzer
Over the next day, the Stinemans were forced to swallow Rohypnol and sign checks totaling $100,000 made out to Selina Bishop. When Annette Stineman fell asleep, her captors forced her to smoke crystal methamphetamine so she could stay awake long enough to sign. On July 31, 2000, after failing to suffocate the couple, Glenn Helzer slit Annette Stineman’s throat while Justin Helzer smashed Ivan Stineman’s head against the floor.3SFGate. Killer Lays Out Grisly Details
On August 1, 2000, Godman took the Stineman checks to deposit them into Bishop’s account. The following day, August 2, Bishop came to the Saddlewood Court house. While Glenn held her attention in the living room, Justin came up behind her with a hammer and struck her repeatedly on the head. The brothers moved her to the bathroom, where Glenn cut her throat with a hunting knife.6Stanford Supreme Court of California Resources. People v. Helzer
The Killings of Jennifer Villarin and James Gamble
Bishop’s mother, Jennifer Villarin, 45, had met “Jordan” and could connect him to her missing daughter. Early on August 3, 2000, at around 5:00 a.m., Glenn Helzer and Godman went to Bishop’s Woodacre apartment, where Villarin was staying with her companion, James Gamble, 54. Both were shot to death in their sleep. Villarin was shot twice in the face; Gamble was shot five times, including once through the chest.6Stanford Supreme Court of California Resources. People v. Helzer8SFGate. Body Parts Identified
How the Bodies Were Discovered
Back at the Concord house, the group dismembered the bodies of Bishop and the Stinemans and removed their teeth and jaws to prevent identification. The remains were packed into duffel bags and dropped into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta from a Jet Ski.6Stanford Supreme Court of California Resources. People v. Helzer
On August 7, 2000, the marina manager at Willow Berm Marina near Isleton found the first bag. More surfaced over the next several days, and divers recovered still more. In total, at least nine duffel bags containing human remains were pulled from the Mokelumne River.9SFGate. Search Widens as Ninth Duffel Bag Found Authorities confirmed the identities of Bishop and the Stinemans on August 9, 2000.10ABC News. Body Parts Identified
What Happened to the Killers
All three were arrested in August 2000 and held without bail. Glenn Helzer pleaded guilty to five counts of murder along with conspiracy, kidnapping, extortion, robbery, burglary, and other charges.11Findlaw. People v. Helzer, S132256 At the penalty phase, prosecutor Harold Jewett called him a “psychopath and religious extremist” who was “not delusional, just depraved.”12SFGate. Verdict for Helzer: Five Death Sentences On December 17, 2004, the jury recommended five death sentences. Superior Court Judge Mary Ann O’Malley formally imposed them on March 11, 2005.13Newstimes. Brothers Get the Death Penalty
Justin Helzer went to trial. His attorneys argued he suffered from dependent personality disorder and was legally insane, having believed his brother was a prophet of God.14Recordnet. Insanity Phase Begins in Triple Murder Case On June 16, 2004, the jury convicted him on five counts of first-degree murder, and on July 15, 2004, rejected the insanity defense.15East Bay Times. Helzer Found Legally Sane, Could Face Execution He was sentenced to death for the murders of Bishop and the Stinemans, and to life without parole for the killings of Villarin and Gamble. On April 14, 2013, he was found dead in his single cell at San Quentin State Prison, having hanged himself with a bedsheet at age 41.5SFGate. Justin Helzer Hangs Himself in Prison
Dawn Godman pleaded guilty to 18 counts in exchange for testifying against both brothers, avoiding the death penalty.16SF Chronicle. Martinez Woman Apologizes for Aiding Murders On May 2, 2005, Judge O’Malley sentenced her to 25 years to life for the murders plus 12 years and eight months for robbery, kidnapping, and drug possession, running consecutively for more than 37 years.17East Bay Times. Final Defendant in Five Slayings Sentenced She had her first parole suitability hearing on January 16, 2025, and was denied parole for three years.18California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Hearing Results – January 2025
Glenn Helzer’s automatic appeal was decided by the California Supreme Court on January 22, 2024, in a unanimous opinion by Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero affirming the death judgment.19SF Chronicle. Glenn Helzer Death Sentence Upheld20Marin Independent Journal. Ringleader in Marin, East Bay Murders Loses Death Penalty Appeal The U.S. Supreme Court denied his petition for a writ of certiorari on October 7, 2024, in case No. 23-7295, and a state habeas corpus petition is still pending.21Supreme Court of the United States. Docket No. 23-729522Supreme Court of the United States. Petition for Writ of Certiorari As of March 2026, Glenn Helzer, 55, remains on California’s death row.23California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Condemned Inmate List California has been under a moratorium on executions since Governor Gavin Newsom declared one in 2019.