Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 3, Nos. 2 &3, 2004, Page 163
before stuffing them in gym bags and dumping them into the Sacramento-San Joaquin River
Delta. Glenn Helzer earlier pleaded guilty to the crimes.
The roommate testified that Glenn Helzer led the kidnapping of the murdered couple, for
whom he once acted as stockbroker, in order to extort $100,000 from them to finance his
money-making schemes. These included a prostitution ring that would use sex with
underage girls to blackmail stockbrokers, and an orphanage in Brazil — where he was once
a Mormon missionary — that would train children to kill Mormon leaders in Utah so he could
become the Mormon ―prophet.‖ This was allegedly part of wider scheme to prepare for the
Second Coming of Christ.
In the coming ―sanity‖ phase of the proceedings, Justin Helzer‘s attorneys will have to prove
that a mental disorder rendered him incapable of knowing right from wrong. One of his
attorneys will argue that brother Glenn may have altered Justin‘s personality during secret
Children of Thunder sessions. (Demian Bulwa, San Francisco Chronicle, Internet, 6/17/04
Matt Krupnick, Contra Costa Times, Internet, 6/17/04)
Psychiatrist Says Helzer Mentally Unsound
Psychiatrist Dr. Stephen Raffle has now testified that Justin Helzer suffered from a ―shared
delusional disorder,‖ a very rare condition that occurs ―in the context of a close personal
relationship with someone [his brother Glenn Helzer] who already has an established
disorder.‖ The illness, Raffle said, would have rendered Justin unable to distinguish right
from wrong at the time of the murders. Defense attorney Charles Hoehn said the condition
stemmed from Justin‘s fear that he might otherwise lose his connection to Glenn Justin
believed his brother communicated with God. (Simon Read, Tri-Valley Herald, Internet,
6/29/04)
Prophet Accused of Murders Aimed to Take Over Mormon Church
Self-proclaimed prophet Glenn Taylor Helzer, 33, has pleaded guilty to masterminding
five murders in 2000. His roommate and admitted accomplice Dawn Godman said at the
trial of Helzer‘s brother Justin, in Contra Costa, CA, that the murders were part of a wider
scheme including a plan to use adopted Brazilian orphans who would, when they became
teenagers, kill leaders of the Mormon Church in Utah, which would then accept Helzer as its
head.
Godman told the court that Glen, who broke away from the Mormon Church some time ago,
believed he was fulfilling a prophecy from the Book of Mormon.
The trial focused on Glenn‘s charisma and alleged psychological control over his followers.
Godman recounted her troubled past, and told how joining the Mormon Church had given
her purpose in life. She met Glen at a church social in 1999 and came, like Justin, to believe
he was a prophet, an idea Glenn encouraged.
She testified that the three went to a Mormon temple in Oakland where Glenn laid out his
plan, which included defeating Satan and killing innocent people along the way. She though
it ―a great opportunity and a blessing ...to be part of this mission.‖ She never again
questioned Glenn, even as she committed murder. She says that long after her arrest she
believed Glen was ―working with the angels to free her for God‘s work.‖
―My breaking away from Taylor Helzer has been a continuous process for the last four years.
It‘s gone back and forth. It‘s been a struggle.‖ Regarding her belief that he is a prophet, the
prosecutor asked: ―You‘re still not sure, are you?‖ She replied: ―At times, no.‖ (Demian
Bulwa, San Francisco Chronicle, Internet, 6/2/04)
before stuffing them in gym bags and dumping them into the Sacramento-San Joaquin River
Delta. Glenn Helzer earlier pleaded guilty to the crimes.
The roommate testified that Glenn Helzer led the kidnapping of the murdered couple, for
whom he once acted as stockbroker, in order to extort $100,000 from them to finance his
money-making schemes. These included a prostitution ring that would use sex with
underage girls to blackmail stockbrokers, and an orphanage in Brazil — where he was once
a Mormon missionary — that would train children to kill Mormon leaders in Utah so he could
become the Mormon ―prophet.‖ This was allegedly part of wider scheme to prepare for the
Second Coming of Christ.
In the coming ―sanity‖ phase of the proceedings, Justin Helzer‘s attorneys will have to prove
that a mental disorder rendered him incapable of knowing right from wrong. One of his
attorneys will argue that brother Glenn may have altered Justin‘s personality during secret
Children of Thunder sessions. (Demian Bulwa, San Francisco Chronicle, Internet, 6/17/04
Matt Krupnick, Contra Costa Times, Internet, 6/17/04)
Psychiatrist Says Helzer Mentally Unsound
Psychiatrist Dr. Stephen Raffle has now testified that Justin Helzer suffered from a ―shared
delusional disorder,‖ a very rare condition that occurs ―in the context of a close personal
relationship with someone [his brother Glenn Helzer] who already has an established
disorder.‖ The illness, Raffle said, would have rendered Justin unable to distinguish right
from wrong at the time of the murders. Defense attorney Charles Hoehn said the condition
stemmed from Justin‘s fear that he might otherwise lose his connection to Glenn Justin
believed his brother communicated with God. (Simon Read, Tri-Valley Herald, Internet,
6/29/04)
Prophet Accused of Murders Aimed to Take Over Mormon Church
Self-proclaimed prophet Glenn Taylor Helzer, 33, has pleaded guilty to masterminding
five murders in 2000. His roommate and admitted accomplice Dawn Godman said at the
trial of Helzer‘s brother Justin, in Contra Costa, CA, that the murders were part of a wider
scheme including a plan to use adopted Brazilian orphans who would, when they became
teenagers, kill leaders of the Mormon Church in Utah, which would then accept Helzer as its
head.
Godman told the court that Glen, who broke away from the Mormon Church some time ago,
believed he was fulfilling a prophecy from the Book of Mormon.
The trial focused on Glenn‘s charisma and alleged psychological control over his followers.
Godman recounted her troubled past, and told how joining the Mormon Church had given
her purpose in life. She met Glen at a church social in 1999 and came, like Justin, to believe
he was a prophet, an idea Glenn encouraged.
She testified that the three went to a Mormon temple in Oakland where Glenn laid out his
plan, which included defeating Satan and killing innocent people along the way. She though
it ―a great opportunity and a blessing ...to be part of this mission.‖ She never again
questioned Glenn, even as she committed murder. She says that long after her arrest she
believed Glen was ―working with the angels to free her for God‘s work.‖
―My breaking away from Taylor Helzer has been a continuous process for the last four years.
It‘s gone back and forth. It‘s been a struggle.‖ Regarding her belief that he is a prophet, the
prosecutor asked: ―You‘re still not sure, are you?‖ She replied: ―At times, no.‖ (Demian
Bulwa, San Francisco Chronicle, Internet, 6/2/04)
