California Supreme Court Affirms Death Penalty for Man Convicted in Murder Spree

The Case of Glenn Taylor Helzer

The California Supreme Court has recently upheld the death penalty for Glenn Taylor Helzer, who was convicted for his involvement in a chilling murder spree across Marin and Contra Costa counties. Helzer, a self-proclaimed prophet and the leader of a religious group called “the Children of Thunder,” orchestrated the murders of five individuals in 2000 to cover up an extortion plot.

Helzer’s brother, Justin, who pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, was also sentenced to death for his participation in the killings. However, Justin tragically took his own life in 2013 while serving his sentence at San Quentin State Prison. Another accomplice, Dawn Godman, joined the plot and received a prison term of 38 years to life as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors.

The Influence of Religious Beliefs

According to the California Supreme Court’s 85-page ruling issued on Monday, Godman believed that Glenn Taylor Helzer, known as Taylor, was a prophet of God. The court revealed that she, along with the Helzer brothers, declared war on Satan, firmly believing that they were carrying out God’s will in their actions.

The Murders and Extortion Plot

The murder spree began when Taylor Helzer devised a plan to steal money from Ivan and Annette Steinman, an elderly Concord couple who were once his clients when he worked as a stockbroker. The Helzer brothers executed their plan by killing the Steinmans at their home.

Later, Taylor Helzer brutally stabbed his 22-year-old girlfriend, Selina Bishop, daughter of renowned blues guitarist Elvin Bishop, at his residence. This act was a part of his financial scheme, using Bishop to deposit money. To avoid being identified as Bishop’s killer, Taylor Helzer and his brother journeyed to western Marin and murdered her mother, Jennifer Villarin, and her companion, James Gamble, at Villarin’s Woodacre apartment.

The dismembered remains of three victims were discovered in duffel bags dumped in the Mokelumne River, located in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

The Automatic Death Penalty Appeal

In 2008, Taylor Helzer’s automatic death penalty appeal commenced. His attorney, Jeanne Keevan-Lynch, argued that the trial was unfair due to the conduct of investigators and the trial judge. Keevan-Lynch claimed that Marin County sheriff’s detectives violated Helzer’s Fourth Amendment rights by seizing items not listed on their search warrant during their investigation of his home.

The court, however, rejected these claims, stating that a blanket suppression of the evidence was unwarranted. Additionally, Keevan-Lynch argued that her client received an unfair trial when the trial judge excused a potential juror who expressed uncertainty about setting aside her moral beliefs to consider the death penalty. The court was not persuaded by this argument either.

Impactful Photographs and Final Remarks

Taylor Helzer’s defense also alleged that jurors were unduly influenced by the prosecution’s display of graphic photographs depicting the murder victims during the trial. Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero, in her opinion, explained that these photographs were crucial evidence indicating the killers’ efforts to conceal the victims’ identities by removing their teeth and tattoos.

Keevan-Lynch declined to comment on the court’s ruling, while Ted Asregadoo, spokesperson for the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office, acknowledged that the affirmation of the trial outcome does not alleviate the profound grief endured by the loved ones of the victims. Marin County sheriff’s Sgt. Adam Schermerhorn emphasized that Taylor Helzer’s actions were irredeemable, highlighting the commitment of the state’s criminal justice system to protect its communities.