After retirement, Ivan and Annette Stineman enjoyed vacationing in their motor home and a time-share condo in Hawaii.

(Photo courtesy of Judy Nemec)

Selina Bishop, daughter of blues guitarist Elvin Bishop, was infatuated with Taylor Helzer. (Driver’s license photo)

Selina’s mother, Jenny Villarin, had suspicions about Taylor.

(Driver’s license photo)

James Gamble, known as “Gentleman Jim,” was a good friend of Jenny Villarin. (Driver’s license photo)

Taylor Helzer was an outgoing and popular student at Yganico Valley High School in the Bay Area of California. (Yearbook photo)

Justin Helzer was a shy and quiet student at the same high school. (Yearbook photo)

Future Playboy model Keri Furman (a.k.a. Kerrisa Fare) was beautiful even in high school. (Yearbook photo)

Taylor, Justin, and Dawn Godman began Children of Thunder at this suburban home on Saddlewood Court, Concord, California. Children of Thunder were supposed to initiate the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. (Photo courtesy of Don Wilson)

Taylor owned this bizarre wooden staff with a human skull depicted on top. (Author’s photo)

By the year 2000, Taylor thought he was a prophet of God. He also convinced Justin and Dawn that he was a prophet.

Justin Helzer adored his older brother and followed his orders in Children of Thunder.

Dawn Godman was Taylor’s third “core person” in Children of Thunder.

Mike Henderson visited his friend Justin at Saddlewood Court. Taylor told Mike he was a warlock, and Dawn told him she was a witch. (Photo courtesy of Don Wilson)

A wooden staff held a crystal that was a seer stone. Supposedly, it helped the Children of Thunder look into the future. (Author’s photo)

Taylor took a pistol with him to kidnap Ivan and Annette Stineman at their home. (Author’s photo)

Taylor also took a Taser to kidnap the Stinemans. (Photo courtesy of Don Wilson)

Taylor and Justin were dressed as businessmen as they approached the Stinemans’ door. In their briefcases they carried guns, Tasers, and a small blowtorch. (Author’s photo)

Taylor and Justin used a Craftsman reciprocating saw to dismember the bodies of Ivan and Annette Stineman and Selina Bishop in the bathroom of the Saddlewood home. (Author’s photo)

Selina Bishop took this photo of herself at a photo booth in a mall. She had less than two weeks to live after she took the photo.

Taylor instructed Justin and Dawn to leave Ivan Stineman’s wedding ring in Selina’s car to further confuse policemen. (Author’s photo)

Taylor, Justin, and Dawn took nine gym bags filled with body parts out to the California Delta for disposal. (Author’s photo)

The area where the Children of Thunder deposited the body bags was a region of winding waterways and tules. (Photo courtesy of Don Wilson)

The body bags were deposited in the Mokelumne River from a personal water craft that the Helzers and Dawn rented. (Photo courtesy of Don Wilson)

In a bid for freedom from the police, Taylor Helzer forced Mary Mozzochi at knifepoint to cut his hair and give him her husband’s clothes. (Photo courtesy of Don Wilson)

Sergeant Mike Crain was a key member of law enforcement who worked on the Stinemans’ case. (Author’s photo)

Detective Don Wick found a lot of important evidence connected to the murders of Jenny Villarin and James Gamble. (Photo courtesy of Don Wilson)

Detective Alicia Lellis found and catalogued numerous items connected to the Children of Thunder at the Saddlewood residence. (Photo courtesy of Don Wilson)

Detective Steve Nash linked the murders of Jenny Villarin and James Gamble to the disappearance of the Stinemans and Selina Bishop. (Photo courtesy of Don Wilson)

Ray and Mabel Carberry and Chris Darden were court observers throughout Justin and Taylor Helzers’ trials.

(Photo courtesy of Don Wilson)

Deputy DA Harold Jewett sought the death penalty for both Taylor and Justin Helzer. (Photo courtesy of Don Wilson)

Judge Mary Ann O’Malley ruled on proceedings that dealt with hundreds of witnesses and items of evidence. (Photo courtesy of Don Wilson)

Attorney Suzanne Chapot presented a spirited defense for her client, Taylor Helzer. (Photo courtesy of Don Wilson)

In exchange for the removal of the death penalty against her, Dawn Goodman testified against Justin and Taylor Helzer in their trials. (Photo courtesy of Don Wilson)

When going to and from the courtroom, Taylor Helzer was always handcuffed and wore a waist chain. Bailiffs Howard Newman and Mike Harkelroad kept order in the courtroom during the

proceedings. (Photo courtesy of Don Wilson)

Immediately after he was sentenced to death, Taylor smiled, thanked the jury, and mouthed the words “It’s okay” to his mom.

(Photo courtesy of Don Wilson)

Olga Land (center), sister of Jenny Villarin, and Rosanne Lusk Urban (right), Jenny’s best friend, had Detective Erin Enskip sit with them at a press conference table after Taylor’s death penalty

conviction. (Photo courtesy of Don Wilson)

Nancy Hall, the Stinemans’ daughter, spoke to a room full of reporters after the jury ruled for a death sentence against Taylor

Helzer. (Photo courtesy of Don Wilson)

The Stinemans’ daughter Judy Nemec (left) and Detective Judy Elo held hands as Nancy Hall spoke to a room full of reporters after

Taylor’s conviction. (Photo courtesy of Don Wilson)