Spanning a mere two centuries, the LDS Church has a history as violent as some ancient religions. From the Lafferty brothers to Mark Hofmann to the countless polygamy cults, death never seems far off.

The Children of Thunder are no different—a murderous trio following a false prophet searching for glory.

Let’s Mourn…

Cotter, H., & Downey, K. (2024, May 22). Newport evidence search related to cases linked to so-called Connecticut River Valley Serial Killer. WMUR. https://www.wmur.com/article/new-hampshire-connecticut-river-valley-killer/60861289

Helzer brothers: Murderpedia, the Encyclopedia of Murderers. Helzer brothers | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers. (n.d.). https://murderpedia.org/male.H/h/helzer-brothers.htm

Scheeres, J. (n.d.). Children of thunder: The helzer brothers. “It’s Kool-aid” - Murderous Glenn Helzer and Justin Helzer called their cult The Children of Thunder - Crime Library. https://www.crimelibrary.org/notorious_murders/classics/helzer_brothers/9.html

Wikimedia Foundation. (2024, April 12). Glen Helzer. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glen_Helzer

From the unsolved Santa Rosa hitchhiker murders to Kai the hatchet-wielding hitchhiker to the infamous Münsterland murders, tales of serial killers hunting the open road have gripped us for decades. 

The Aachen Strangler of Germany is a lesser-known monster known for kidnapping and killing young, female hitchhikers during the 1970s and ‘80s. 

Let’s Mourn…

Sources:

CBS Interactive. (2024, May 20). Arizona man gets life in prison in murder of wife who “vigorously struggled” after being buried alive, prosecutors say. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sandra-pagniano-buried-alive-2017-david-pagniano-sentenced-life-prison-arizona/

Goldfarb, K. (2018, December 16). Serial killer electrocutes himself to death during prison sex act gone wrong. All That’s Interesting. https://allthatsinteresting.com/egidius-schiffer-death

Wikimedia Foundation. (2024, April 21). Egidius Schiffer. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egidius_Schiffer

Colorado’s history is splattered with mysteries and murders ranging from The Black Widow to Scott Lee Kimball to even Ted Bundy! However, none date as far back as the killer on Capitol Hill in Denver. 

At the turn of the 20th century, a string of at least 10 women were bludgeoned in the back of the head while walking alone.

Some would survive, while others wouldn’t. Welcome, Colorado's first serial killer.

Let’s Mourn…

Sources:

Denver’s “Capitol hill thug” - historicalcrimedetective.com. (n.d.). https://www.historicalcrimedetective.com/denvers-capitol-hill-thug/

McGUIRK, R. (2024, May 14). Army whistleblower who exposed alleged Australian war crimes in Afghanistan is sentenced to prison. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/mcbride-whistleblower-court-prison-afghanistan-war-crimes-e3fd2301d22d35ee348668b91b02d6bb

Tom. (n.d.). The thug case: How captain Armstrong earned a promotion to police chief of Denver, Colorado. Steemit. https://steemit.com/history/@donkeypong/the-thug-case-how-captain-armstrong-earned-a-promotion-to-police-chief-of-denver-colorado

The legend of Ned Kelly is as historic as it is polarizing. A thief from the ripe young age of fourteen, Kelly robbed banks and stole horses for the men he learned from. 

Quickly, he became Australia’s most revered and most wanted bushranger. Or as I like to call them, land pirates! 

Plus, a bonus story about Angela Gosser–a Kentucky woman who recently went on a deadly shooting rampage. 

Let’s Mourn…

Sources:

Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (2024, March 19). Ned Kelly. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ned-Kelly-Australian-bandit

Mercer, P. (2013, January 20). Ned Kelly: The Outlaw who divides a nation. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-21077457

Price, S. (2024, May 9). Kentucky woman goes on shooting rampage, kills husband, sister before dying in shootout with brother: Police. New York Post. https://nypost.com/2024/05/09/us-news/kentucky-woman-angela-gosser-kills-husband-and-sister-before-dying-in-shootout-with-brother/

Wikimedia Foundation. (2024, May 6). Ned Kelly. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ned_Kelly

In the vast wilderness of British Columbia, near the Northern Rockies, three people were murdered and left for dead. 

Described as ‘introverted loners’ by their grandmother, two young men went on a killing spree that led to the largest manhunt in Canadian history. 

Let’s Mourn…

Sources:

CBC/Radio Canada. (2019, December 21). Inside Last Summer’s RCMP manhunt for admitted killers Bryer Schmegelsky and Kam McLeod | CBC news. CBCnews. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/northern-bc-murders-ito-1.5401732

Guardian News and Media. (2019, September 28). Canadian fugitives who murdered three planned to kill more, say police. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/28/canada-murders-fugitives-who-killed-three-planned-for-more-victims-say-police

Last prisoner project - cannabis reform nonprofit. Last Prisoner Project - Cannabis Reform Nonprofit. (n.d.). https://www.lastprisonerproject.org/

Wikimedia Foundation. (2024, April 24). 2019 northern british columbia murders. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_Northern_British_Columbia_murders

One man’s charisma and religious fervor permanently stained Quebec’s history. 

Roch Theriault–a catholic turned 7th Day Adventist turned Cult Leader–manipulated a group of vulnerable people to follow him into the densely forested mountains of Canada.

There, he would perform the unspeakable.

Let’s Mourn…

Sources:

Lyon, R. (2023, December 11). Manipulation, mutilation, and murder: The story of the ant hill kids, Quebec’s disturbing Doomsday cult. All That’s Interesting. https://allthatsinteresting.com/ant-hill-kids

Roos, R. (2023, May 26). The ant hill kids: Break your legs with a sledgehammer or go to hell. CVLT Nation. https://cvltnation.com/ant-hill-kids-break-legs-sledgehammer-go-hell/

Wize, A. (n.d.). The yellow deli- a cult disguised as a sandwich place. The Profile. https://theprofilehhs.com/4538/editorials/the-yellow-deli-a-cult-disguised-as-a-sandwich-place/

Wikipedia.

For a history that spans centuries and has seen countless power shifts, you might think Iceland would have more serial killers.

However, only one person holds this title.

Axlar-Bjorn, of the 16th century, is Iceland’s only serial killer! 

Let’s Mourn…

Sources:

Axlar-Björn: The only serial killer of Iceland. Medievalists.net. (2019, July 24). https://www.medievalists.net/2018/07/axlar-bjorn-only-serial-killer-iceland/

Donlevy, K. (2024, April 25). Ex-school cop accused of killing ex-wife, teen girlfriend died after shooting himself in front of infant son during chaotic police standoff. New York Post. https://nypost.com/2024/04/24/us-news/elias-huizar-killed-self-during-police-chase-after-double-murder/

Iceland’s only serial killer - The bloody story of the homicidal Axlar-Björn. Guide to Iceland. (n.d.). https://guidetoiceland.is/connect-with-locals/regina/iceland-s-only-serial-killer-the-blody-story-of-the-homicidal-axlar-bjoern

Smith, P. (2024, April 23). Former police officer wanted after 2 women are found dead and a child is abducted. NBCNews.com. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/police-hunt-former-cop-two-women-are-found-dead-child-abducted-rcna148910

Snorradottir, E. (2024, April 13). Axlar-Björn: Iceland’s own axe murderer. Icelandictimes.com. https://icelandictimes.com/axlar-bjorn-icelands-own-axe-murderer/

Wikimedia Foundation. (2024, March 6). Axlar-Björn. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axlar-Bj%C3%B6rn

A century ago, a man condemned to death showed just how resilient the human body can be. Michael Schiller murdered his wife in cold blood and would pay the price with his own.

However, his execution quickly went awry. 

This is history’s most brutally botched execution you’ve never heard of. 

Let’s Mourn…

Sources:

As lethal injection turns forty, states botch a record number of executions. Death Penalty Information Center. (n.d.). https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/news/as-lethal-injection-turns-forty-states-botch-a-record-number-of-executions

Morrow, J. (n.d.). The most miraculous execution in American history (that nobody told you about). historicalcrimedetective.com. https://www.historicalcrimedetective.com/the-most-miraculous-execution-in-american-history-that-nobody-told-you-about-1904/

A deceased girl embalmed, preserved, and hidden for years: a high priestess and her Godly daughter. Oh, and don't forget the puppies...

Welcome, The Blackburn Cult! 

Let’s Mourn…

Sources:

The Blackburn cult. (n.d.). http://www.laalmanac.com/religion/re720.php

CBS Interactive. (n.d.). 4 arrested, bodies found in connection with disappearance of 2 women in Oklahoma. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/veronica-butler-jilian-kelley-oklahoma-arrests-bodies-found/

Morrow, J. (n.d.). The Blackburn cult - historicalcrimedetective.com. https://www.historicalcrimedetective.com/the-blackburn-cult/

Wikimedia Foundation. (2023, May 28). May Otis Blackburn. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_Otis_Blackburn