Janice Morgan

The detectives ran the partial VIN through a DMV search. Sure enough, a silver Mercury Sable came back. It was a model that matched the blurry security footage. Officers tracked the car down to a local LA family. They'd brought it in a few months ago after it had been impounded not far from Olga's apartment. The detectives paid the family for the vehicle, and they sent it to the lab for testing.

The detectives ran the partial VIN through a DMV search. Sure enough, a silver Mercury Sable came back. It was a model that matched the blurry security footage. Officers tracked the car down to a local LA family. They'd brought it in a few months ago after it had been impounded not far from Olga's apartment. The detectives paid the family for the vehicle, and they sent it to the lab for testing.

At this point, nearly 11 months had passed since Kenneth's death, so investigators couldn't find any useful prints on the car. But they did notice that the fuel line had been crudely repaired. And since they already knew that Helen had placed a call to AAA the night of the murder, the car was looking more and more like a smoking gun. Then they found the last piece of the puzzle —

At this point, nearly 11 months had passed since Kenneth's death, so investigators couldn't find any useful prints on the car. But they did notice that the fuel line had been crudely repaired. And since they already knew that Helen had placed a call to AAA the night of the murder, the car was looking more and more like a smoking gun. Then they found the last piece of the puzzle —

On the undercarriage of the car were trace amounts of blood that were a match for Kenneth McDavid. The police knew then. They'd found the murder weapon. With that, the FBI hit pause on the mail fraud charges and the LAPD booked Helen and Olga on murder charges. The women were held without bail until their trial started nearly two years later.

On the undercarriage of the car were trace amounts of blood that were a match for Kenneth McDavid. The police knew then. They'd found the murder weapon. With that, the FBI hit pause on the mail fraud charges and the LAPD booked Helen and Olga on murder charges. The women were held without bail until their trial started nearly two years later.

In March of 2008, both women pleaded not guilty, although neither spoke in their own defense. The trial itself was a finger-pointing extravaganza. Olga's lawyer made the case that she was an innocent, impressionable woman who'd been dazzled by Helen's lifestyle. She'd gone along with the insurance fraud for the money, but she had no idea about the murders.

In March of 2008, both women pleaded not guilty, although neither spoke in their own defense. The trial itself was a finger-pointing extravaganza. Olga's lawyer made the case that she was an innocent, impressionable woman who'd been dazzled by Helen's lifestyle. She'd gone along with the insurance fraud for the money, but she had no idea about the murders.

Helen, on the other hand, shocked everyone by blaming her 40-something-year-old daughter for the crimes. Her lawyer argued that Helen's daughter had killed Kenneth, possibly with Olga's help. No one understood why Helen and her legal team chose that strategy. The prosecutors never even considered the daughter a suspect. The flimsy defense didn't sit well with the jurors.

Helen, on the other hand, shocked everyone by blaming her 40-something-year-old daughter for the crimes. Her lawyer argued that Helen's daughter had killed Kenneth, possibly with Olga's help. No one understood why Helen and her legal team chose that strategy. The prosecutors never even considered the daughter a suspect. The flimsy defense didn't sit well with the jurors.

Still, when they were sent off to deliberate, they had to reconcile the facts of the case with their strong feelings toward the elderly women. At the time of the trial, the LA Times interviewed Jonathan Simon, co-chairman of the UC Berkeley Center for Criminal Justice. He told them gender and age biases could play a big role in the deliberation process.

Still, when they were sent off to deliberate, they had to reconcile the facts of the case with their strong feelings toward the elderly women. At the time of the trial, the LA Times interviewed Jonathan Simon, co-chairman of the UC Berkeley Center for Criminal Justice. He told them gender and age biases could play a big role in the deliberation process.

Most people have an innate belief that older women are either nurturers or in need of protection. And age is seen as, quote, proxy for non-threateningness. But Simon also noted that those same biases can also work against people like Helen and Olga. Even if a juror initially believed they were innocent, the second they changed their mind, their opinions took a sharp turn.

Most people have an innate belief that older women are either nurturers or in need of protection. And age is seen as, quote, proxy for non-threateningness. But Simon also noted that those same biases can also work against people like Helen and Olga. Even if a juror initially believed they were innocent, the second they changed their mind, their opinions took a sharp turn.

As Simon explained, juries can be less forgiving of women when the allegations run counter to the nurturer ideal. Like, say, how Helen threw her own flesh and blood under the bus, and Olga lured invulnerable men only to hurt them. Together, the duo went against everything that older women are supposed to represent, and it certainly painted them in a new light.

As Simon explained, juries can be less forgiving of women when the allegations run counter to the nurturer ideal. Like, say, how Helen threw her own flesh and blood under the bus, and Olga lured invulnerable men only to hurt them. Together, the duo went against everything that older women are supposed to represent, and it certainly painted them in a new light.

Three weeks after the trial commenced, the jury found 77-year-old Helen and 75-year-old Olga guilty of murder. Both received life sentences. They were sent to the same prison in Central California, about 250 miles north of Los Angeles. But even behind bars, they lived very different lives. Helen was placed in a special unit for seniors where she wrote drafts of a memoir.

Three weeks after the trial commenced, the jury found 77-year-old Helen and 75-year-old Olga guilty of murder. Both received life sentences. They were sent to the same prison in Central California, about 250 miles north of Los Angeles. But even behind bars, they lived very different lives. Helen was placed in a special unit for seniors where she wrote drafts of a memoir.

Olga was sent to general population. She told journalists she felt she was getting the short end of the stick and begged for legal help. And although their paths have diverged, Helen and Olga remain united on one front. To this day, they maintain their innocence. They don't have much in common anymore, but at least they have that. That and the fact that they'll likely die behind bars.

Olga was sent to general population. She told journalists she felt she was getting the short end of the stick and begged for legal help. And although their paths have diverged, Helen and Olga remain united on one front. To this day, they maintain their innocence. They don't have much in common anymore, but at least they have that. That and the fact that they'll likely die behind bars.