Janice Morgan

She wanted for nothing and was in a loving, stable home. But then, around 1960, after nine years of marriage, it all came crashing down when the couple divorced. Helen kept the girls and returned to California. At some point after that, she got back into the dating scene. And in the spring of 1962, she wound up pregnant. The relationship didn't last, but she decided to keep the baby.

She wanted for nothing and was in a loving, stable home. But then, around 1960, after nine years of marriage, it all came crashing down when the couple divorced. Helen kept the girls and returned to California. At some point after that, she got back into the dating scene. And in the spring of 1962, she wound up pregnant. The relationship didn't last, but she decided to keep the baby.

In her book, Signed in Blood, author Jean King claims Helen's ex, Vernon, wasn't happy with this new development and made it clear that he'd only pay child support for their two daughters and not her daughter with another man. It's unclear if Helen ever even asked him to help out with her youngest daughter, but the fact remains that there was now an extra mouth to feed.

In her book, Signed in Blood, author Jean King claims Helen's ex, Vernon, wasn't happy with this new development and made it clear that he'd only pay child support for their two daughters and not her daughter with another man. It's unclear if Helen ever even asked him to help out with her youngest daughter, but the fact remains that there was now an extra mouth to feed.

The stress of it all seemed to weigh on her, as did her ex's financial presence. By the mid-60s, 30-something Helen was a struggling single mom in Los Angeles, which has never been an easy city to make it in. Helen picked up odd jobs, but at times, she had to rely on welfare just to get by. Then, one day, her luck changed.

The stress of it all seemed to weigh on her, as did her ex's financial presence. By the mid-60s, 30-something Helen was a struggling single mom in Los Angeles, which has never been an easy city to make it in. Helen picked up odd jobs, but at times, she had to rely on welfare just to get by. Then, one day, her luck changed.

At some point in the 70s, she got a job in real estate, which brought her into the orbit of mogul Artie Aaron. She started bringing in real money for the first time in her life, and she was even able to purchase several rental properties of her own. Given her history, you might expect Helen to be a sympathetic landlord, but that wasn't the case.

At some point in the 70s, she got a job in real estate, which brought her into the orbit of mogul Artie Aaron. She started bringing in real money for the first time in her life, and she was even able to purchase several rental properties of her own. Given her history, you might expect Helen to be a sympathetic landlord, but that wasn't the case.

She wanted to make as much as she possibly could, so she raised her rents through the roof. But in 1979, the city of Los Angeles passed the rent stabilization ordinance. This meant that landlords could only increase rent once a year and only buy so much. After that, a lot of property owners felt like they couldn't make a profit anymore. Helen, though? She took it in stride.

She wanted to make as much as she possibly could, so she raised her rents through the roof. But in 1979, the city of Los Angeles passed the rent stabilization ordinance. This meant that landlords could only increase rent once a year and only buy so much. After that, a lot of property owners felt like they couldn't make a profit anymore. Helen, though? She took it in stride.

She figured there were other ways to make a quick buck off her tenants. One of which was collecting fines if they broke any of her rules. But for that to work, Helen had to catch people in the act. So over the next several years, she reportedly peered in windows, listened at doors, and generally snooped.

She figured there were other ways to make a quick buck off her tenants. One of which was collecting fines if they broke any of her rules. But for that to work, Helen had to catch people in the act. So over the next several years, she reportedly peered in windows, listened at doors, and generally snooped.

Unsurprisingly, most of Helen Gley's residents weren't too pleased when she wrote them up for frivolous reasons. They came to think of her as a mean-spirited bully without an ounce of empathy. But it seems Helen didn't care what people thought, as long as she got her money. That said, it was a lonely way of life, made even lonelier when all three of her daughters grew up and moved out.

Unsurprisingly, most of Helen Gley's residents weren't too pleased when she wrote them up for frivolous reasons. They came to think of her as a mean-spirited bully without an ounce of empathy. But it seems Helen didn't care what people thought, as long as she got her money. That said, it was a lonely way of life, made even lonelier when all three of her daughters grew up and moved out.

But instead of sitting home alone, she became a regular at the Sports Connection Athletic Club, This was the perfect place for her to run into like-minded people. Around this time, Jazzercise was taking America by storm. Women of all ages were flocking to their local gyms in colorful spandex, ready to sculpt their bodies. And Helen couldn't get enough of it.

But instead of sitting home alone, she became a regular at the Sports Connection Athletic Club, This was the perfect place for her to run into like-minded people. Around this time, Jazzercise was taking America by storm. Women of all ages were flocking to their local gyms in colorful spandex, ready to sculpt their bodies. And Helen couldn't get enough of it.

She was obsessed with her appearance and went to the gym as often as she could. It was on one of those days, sometime in the mid-80s, that Helen met Olga Ruderschmidt. At first glance, Olga was just like her. She was in her 50s, fit, and fabulous. But as I mentioned at the start, their beginnings couldn't have been more different.

She was obsessed with her appearance and went to the gym as often as she could. It was on one of those days, sometime in the mid-80s, that Helen met Olga Ruderschmidt. At first glance, Olga was just like her. She was in her 50s, fit, and fabulous. But as I mentioned at the start, their beginnings couldn't have been more different.

Olga was born in 1933, just two years after Helen, and thousands of miles away in Budapest, Hungary. As Olga tells it, the defining moment of her youth happened one night in 1944. World War II had taken over her home country. Overhead, Allied forces were bombing German-occupied Budapest. It was a scary time for everyone.

Olga was born in 1933, just two years after Helen, and thousands of miles away in Budapest, Hungary. As Olga tells it, the defining moment of her youth happened one night in 1944. World War II had taken over her home country. Overhead, Allied forces were bombing German-occupied Budapest. It was a scary time for everyone.