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Background

In 2000, 36-year-old Barbara Opel was a single mother of three children. She had struggled financially throughout their lives. They lived in 22 different places in 7 years, and they were evicted from ten different properties for failing to pay rent.

On several occasions, they had to spend time living in their vehicle.

Barbara’s luck seemed to be turning around when she met 64-year-old Jerry Duane Heiman.

Jerry’s 89-year-old mother lived with him, and she needed constant medical care and assistance. Jerry allowed Barbara and her three kids to live in the basement of his home while he lived upstairs with his mom. All Barbara had to do was take care of his mother.

Instead of being grateful for his generosity, she was mean and aggressive toward him. Even though she was a handful, Heiman trusted her enough to give her the ability to write checks for household expenses.

Trusting her would be his downfall as Barbara could see that he had forty thousand dollars stashed away from a recent real estate sale. She was willing to risk her freedom to get it.

Crime

Barbara’s oldest daughter, Heather, always said she wanted a dirtbike. Barbara used this to her advantage. She told the 13-year-old she would get her a dirtbike if she killed Heiman. Heather, who dreamed of playing in the WNBA one day, fell into her mother’s trap.

Barbara and Heather involved Heather’s 17-year-old boyfriend, Jeff Grote. Grote had known the Opels for about a month and moved into the basement with them unbeknownst to Jerry.

He was promised a car and clothes if he participated in the murder. 14-year-old Marriam Oliver got involved to get a new pair of skates.

14-year-old Kyle Boston and Boston’s 13-year-old cousin were promised three hundred dollars.

On April 13th, 2001, Heiman was ambushed by the five teens right in front of his mother. They had knives and baseball bats and swarmed him until he was dead.

Afterward, Heather, who stabbed Heiman during the attack, screamed, “That was fun. I want to do it again.”

Heiman’s body ended up in a shallow grave 10 miles away while Barbara made her 7- and 11-year-olds help clean up Jerry’s blood.

Days later, Opel and her kids left Jerry’s home, abandoning his mother, and started spending his money.

With Grote tagging along, they bought clothes and food and stayed in various motels around Snohomish County, Washington.

Jerry’s mother was found in the home days later eating newspaper to survive. Police were brought in, and the credit charges led them to Barbara and the teens.

Police soon recovered Jerry’s body and charged the six monsters with murder.

Aftermath

Kyle Boston’s 13-year-old cousin was charged as a juvenile and sent away until he turned 21.

14-year-old Kyle Boston got an 18-year sentence.

14-year-old Marriam Oliver received 22 years in prison.

17-year-old Jeff Grote was sentenced to 50 years.

Heather never got her dirtbike and was sent away for 22 years.

Barbara went to trial and tried to blame Grote, but the jury didn’t fall for it. She was facing the death penalty, but she was sentenced to life without parole.

All the teens are free, including Grote, who was released three decades early.