Las Vegas, Nevada – A tense public feud has erupted between Elizabeth Helgelien, a rising GOP candidate for Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District, and her late ex-husband’s mother. The clash came to light when Christine Halseth, the former mother-in-law, publicly accused Helgelien of being a liar and adulterer in an op-ed published in The Nevada Globe.
The feud stems from the tragic murder of Daniel Halseth, Christine’s son, who was stabbed to death in 2021 by his teenage daughter, Sierra Halseth, and her boyfriend, Aaron Guerrero. Both perpetrators are currently serving life sentences for the crime.
In her scathing op-ed, Christine Halseth implored Helgelien to withdraw from the congressional race, citing her alleged misconduct and the pain she has caused the Halseth family. Halseth accused Helgelien of raising a murderer, engaging in sex scandals, spreading lies, and posing for explicit photographs. She argued that Helgelien is unfit for public office and should not represent honest, decent Americans.
In response, Helgelien’s political strategist, Woodrow Johnson, provided a statement alleging that Daniel Halseth had a history of abusive behavior and defying court orders regarding custody of Sierra. According to the statement, Sierra had written a letter to the court detailing abuse she allegedly suffered at the hands of her father.
The conflict between Helgelien and the Halseth family dates back to their time together as undergraduates at Corban University in Oregon. They later divorced after Daniel discovered Helgelien’s affair with Tiger Helgelien, a former golf pro and realtor. The divorce was accompanied by allegations of infidelity and missed official engagements on Helgelien’s part.
After the divorce, Helgelien married Tiger and posed for Maxim magazine’s “Hot 100 List.” They moved to Alaska, taking Helgelien’s children with them, before returning to Las Vegas in 2018. Helgelien attempted a political comeback by running for her former state senate seat but finished third in the GOP primary.
The tragic murder of Daniel in 2021 further strained the relationship between the Halseth family and Helgelien. Sierra and her boyfriend brutally killed Daniel, leading to their arrest in Utah. Sierra later claimed in court that she had been abused by her father, a claim that had not been previously mentioned. The judge expressed uncertainty about the motive for the murder, suggesting possibilities such as parental alienation or human trafficking.
Christine Halseth wrote in her op-ed that Helgelien had failed as a mother and raised a murderer. She expressed her disappointment in Helgelien’s lack of remorse or acknowledgement of her role in the tragic events. Halseth believes that Helgelien is preventing her from having contact with her other two grandchildren.
This bitter feud between a GOP candidate and her former mother-in-law highlights the personal and deeply tragic aspects of their past. It remains to be seen how this public dispute will impact Helgelien’s congressional campaign and the perception of her character and suitability for office.