News

The Sinful Messiah Part Six: Some followers start looking for a way out of Howell's control
Detective Ron Ingels thought he was back in the '60s when he entered the house at 2707 White Ave. in La Verne, Calif.
The Sinful Messiah Part Three: Vernon Howell closely directs the grim daily lives of cult members
When Howell and seven followers stood trial in 1988 for the attempted murder of self-proclaimed prophet George Roden, Howell had wept. He was holding his daughter, Star, in his arms. It had touched ...
The Sinful Messiah Part Seven: Howell travels to Australia to reclaim scattered flock. A showdown with Marc Breault
Through his confidant, Steve Schneider, Howell called Marc Breault and challenged him to a showdown at the Toms' house for the souls of the Australian followers. Breault came, but asked his brother-in ...
The Sinful Messiah Part Two: Religion student is introduced to a bizarre Texas cult
Marc Breault found what he once thought was salvation in a grocery store off the campus of Loma Linda University in Southern California.
The Sinful Messiah Part Five: Teaching of the New Light leaves followers thunderstruck
Vernon Howell picked California to reveal the "New Light," a teaching which led to a major rift in the Branch Davidians.
The Sinful Messiah Part Four: An incident involving Vernon Howell, a young girl
Marc Breault played a computer game — a simulation of the TV show "Star Trek" — while he waited outside the bedroom of cult leader Vernon Howell one night in ...