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It's August 1989 in Pomona, California, and just after dawn, Mark Bro, twitches in his sleep. He's curled up in a bunk bed inside a dimly lit garage, surrounded by beds and sleeping people all crammed into this one tiny place.

The garage and house belong to the branch divisions. They're a religious sect whose teachings bro has followed without question until now.

Bro's eyes flick open. Immediately his mind starts racing. He's running through the same terrible questions that kept him up last night. He wishes he could get up on scream, but instead he stays motionless under the covers.

Bro is in his mid-20s. He is a thick mop of dark hair and a deep desire to know God. And almost for four years he's been a disciple of Vernon Howell.

Bro is Howell's trusted lieutenant. His entire life, his home, his friends, his salvation. Rest on the faith that Howell is the new embodiment of Christ.

And that makes this morning and his doubts so terrifying.

These last few years, Bro has learned some deeply uncomfortable truths about Howell.

Last week, for instance, he and Howell drove from Texas to California in Howell's Camaro. But they didn't come alone. Howell also brought the 13-year-old daughter of one of his followers. They stopped for the night at a hotel, and Howell and the girl shared a bedroom.

Bro replays the memory in his mind. Over and over. He feels sick to his stomach. He's given everything to Howell. In exchange, he's supposed to play a central role in the salvation of mankind. But he thinks what if Howell isn't the Messiah? What if he's just a pedophile hiding behind a Bible?

The thought sends Bro right out of bed. He dresses quietly, trying not to wake the others than steps outside. The sunlight is warm on his skin. Bro is partially blind. But he can still make out the pale blooms of a jack-or-and-a-treat.

Just then, the front door opens. Bro turns and sees a clean cut 20-something with blonde hair and a mustache. It's his best friend, Steve Schneider. Schneider gives a quick wave.

Bro, you look awful. Everything alright? Bro avoids his gaze. Not long ago, he convinced Schneider to follow Howell, and now he's not sure he can look his friend in the eye. Oh, I'm fine, Steve. You sure? Bro hesitates.

Well, honestly, I'm kind of shaken up. It's fern. Schneider gives a slight nod. Enough encouragement for Bro to continue. He's been acting erratically. We're supposed to be saving people, right?

But some of what he's doing, it'll scare people away. I hear you. I've been trying to recruit this couple, and he's been so rude to them. No one's going to accept a profit the way he acts. Yeah, exactly.

Like they feel like every day he does something to test my faith. Do you? Do you ever wonder? Schneider raises a eyebrow. Wonder what, Mark? Bro desperately wants to share the doubts that are consuming him, but he also knows the power that verna Howell wields over his disciples. If he questions Howell's divine authority, howell finds out. Bro's life would never be the same. He's not ready to cross that line. Yeah.

Ever wonder why of all the people in the world God picked Vernon Howell to be the Messiah? Schneider lasts two. Bro can feel he's broken the tension. Yeah, the Lord works in the mysterious way, Mark. We should probably get back inside. I'll be right there.

Bro watches his friend walk back into the house. Schneider remains one of the faithful, the state of innocence that Bro wishes he could return to. But it's too late for that. He's powerless to escape the question that shook him awake this morning. Is he really serving the Messiah or a monster? And if he's been serving a monster, Bro knows he owes a debt to God. In which case, he must do everything in his power to take Howell down.

Hello, I'm Hannah. And I'm Sirete. And we are the hosts of a Redhanded, a weekly true crime podcast. Every week on Redhanded, we get stuck into the most talked about cases. From the Idaho student killings, the Delphine murders and our recent rundown of the Murdoch saga.

Last year, we also started a second weekly show, Shorthand. Which is just an excuse for us to talk about anything we find interesting because it's our show and we can do what we like.

We've covered the death of Princess Diana, an unholy Quran written in Saddam Hussein's blood, the gruesome history of European witch hunting, and the very uncomfortable phenomenon of genetic sexual attraction.

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