Dec. 12, 1958: Buddy Consol, 10, stands beside Krishna Venta's son, Lael, who points to the wreckage of the dormitory where both had been sleeping when explosion occurred.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: John Malmin / Los Angeles Times Archive/UCLA

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June 17, 1949: Krishna Venta, a.k.a. Francis Herman Pencovic, spent two hours in the County Jail, charged with nonsupport of two minor children by his first wife. A month later, he was helping at the Standard Airlines crash site.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Los Angeles Times

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Oct. 7, 1954: Brother Paul leads members of the WKFL Fountain of the World in prayer after the group was ordered to vacate its Box Canyon colony site. Brother Paul said the cult owed $2,600 in rent on the site. After praying, the group moved to another location in Box Canyon.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Pete Grant / Los Angeles Times Archive/UCLA

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March 30, 1955: Krishna Venta, right, Master of the Fountain of the World sect, joins Sister Barbara and Brother Alvin in matrimony at ceremony in Box Canyon. The wedding was one of three held that day by the sect.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Los Angeles Times Archive/UCLA

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Dec. 10, 1958: Volunteer Corps firefighters from Moorpark keep the smoldering ruins of the monastery under control after the bombing.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Los Angeles Times Archive/UCLA

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Dec. 10, 1958: Officers probe the shattered main building after the blast at the WKFL Fountain of the World site.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Gary Smith / Los Angeles Times

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Dec. 10, 1958: With Bishop Asaiah, left, assuming temporary leadership of cult, followers say prayers for Krishna Venta and nine other victims of the explosion at monastery. Two of those killed were children.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Los Angeles Times Archive/UCLA

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Dec. 10, 1958: Bishop Asaiah comforts one of sisters at prayer meeting.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Los Angeles Times Archive/UCLA

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Dec. 10, 1958: Bishop Asaiah, in charge after explosion took life of Krishna Venta, talks with reporters at the site. "Venta will return," he told his followers, "and be resurrected."

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Los Angeles Times Archive/UCLA

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Dec. 10, 1958: Jesse Vezina, 9, one of the children who escaped unhurt from bombing of the Fountain of the World sanctuary near Chatsworth, lies asleep before the fireplace with her cat Jacob. The building, in Box Canyon, near Chatsworth and Simi Valley, was bombed and destroyed by two-excommunicated followers of the cult.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Los Angeles Times Archive/UCLA

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Dec. 11, 1958: Patriarch Wilber Foster Yates stands among remnants of the headquarters of Fountain of the World.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Los Angeles Times Archive/UCLA

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Dec. 10, 1958: Sister Ruth Lewis comforts her granddaughter, Linda Lee Baker, 9, at Northridge Hospital. The girl's father and 7-year-old sister, Keela, were among the 10 who died in the blast.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Fred Tschantre / LA Mirror-News/UCLA

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May 9, 1964: WKFL Fountain of the World cult members Elder Nekona and Priest Charles are interviewed during a follow-up story on the cult by the Los Angeles Times. The group is now defunct.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: John Malmin / Los Angeles Times Archive/UCLA

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