Who was David Koresh: Ex-followers describe life inside apocalyptic religious sect involved in Waco siege
&#; -- David Koresh, leader of an apocalyptic religious sect, perished with about 80 followers when the compound they shared burned to the ground.
A Congressional investigation concluded that Koresh and his followers set the fire themselves as FBI tanks sought to end a day standoff with the group using tear gas at the group's Mount Carmel Center near Waco, Texas compound on April 19, The tragedy came to be known as the Waco massacre.
Watch "Truth and Lies: Waco," the documentary event, on Thursday, Jan. 4 at 9 p.m. ET on ABC
Long before he became the prophet and leader of the Branch Davidians, Koresh was just a boy growing up in Texas. Born Vernon Howell to a teenage mother in , Koresh claimed he had memorized both the New and Old Testaments of the Bible by the time he was 18 years old.
“He claimed that when he was a child, God had spoken to him and said, ‘You’re the chosen one. You are my messiah,’” journalist Mary Garafolo, who covered the events at Waco for the news program “A Current Affair,” told ABC News.
Former Davidian David Bunds said wh
What really occurred outside Waco on April 19, ? Is the U.S. government responsible for the deaths of more than 70 men, women and children at the Branch Davidian compound?
For years anti-government conspiracy theorists have argued that the answer was yes. Today the Waco incident is the subject of two congressional investigations, an independent counsel and a multimillion-dollar civil lawsuit against the government.
Many new details about the disaster have come to light only recently.
Today virtually all of the evidence from Waco, much of it paperwork from the many different government agencies involved, is stored in a secured room in Waco. The federal judge handling the civil trial ordered it collected and stockpiled, so that it could not be tampered with.
That evidence may provide some new answers to what actually happened at the Branch Davidian compound outside Waco. Dan Rather investigates.
"In the last two months, three months, we've learned more about what happened than we did in the preceding six and a half years," says Michael Caddell, a Houston attorney representing survivors and family members of the Branch Davidians in their suit against the government.
Waco: The True Story of David Koresh and the Branch Davidian Siege
A Detailed Examination of the Tragedy
The Waco siege of remains one of the most controversial events in modern American history. For 51 days, federal agents surrounded the Mount Carmel compound of the Branch Davidians, a religious group led by David Koresh. The standoff culminated in a fiery assault that left 76 Branch Davidians dead, including 25 children.
David Koresh, born Vernon Howell, took control of the Branch Davidians in He claimed to be a prophet and attracted followers to the group's compound near Waco, Texas. Koresh's leadership and teachings became increasingly controversial, leading to allegations of child abuse and illegal weapons stockpiling.
On February 28, , agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms attempted to execute a search warrant at the compound. The raid quickly escalated into a shootout, marking the beginning of a tense standoff that captivated the nation and ended in tragedy on April The events at Waco continue to fuel debates about government overreach, religious freedom, and the use of force in law enforcement.
The Origins of the Branch Da
David Koresh
–
Who Was David Koresh?
David Koresh was the leader of the Branch Davidians, a religious sect that received national attention during a deadly standoff with federal law enforcement officials near Waco, Texas. Koresh believed himself to be a prophet, and he and his followers stockpiled weapons in anticipation of the apocalypse. On February 28, , the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms raided the Davidians’ compound, resulting in a day siege that ended when the compound erupted in flames. Koresh was among the dozens found dead after the fire.
Quick Facts
FULL NAME: David Koresh
BORN: August 17,
DIED: April 19,
BIRTHPLACE: Houston
LEGAL SPOUSE: Rachel Jones (–)
CHILDREN: Cyrus, Starr, and others
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Leo
Early Years
David Koresh was born Vernon Wayne Howell to an unwed teenage mother named Bonnie Clark, on August 17, , in Houston. He did not meet his father until his teenage years, and Clark left him to be raised by his grandparents during his early years. Koresh struggled in school due, in part, to severe dyslexia and poor eyesight. He was placed in special education classes and mocked by his classmates with the nickname “V
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David Koresh
–
Who Was David Koresh?
David Koresh was the leader of the Branch Davidians, a religious sect that received national attention during a deadly standoff with federal law enforcement officials near Waco, Texas. Koresh believed himself to be a prophet, and he and his followers stockpiled weapons in anticipation of the apocalypse. On February 28, , the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms raided the Davidians’ compound, resulting in a day siege that ended when the compound erupted in flames. Koresh was among the dozens found dead after the fire.
Quick Facts
FULL NAME: David Koresh
BORN: August 17,
DIED: April 19,
BIRTHPLACE: Houston
LEGAL SPOUSE: Rachel Jones (–)
CHILDREN: Cyrus, Starr, and others
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Leo
Early Years
David Koresh was born Vernon Wayne Howell to an unwed teenage mother named Bonnie Clark, on August 17, , in Houston. He did not meet his father until his teenage years, and Clark left him to be raised by his grandparents during his early years. Koresh struggled in school due, in part, to severe dyslexia and poor eyesight. He was placed in special education classes and mocked by his classmates with the nickname “V
Biographies you may also like
Bharti kumar and kunal jai singh omkara Kunal Jaisingh, who plays the role of Omkara in popular TV show Ishqbaaz, is all set to tie the knot with fiancee Bharati Kumari on December 20th. And the duo had a sangeet .
Aaron copland biography timeline with paragraphs First volume of memoirs are written, Copland: Through , with the help of Vivian Perlis. Wins the Congressional Medal of Honor and the National Medal of Missing: paragraphs.
Informacion sobre la vida de eratosthenes biography Eratóstenes de Cirene fue un polímata griego, conocido por sus contribuciones a la geografía, matemáticas, astronomía y filosofía. Nació en el año a.C. en la ciudad de .
Zandile msutwana place of birth Zandile Msutwana is a South African actress, presenter and voice-over artist born on 6 July in King William’s Town and she is currently 44 years old. The actress is best .
Heather van doornum biography of barack Barack Obama was the 44th President of the United States. Born to a white American mother and a black Kenyan father, he is the first African-American to hold the g: heather van doornum.
Bibiana candelas biography of abraham lincoln Abraham Lincoln () was an American politician and lawyer known for: Be the 16th president of the United States of America. Lead the United States during the Civil Missing: bibiana candelas.
Wanderlei silva born Born Wanderlei Cesar Silva on July 3rd, in Curitiba, Brazil, he has a younger sister and an older brother. His father runs a bar. As a child, he learned to fight on the streets and then .
Bertrand russell biography philosophy of mind Bertrand Russell - Who was this famous philosopher and mathematician? How did he speak of love and loneliness? Did he find the sense of belonging he longed for?