David Koresh, born Vernon Wayne Howell (August 17, 1959 - April 19, 1993) was a leader of the Branch Davidians, an apocalyptic Christian sect and offshoot of Shepherd's Rod and Seventh-day Adventism
The name Koresh comes from the Hebrew (or possibly Greek) version of the given name Cyrus. This was the name of the man who founded the Koreshan commune, an apocalyptic sect, in 1906 in Southwest Florida.
David Koresh joined the Branch Davidians in 1981. In 1983, he began a live-in relationship with Lois Roden, the head of the Branch Davidians. The next year, at age 24, Koresh married a 14 year old named Rachel Jones. Lois Roden's son, George Roden, soon forced them out of the Davidian compound at Mt Carmel, on the outskirts of Waco. After a brief stay in Waco, Koresh acquired some land in Palestine, Texas and moved there with his growing band of followers, most of whom had followed him from Mt Carmel. During this period, Koresh took five more teenage brides. In November 1987, Koresh and eight of his followers were arrested for attempted murder after being involved in a nonfatal shootout with George Roden at Mount Carmel. In April 1988, Koresh and his followers were freed. Koresh's case had been declared a mistrial, and his followers had been acquitted. After this, Koresh and his followers, who by now included all of the Branch Davidians, returned to Mount Carmel.
Koresh and his followers made national headlines on February 28, 1993 when agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) raided the Mt. Carmel compound after allegations arose that the Davidians were allegedly stockpiling and trading in a variety of weaponry and explosives, some of which was illegal under federal law. The force used for the raid was composed of over 70 ATF agents along with members of the Texas National Guard . Although reports of the details of the raid are sketchy and vary greatly, at least five Davidian members and four ATF agents were reportedly killed in the initial skirmish. A truce was called which in turn led to a nearly two month long standoff. The area around the compound became a crowded scene of law enforcement with large numbers of national and international media that covered the standoff daily.
The detente ended when Koresh and 74 others were killed on April 19, 1993, during an FBI assault on the Davidian compound Mount Carmel, near Waco, Texas, when a fire burned the structure to the ground. Later forensic evidence of the skeletal remains revealed causes of death ranging from smoke inhalation to bullet wounds to the head.
It is widely believed that this event inspired Timothy McVeigh to plan and conduct the Oklahoma City bombing as a response to what McVeigh viewed as governmental injustice and tyranny.
Koresh has been accused of having sexual relationships with teenagers he termed his wives, and of forcing his followers to give him excessive amounts of money. He also was accused of "stockpiling" automatic weapons and other illegal destructive devices, and of claiming to be a son of God.
Based on verses from Daniel, the Branch Davidians believed that Koresh would someday return to Earth. The date most accepted was based on Daniel 12:12. This date was 1,335 days after his death: December 14, 1996.
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Last updated: 08-05-2005 08:01:04
