The Waco Siege.

Cult Compound in Waco, Texas Raided (1993): After hearing reports that Branch Davidian cult leader David Koresh had been abusing children and amassing a store of weapons, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) gathered resources and planned to raid the Branch Davidian compound, known as the Mount Carmel Center located just outside of Waco, Texas. With a warrant to search for illegal firearms in hand, the ATF attempted to storm the compound on February 28, 1993.

A gunfight ensued (debate continues over which side fired the first shot). The shooting lasted nearly two hours, leaving four ATF agents and five Branch Davidians dead.

For 51 days, the ATF and the FBI waited outside the compound, using negotiators to try to end the stand-off peacefully. (There has been much criticism as to how the government handled the negotiations.)

Although a number of children and a few adults were released during this period, 84 men, women, and children stayed in the compound.

On April 19, 1993, the ATF and FBI attempted to end the siege by using a form of tear gas (called CS gas), a decision approved by US Attorney General Janet Reno. Early in the morning, specialized tank-like vehicles (Combat Engineering Vehicles) punctured holes in the compound’s walls and inserted CS gas. The government was hoping that the gas would safely push the Branch Davidians out of the compound.

In response to the gas, the Branch Davidians shot back. Just after noon, the wooden compound caught on fire.

While nine people escaped the blaze, 75 perished either by gunshot or by fire inside the compound. Twenty-five of the dead were children. Koresh was also found dead, from a gunshot wound to the head.

“She was the only woman especially that would stand up to him every once in a while, that would question his authority, that would always voice her opinion even if she knew he wouldn’t hear it.” Melissa on Rachel Koresh.

The Cult of David Koresh

David Koresh, born Vernon Wayne Howell, believed that he was the final prophet of the Branch Davidians religious movement.

The Branch Davidians, founded by Ben Roden, worshiped at a compound known as Mount Carmel near Waco, TX. Upon Ben Roden’s death, his wife, Lois, became leader of the church as the group’s prophetess.

Lois’s son, George Roden, considered himself to be the rightful heir to Mount Carmel, but Koresh had other plans. It’s believed that Koresh, in his late 20s at the time, had a sexual relationship with Lois Roden, despite the fact that she was in her late 60s. Koresh claimed that God told him to have a child with Lois, an idea that upset George Roden.

After mounting tensions, Roden forced Koresh and his devoted followers off Mount Carmel at gunpoint.

Roden later challenged Koresh to a contest - whichever man could raise the dead would become the leader of the Branch Davidians. Roden even exhumed a body with which the contest would take place and Koresh went to alert authorities, leading to Roden’s later arrest and Koresh’s takeover of the Davidians.

Koresh led for 3 years, during which he encouraged marriage to underage girls and had sex with his 14-year-old wife and her 13-year-old sister.

On February 28, 1993, the ATF raided the compound after hearing that Koresh was abusing children and stockpiling weapons, leading to a 51-day siege on the compound.

During the siege, 21 children were released from Mount Carmel into FBI custody where it was revealed that the children had long been abused. Attorney General Janet Reno then approved the FBI’s request to mount an assault.

On April 19, the FBI attacked. They blew holes in the sides of the buildings and threw in tear gas. When Branch members fired upon the agents, the FBI responded with grenades and more tear gas.

A few hours later, fires broke out throughout the compound and an explosion occurred.

Only 9 of the Davidians escaped the fire, however 76 people, including 5 children, died within the walls as a result of smoke inhalation, burns, gunshots or stabbing.