David Koresh

**David Koresh** (Born **Vernon Wayne Howell**) (17 August 1959-19 April 1993) was an American cult leader and priest who was the leader of the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas. He was killed in 1993 during the Waco Siege.

## Biography

#### Early Life

David Koresh was born as Vernon Wayne Howell on August 17, 1959 in Houston, Texas. Koresh was the son of Bonnie Sue Clark and Bobby Wayne Howell. Before Koresh was born, his father abandoned his mother in favor of a teenage girl he had met. Koresh's mother began dating an abusive alcoholic who abused Koresh as a child. In 1963, Koresh's mother left with her boyfriend, leaving Koresh in the care of the grandmother, Earline Clark. Eventually, Koresh's mother returned, married to a man named Roy Haldeman, whom she later had a son with. During his childhood, Koresh suffered from dyslexia and poor study skills. When he was 19, Koresh had a sexual relation with a 15 year old girl, whom became pregnant with his child. After this, Koresh claimed he'd become a born again christian. While attending his mother's Seventh Day Adventist church, Koresh became obsessed with the pastor's daughter, even claiming he'd been given a sign from god to take her as his wife. This resulted in Koresh being thrown out of the church.

#### Work with the Branch Davidians

In 1981, Koresh moved to Waco, Texas where he became a member of the Branch Davidians where he would play guitar and sing in church services at Mount Carmel Center. In 1983, Koresh and 25 members of the Davidians were forced out of Mount Carmel and forced to exile in Palestine, Texas after George Roden felt angry towards Koresh for allegedly slept with his wife. During this time, Koresh recruited followers from California, United Kingdom, Israel, and Australia. In 1987, Koresh and the Davidians eventually returned to Mount Carmel after Koresh presented evidence that Roden had illegally exhumed a body during a challenge to "raise the dead". Koresh and his followers even tried to get photographic proof on the Mount Carmel property but the group was caught and a gunfight broke out. After the gunfight, Koresh and his followers were charged for attempted murder and stood trial which ended in a mistrial and Koresh and his followers were acquitted. In 1989 after murdering a man named Wayman Dale Adair with an axe, Roden was judged insane and sent to a psychiatric hospital, allowing Koresh and his followers to return to Mount Carmel. Koresh had his name legally changed from Vernon Wayne Howell to David Koresh on August 28, 1990. Through the years, Koresh would begin to fully believe himself to be the messiah and there were rumors that Koresh had many wives and children.

#### Waco Siege

In February of 1993, after receiving a tip that the Branch Davidians were modifying weapons illegally, agents from the ATF arrived at Mount Carmel in trucks and surrounded the main house, Koresh emerged from the front door in an attempt to speak to the agents but a gunfight broke out between the ATF and armed members of the Branch Davidians, during the fight, four ATF agents and six members of the Brnach Davidians were killed. Over the course of 51 days, Koresh and his followers held out inside the main house, surrounded on all sides by members of the ATF, FBI, and U.S Military. While under siege, Koresh and his followers made negotiations with the authorities, releasing people from inside the compound. Eventually, Koresh announced he was writing a speech to give to the FBI after they were all released following the speech but FBI became tired of waiting and ordered tanks to fill the house with tear gas, on this final assault, 76 Branch Davidians were killed, along with Koresh.