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Narrator/Casefile Host (27:58)

Thank you for listening to this episode's ads. By supporting our sponsors, you support Casefile to continue to deliver quality content. One day during the summer of 1981, two young friends drove down to Waco from the East Texas city of Tyler after hearing reports that there was a woman at New Mount Carmel who was a true prophet. The journey took over two hours for 21 year old Vernon Howell and his friend Harriet, whom he'd met at a Seventh Day Adventist church back home. Vernon had already experienced a lot of instability in his young life. His mother had given birth to him when she was just 14 years old and his father, six years her senior, had been a distant presence, refusing to even visit Vernon when he was born. Vernon and his mother Bonnie, lived with various extended family members until Bonnie married when Vernon was 2 years old. Her new husband spanked Vernon as punishment in a way Bonnie felt was excessive. She left her husband but felt overwhelmed by her situation as a young single mother in a conservative and judgemental community. She gave Vernon to her mother, Therese. Believing this was in his best interests, Vernon's grandmother posed as his mother when Bonnie visited him, she pretended to be his aunt. By the time Vernon was five, Bonnie had remarried a merchant marine named Roy and felt well enough to care for her son again. When she told Vernon who she really was to him, the truth left him feeling shocked, confused and as though his entire world had just tipped upside down. He moved in with Bonnie and Roy, who was a disciplinarian and difficult for Vernon to get along with. His parents soon had another child named Roger, who appeared to Vernon to be the favourite. Vernon would later say, I was always getting whooped by Roy for everything. While Roger got away with murder, Vernon would also later reveal that at around the same time that he reunited with his mother, one of his male relatives began sexually abusing him. The abuse, which included rape, went on for four years. He never revealed the identity of his abuser as he didn't want to upset his mother. Vernon struggled at school due to a learning disorder that has been speculated to have been attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder or adhd. But he loved church. He attended Seventh Day Adventist sermons with his mother and grandmother and would memorise entire chapters of the Bible. Vernon later dropped out of high school and became a carpenter. At 19, he fell in love with Sarah, not her real name, who was three years his junior. In violation of Texas statutory rape laws, Vernon began an intimate relationship with Sarah who soon became pregnant. Due to Vernon not believing in birth control, she terminated the pregnancy, but the two remained a couple. Sarah's father allowed Vernon to move into their home, but when Sarah became pregnant again, he threw Vernon out. Sarah also felt Vernon wasn't fit to be a father and cut off contact with him. Heartbroken, Vernon moved back in with his mother and stepfather while deciding he would devote himself to God in the hopes of improving his life and winning Sarah back. Vernon was enthusiastic about church, but the church elders were less enthused about him. He frequently interrupted Bible studies with questions and opinions. Vernon found it frustrating that all of their studies focused on long ago prophets from ancient times. He wanted to know about present day prophets and what they were saying. Vernon also spoke with the church's pastor about some sexual concerns he had. He described himself as a compulsive masturbator and was distraught over this behaviour which he considered a sin against God. The pastor encouraged him to pray and trust that Jesus could help him overcome his desires. By the time he was 20, Vernon became fixated with the idea of finding a God fearing wife which he believed would take care of his obsession with sex. He struck up a relationship with the pastor's 15 year old daughter and told the pastor she was destined to be his wife. The pastor forbade Vernon from seeing his daughter, but Vernon was adamant that he had to marry her. Ultimately, he was barred from the congregation. Not all of the other congregants disliked Vernon. A young woman named Harriet befriended him and told him about Lois Roden and the Branch Davidians. Harriet's mother had been a member of Shepherd's Rod over in California and Harriet said that Lois's congregation was highly spiritual. Even better, Lois herself was a prophet. Together they decided to pay the Branch Davidians a visit. The pair were welcomed in by the group and Vernon was mesmerised by their teachings. When Lois invited him to stay and study alongside them, he readily accepted the offer. Vernon moved into New Mount Carmel where he was something of a misfit. Some of his fellow congregants would later tell author Geoff Gwynne that Vernon wasn't quite like the rest of them. While most of the other Branch Davidians were either middle aged or children, Vernon was in his early 20s. He wore thick eyeglasses, his hair was long and straggly and he dreamed of becoming a rock star. Vernon could be awkward, mumbling when he spoke, or praying overly loudly from behind his closed bedroom door. Sometimes he spoke about inappropriate things, like his habit of masturbating too much. But Vernon could also be an asset to the group. His skills as a carpenter meant he became something of a handyman at New Mount Carmel, repairing its flimsy and rickety buildings that always seemed to be falling apart. Vernon performed this work without complaint. After he'd been living there for a few months, Lois Roden began employing Vernon as her personal chauffeur. She didn't like to drive long distances, instead preferring to use the time to reflect and think. So Vernon would drive Lois to appointments or speaking engagements. Over time, the pair grew closer. Vernon was thirsty for biblical knowledge, and Lois had lots to tell him about the other contemporary prophets who had paved the way for her. She shared with him how her husband, Benjamin Roden, had advocated for celebrating Hebraic holidays, and how she herself had experienced the revelation that the Holy Spirit was feminine. Lois suspected that Vernon might also be destined to be a prophet. This idea thrilled and honoured him. He'd always felt the presence of God in his life, even when he'd felt forsaken. Over the next two years, Vernon and Lois spent more and more time together in private Bible classes. Under Lois's tutelage, Vernon was becoming more articulate and charismatic. He mumbled less and spoke with confidence. By 1983, Lois sometimes employed Vernon as her public representative. When Lois's son George, found out that his mother was seemingly grooming Vernon to be her successor, he became angry. Worse still, he soon heard rumours that Lois and Vernon's relationship was also physical. Some members of the church had speculated for a while that the two were having sex. Even though there was a restraining order out against him, George began returning to New Mount Carmel and staying for lengthy periods. Lois didn't alert the authorities to his breach of the order for reasons unknown. Eventually, George moved back permanently and decided to air his grievances. One day, he invited all of the Branch Davidians to the chapel for an important conversation. Standing in front of the other congregants while wearing a gun at his holster, George Rhoden announced that Vernon Howell was raping his mother. The accusation didn't prompt the leadership overhaul George had likely been hoping for. Lois and Vernon ignored his claims and carried on with their private tutorials. The truth was, the pair had been having sex in an attempt to conceive a child. They drew their inspiration from some scripture found in the Old Testament Book of Isaiah and I went unto the prophetess and she conceived and bore a son. As Lois was 65 years old and past menopause, their attempts to have a baby failed. Yet Lois and Vernon remained certain that their work together was being commanded by God. In 1983, Lois took Vernon with her on a pilgrimage to Israel, where he could finally see the Holy Land described in the Bible for himself. The more Vernon worked with Lois, the stronger his own preaching abilities became. After the pair returned home from Israel, Lois invited all of the Branch Davidians at New Mount Carmel to attend a series of Bible studies Vernon would be leading, telling them, Vernon's been talking about something I think everyone should hear. Dubbed the Serpent's Root, Vernon's classes centred on the role of serpents in the Bible. Traditionally seen as a symbol of evil and deception, a serpent first appears in the Bible's very first book, Genesis, where it tempts Eve into eating fruit from a forbidden tree in the Garden of Eden. The Book of Revelation later identifies this serpent as Satan. But Vernon Howell had found Scripture to support the idea that serpents weren't always evil. In fact, if you acted as a serpent in service of the Lord, then being a serpent could be a righteous thing. Those who attended Vernon's classes were struck by how adept he was at reciting Scripture and interpreting its meaning. They were already very familiar with the Bible, but he was introducing them to ideas that felt shockingly innovative and resonant. On top of that, Vernon had an easy, folksy kind of demeanour that was warm and engaging. He sang and played guitar with an appealing, youthful energy. He'd come a long way since his first days at New Mount Carmel. Vernon continued to take on a larger leadership role within the Branch Davidians. He visited authority figures in downtown Waco as a representative of the church, introducing himself and offering to discuss the Bible. People who he visited regularly included the McLennan County District Attorney and its sheriff. Vernon built friendly relationships with them and eventually began bringing along a new recruit as well. Wayne Martin was a Harvard Law School graduate who left the Seventh Day Adventist Church to join the Branch Davidians along with his wife children. Wayne and Vernon became good friends and Wayne became the church's legal counsellor. One of Vernon's most loyal followers within the Branch Davidians was a 54 year old man named Perry Jones. Perry had first followed Victor Horteff when he started Shepherd's Rod in California, then became a Branch Davidian alongside the rodents. Before Vernon rose in the church's ranks, Perry had acted as Lois's Second in command. His wife Mary Bell and their children were members of the Branch Davidians as well. In early 1984, when Vernon Howell was 24 years old, he said he received a prophecy from God that he must marry one of Perry's daughters, Rachel, who was 10 years his junior. At 14 years old, under Texas state law, minors could marry with their parents permission. Perry and Mary Belle consented to the union and Vernon and Rachel were wed on Wednesday, January 14, 1984. Although Lois Roden was still in charge, Vernon no longer deferred to her as much as he used to. When he encouraged her to make some changes within the church, Lois listened and took his advice seriously. After a photo was taken of Lois that appeared to show her with bruises around the eyes, likely due to poor lighting, Vernon told her this was an indication she was losing her prophetic power. Lois was getting older and was not in the best of health. Having recently been diagnosed with breast cancer, Vernon felt ready to take over. Lois's son, George Rhoden wasn't happy about this. George wasn't as popular amongst the Branch Davidians as Vernon, but he still had some followers and there were a few congregants who didn't like Vernon. George began agitating against Vernon and even took his argument outside of New Mount Carmel. One day he sent a telegram to the county DA that read in part have Jim Jones type character in Waco, Texas making death threats to me and family and proclaiming mass murder at Newmount Carmel. Centre need investigation now. George's comparison of Vernon Howe to Jim Jones was a reference to the People's Temple cult leader whose crimes were covered in episode 60 of Case File. Roughly five years earlier, Jim Jones had murdered 909 individuals at his Jonestown compound in Guyana by forcing many of them to consume cyanide. The massacre had shocked Americans and its ramifications were still being felt. During the early 1980s. The DA who had established a cordial relationship with Vernon, did not investigate George's claims. Not long after this, a fire broke out at New Mount Carmel and its administration centre was burnt down. George blamed Vernon and his mother for the fire, pointing out that as the people in charge, they were responsible for anything that went wrong. Tension was rising between George and Vernon and it was being felt by the other residents of New Mount Carmel. Deciding to extricate himself before the situation worsened any further, Vernon left abruptly in mid-1984. While still maintaining a connection with the Branch Davidians, Vernon and about two dozen of his most loyal followers moved about 100 miles east of Waco to the Texan city of Palestine. They purchased 20 acres of land covered with pine trees. Members of the group made do by sleeping in cars, trucks, tents and buses while building a log cabin that would function as their headquarters. Despite the primitive and basic living conditions, Vernon and his followers were optimistic. He reassured them that this new home was merely temporary. Soon they would return to New Mount Carmel, where he would assume his rightful place as leader. By this point, Vernon's wife Rachel was pregnant with the couple's first child. Eager for his first child to be born in Israel, Vernon again travelled to the Middle east, this time accompanied by his young wife. The couple stayed in a small apartment in Jerusalem while Vernon studied the Bible with local rabbis. He also took it upon himself to fulfil some biblical scripture. In the book of Revelation, a hill outside Jerusalem called Mount Zion is measured to ensure there will be enough room for the 144,000 elect who return to the Holy Land after the final battle. Vernon wanted to see the hill for himself and make sure the area could accommodate the elect. After doing so, he and Rachel flew back to Texas. Their community was surprised to see them back before Rachel had given birth. Over time, Vernon explained that he'd received a prophecy that upended his plans. It was no longer crucial that his first child be born in Israel, as Vernon was now facing more pressing matters. While he was in Jerusalem, seven angels had taken him up to heaven where he'd received some important information. First of all, Vernon was informed that he was the same Cyrus as the king of the same name who appears in the Bible's Book of Isaiah. In 586 BC, Babylon conquered Israel and imprisoned many Jews. Almost five decades later, King Cyrus of Persia defeated the Babylonians with his army and freed the Jewish people. His actions in defense of the Jews led to Cyrus being declared a Messiah of God, the only non Jewish Messiah in the Bible. As the present day embodiment of Cyrus, it was Vernon Howell's destiny to once again help the righteous defeat Babylon. The second piece of information related to the seven seals mentioned in the Book of Revelation. It is written that only the Lamb of God can open the seven seals which must be opened in order to unleash certain events that will lead to the second coming of Christ. Although Christians traditionally believed that Jesus was the Lamb of God himself, Vernon had been told that he was actually the Lamb. Therefore, he was the only one capable of opening the seven seals and launching the end time. The final revelation was the most terrifying. In order to fulfil the prophecy outlined in the Book of Revelation, the Lamb and his followers would have to go to battle with Babylon, a term that in contemporary use meant forces that opposed their religion. During this battle, the righteous would be killed, but it was only a temporary death, and once good had finally defeated evil, they would be resurrected. With these prophecies revealed to him, Vernon explained that he was changing his name in honour of two biblical kings. His first name would be David and his surname would be the Hebrew version of Cyrus Koresh. The newly christened David. Koresh decided he needed more followers if he was going to be able to take on Babylon. Thinking there might be more opportunities to expand in a big city like Los Angeles, Koresh, his wife Rachel, and a few other followers headed to California in mid-1985. By this stage, Rachel had given birth to the couple's first child, a boy named Cyrus. The group was welcomed by some Branch Davidians who lived in the area and began seeking out potential converts. The city of Loma Linda, about 60 miles east of Los Angeles, had a large city, Seventh Day Adventist population, and even an affiliated college. Koresh spent lots of time on the college campus, striking up conversations with young students. Koresh also used his musical skills to try and draw in more members, playing his evangelical rock songs in parking lots to attract attention. He soon welcomed a young college graduate named Mark Breaux to his flock. Mark was impressed with Koresh's knowledge of the Bible and left the Adventists to become a Branch Davidian. Mark and Koresh quickly became close. Like Koresh, Mark had a strong knowledge of scripture and was also a musician. He joined a fledgling band. Koresh had started playing keys. Originally from Hawaii, Mark helped Koresh recruit more followers from the Seventh Day Adventist Church in his home state. Koresh still went back to Palestine occasionally to check in on his base, but in California, he was able to save more money than was possible in Texas. More job opportunities meant his members were expanding their incomes, and they passed that money along to him. Soon, David had enough money to travel overseas in search of international converts. When Benjamin Roden had been in charge of the church, he'd done some missionary work in Australia, which resulted in a small community of Branch Davidians there. David Koresh followed in his predecessor's footsteps. In 1986, flying to Melbourne in the hope of finding more converts. Quite a few Australians joined his church, including twins Peter and Nicole Gent and the Gyrafus family of four. They flew over to the United States to live alongside their fellow worshippers in California and Texas. Next, Koresh went to England with the intention of Recruiting Seventh Day Adventists there. England's Adventist leaders warned congregants of Koresh's arrival, and he was banned from holding Bible studies at their churches. He rented meeting halls instead and ultimately recruited 30 Britons. Many of these converts were part of what was called the Windrush generation, individuals who moved to the UK from Caribbean nations after World War II. The Seventh Day Adventist Church had become popular in the Caribbean after being introduced to the region by visiting missionaries Like Koresh's Australian converts, the British Branch Davidians eventually relocated to the United States. The 20 acres owned by the group in Palestine, Texas, wasn't large enough to accommodate its ever growing population. David Koresh was eager to return to New Mount Carmel and lead his followers from there. In the years since Koresh had left New Mount Carmel, his mentor Lois Roden had died of breast cancer and her son George was running the compound. He had renamed it Rodenville. But most of the Branch Davidians left behind didn't like George's aggressive style and soon left the church. Only a few followers remained, and finances quickly dwindled. With fewer people bringing in money, George Roden began renting out some of the cabins that had been built on the land to outsiders. The isolated setting attracted tenants who were engaging in untoward activities, including selling pornographic materials and manufacturing illicit drugs. Despite his dwindling support, George Rhoden remained fixated on David Koresh and was determined to defeat him once and for all. He knew that Koresh wanted to regain control of New Mount Carmel, so he concocted a plan to get rid of him permanently. George contacted Koresh and challenged him to a competition. Whichever one of them could raise a person from the dead was New Mount Carmel's rightful leader. If Koresh was truly doing God's work, then he should be able to resurrect a corpse, just as Jesus was said to have done centuries earlier. A year earlier, In October of 1986, George had exhumed the casket of a Branch Davidian named Anna Hughes, who had been buried in a cemetery on the property almost two decades earlier. In 1968, Anna's casket was moved into New Mount Carmel's Chapel and an Israeli flag was draped across it. George then told Koresh that whoever brought Anna back to life first could have New Mount Carmel. The loser would have to leave and never return. Rather than accept the challenge, David Koresh drove to Waco and reported to the county sheriff that George Rhoden had desecrated a grave. He asked the sheriff to arrest George for this crime. When Koresh was told that nothing could be done without evidence. Koresh left and returned a few days later with photographs of a coffin caked in dirt taken from inside the New Mount Carmel chapel. One of his contacts within the compound had snapped the pictures at Koresh's request. The sheriff and his deputies told Koresh that these photos weren't proof enough. Because the coffin was sealed shut, There was no evidence that human remains were even inside. In order to arrest George Rhoden, they would need pictures of the actual corpse. Determined to obtain the necessary evidence, on Monday, November 2, 1987, David Koresh gathered seven of his most trusted followers and took them to a Walmart. The group purchased camouflage, hunting clothes and guns. It was well known that George Rhoden carried an Uzi firearm with him at all times. If they were going onto his property, they would need to be armed as well. That night, at 3am the group sneaked on to New Mount Carmel. Dressed in camouflage and with black grease paint smeared on their faces, they brought along shotguns,22 calibre rifles and more than 3,000 rounds of ammunition. They made their way to the chapel, but Anna Hughes's coffin was gone. The group spent the next day hiding behind the property. They hadn't given up on finding the coffin's whereabouts. At one point, they spoke to some residents who were living in a house on the land and warned them that they were planning to confront George Roden. They advised the residents to leave for their own safety. They did so, but not before informing George of the situation. George, enraged by Koresh's reappearance on the compound, raced outside wearing a black cowboy hat and carrying his uzi. Is that you, Vernon? He yelled. Koresh replied, george, just leave the property. We don't want anyone getting hurt. In response, George began firing indiscriminately at Koresh and his followers. The group ducked and took cover while returning fire. Their guns were not of the same calibre as George's, but the gunfight raged on for 45 minutes. Eventually, one of the shooters on Koresh's side managed to hit the magazine on George Azuzi, which jammed the gun and rendered it useless. A metal splinter struck George's hand near his thumb, and he became pinned down behind a tree. At around the same time, sheriff's deputies who'd caught wind of the gunfight came roaring up to the property, sirens wailing. Koresh and his followers were ordered to drop their weapons and lie face down on the ground before being escorted to the local station. Ultimately, the facts were that even though George Rhoden had started firing first. Koresh and his followers had gone to his property armed and without permission. All eight of them were charged with attempted murder. Foreign. Casefile will be back shortly. Thank you for supporting us by listening to this episode. Sponsors

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Narrator/Casefile Host (60:24)

law thank you for listening to this episode's ads. By supporting our sponsors, you support Casefile to continue to deliver quality content. David Koresh and his followers received bail and returned to their site at Palestine to await their trial, which was scheduled to commence in five months time. Several weeks before their trial began, George Rhoden was taken to court after someone alerted the authorities to the fact that a restraining order still technically barred him from New Mount Carmel. Moreover, taxes hadn't been paid on the property in almost 20 years and more than $60,000 was owed to the county. George filed legal motions filled with foul language and threatened the court against ruling in Koresh's favour, stating, maybe God will make it up to you in the end and send you herpes and aids. The judge subsequently ruled that he was in contempt of court and sentenced him to six months in prison. David Koresh seized the opportunity, paying back the taxes owed on the property. The Branch Davidians, loyal to Koresh, began returning, reclaiming Rodinville as Mount Carmel again. The outside tenants George had installed were evicted and the Branch Davidians set about repairing the property. They also reported evidence of drug manufacturing to the police as well as a cache of firearms George had left behind. David Koresh and his co accused weren't allowed to own guns while they were awaiting trial. The trial began on Tuesday, April 12, 1988. All eight of the defendants were represented by attorney Gary Coker, who argued that his clients had been acting in self defence. One of the items of evidence he wished to introduce was Anna Hughes's casket, which George Rhoden had moved from the chapel to a storage shed. One day during the trial, a number of Branch Davidians attempted to carry the casket up the courthouse steps only to drop it along the way. It was subsequently removed to sit in a rotunda next to the courthouse. The judge refused to allow the casket as evidence and told the Branch Davidians to remove it immediately, stating the remains of a body are not appropriate to have sitting in a public building. Eight men, including six of the defendants, had to slowly carry the heavy casket down the street and into a waiting van. They were trailed by fellow church members as well as a television cameraman and a newspaper photographer. Defence attorney Gary Coker questioned George Rhoden on the stand. When asked if he'd tried to resurrect Danahuis, George replied, I attempted three times, yes. Ultimately, the jury acquitted seven of the defendants of their charges, but told the judge they couldn't come to a verdict against David Koresh. A hung jury was declared and the district attorney chose not to refile charges against Koresh. After George Rhoden completed his sentence, he moved to the city of Ed Odessa, almost 350 miles west of Waco. He continued to assert that he was a messiah anointed by God and the rightful Branch Davidian leader. In October 1989 he was visited by a Branch Davidian named Wayman Dale Adair, who'd left Mount Carmel. Wayman wanted to share a vision he'd had that he was actually the true Messiah. This led to an argument and George killed Wayman with an axe. He was subsequently found not guilty by reason of insanity and committed to a forensic mental health facility. He was no longer an impediment to David Koresh's leadership. In 1998, George Rhoden died of a heart attack. In 1990, Vernon Howe legally changed his name to David Karash. He was now the official head at New Mount Carmel, typically referred to as simply Mount Carmel. About 60 followers joined him there, roughly half of whom had lived there previously. The remaining half were new converts who'd relocated from Australia, the uk, Hawaii and California. Mount Carmel had attained a sort of mythical status Amongst the converts who'd heard how it was something akin to the Promised Land for the Branch Davidians. In reality, it wasn't much nicer than the basic camp the group had set up in the town of Palestine. The earth was dry and barren from the scorching Texas heat, with almost no shade thanks to trees that were stunted and sparse. Flies, mosquitoes and ants were prevalent at the site, with their presence prompting some of the Branch Davidians to dub their new home the Anthill. The dwellings had running water and electricity, but no heating or cooling. Ineffective space heaters and fans were used instead. Poor construction did little to protect the buildings from the elements and the wind that often blew across the property could be heard whistling through the plywood walls. Bunk beds were used to fit more people in. Men had an outhouse that used a septic tank, while women used chamber pots to go to the toilet. Children were tasked with digging holes and disposing of the chamber pot contents each day. Unhappy with the standard of living, some new members soon departed. David Koresh viewed this as a kind of test of their faith. Only those who were true believers remained. Over the course of several years the group redesigned and rebuilt the site. The individual houses that made up Mount Carmel were torn down and the materials were repurposed to create one sprawling multi storey L shaped building with various rooms. Branch Davidian. David Thibodeau would later describe it as a rambling two and three storey complex cobbled together out of salvaged lumber and cheap siding. At the centre was a kind of watchtower that provided a 360 degree view of the entire property and all the roads leading in. There was also a kitchen, a cafeteria, a chapel, a some offices, a gymnasium and a swimming pool. Small bedrooms were scattered throughout the first and second floors. Life at Mount Carmel was highly structured. Meals were eaten together, though the diet was basic and often consisted of just bananas and popcorn. Mandatory gatherings for prayer and quiet reflection were held every morning and afternoon and were known as the daily. These were followed by communion. The congregation was divided by gender, with women sitting on the right side and men on the left. David Koresh held group Bible studies most nights where he invited debate from his followers and encouraged exploration. These classes started at 7pm and lasted for as long as Koresh felt moved to to speak. Sometimes Koresh played his guitar, which had passages of scripture painted on it. Even though he often reminded the Branch Davidians that he was just a messenger and not a figure to be worshipped, his fluid and sometimes dramatic sermons made it easy to believe he truly was A prophet channeling godly knowledge. When Koresh spoke of the Book of Revelation and other scripture, he made Christianity's teachings feel immediate, local and alive, instead of unrelatable stories from an ancient and remote setting. Central to Koresh's teachings was the prophecy of the seven seals. He elaborated on the revelation about the seals that he'd had while staying in Israel, explaining that he, as the Lamb of God, was the only one who could reveal the seals and they had to be opened one at a time. In the Bible, the opening of the first four seals unleashes the four horsemen of the apocalypse, conquest, war, famine and death. According to K', Aresh, these first four seals were warnings that announced the impending disasters to come. The fifth seal specifically related to what would happen to Koresh and his followers when it was opened. There would be a big battle between the Branch Davidians and external forces believed to be the American government. On very rare occasions, Koresh held private one on one Bible studies with specially selected individuals. These cherished classes were revered by the Branch Davidians, and being chosen was a great honour. Sometimes Kuresh was absent from Mount Carmel. He still travelled interstate and overseas from time to time to conduct business and recruit more members. Perry Jones, his father in law, took charge of Mount Carmel whenever Koresh was away. Parents were encouraged to homeschool their children. The congregation at Mount Carmel was diverse, with members hailing from various socioeconomic, educational and racial backgrounds. Though most of the Branch Davidians were white Americans aged in their 30s and 40s, there were also quite a few black members, including most of the British converts and Koresh's highly trusted friend Wayne Martin and his family. Other Branch Davidians came from Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and the Philippines. Some were college graduates with degrees from prestigious universities such as Harvard, while others hadn't pursued tertiary studies. While some people had jobs outside of the compound, many did not and instead devoted their time to renovating and working on the property. Branch Davidians were not permitted to leave Mount Carmel at night in search of entertainment. The group held their own movie nights at the compound instead, using a television and VHS machine they'd purchased. Koresh always chose the film. He liked action blockbusters that starred Arnold Schwarzenegger. Koresh could go out at night and drove into Waco some evenings to play gigs with his band, performing a mix of covers and his own Christian themed songs. Being a rock star was still a deeply held ambition for Koresh that existed alongside his passion for the Bible. He sang vocals and played guitar at a regular Saturday night residency in a bar Called the Cue Stick. On stage, Koresh wore T shirts that read David Koresh, God Rocks. His backup musicians were all fellow Branch Davidians, with a convert from Hawaii named Steve Schneider acting as the band manager. As part of his missionary travels, Koresh sometimes went back to Southern California where he'd been based a few years earlier. While there, he tried to get a record deal and drove around with his band in a shiny silver tour bus labelled Messiah Productions. But Koresh's evangelical rock songs attracted little interest from record labels. However, the band found a new member and a convert all in one when they met a 21 year old drummer named David Thibodeau out in LA. David was playing for another band at the time and wasn't religious, but he liked Koresh's friendly smile, sincerity and down to earth manner. Over the course of several weeks, David spent time with Koresh, Steve Schneider and the band, both the jamming and discussing the Bible. David Thibodeau accepted an invitation to visit Mount Carmel and ultimately stayed on, drawn to the community and friendship there. As well as going out to bars and pubs to play music, David Koresh enjoyed additional benefits that other Branch Davidians didn't. He drank beer from time to time and also smoked cigarettes. Smoking was forbidden, but Koresh pointed to a psalm that described smoke emanating from God's nostril to justify this indulgence. Although many Branch Davidians, as converts from Seventh Day Adventism maintained a vegetarian diet, Koresh decreed that meat should be served sometimes and that everyone must eat what they were given. But it was the ultimate exception granted to David Koresh that would become the church's most notorious feature. It related to a revelation Koresh received from God that he called the New Light. Several years earlier, in the spring of 1986, while Koresh was living in Palestine, Texas, he told his 17 year old wife Rachel that God had told him to take another wife. Rachel wasn't happy about this, but she later reported that she'd had a dream that gave her the same message. Koresh chose his second bride, the daughter of a longtime Branch Davidian named Clive doyle. Like his first wife, Karen, Doyle was 14 years old when Koresh married her. Koresh's marriage to Rachel had been legal as her parents gave permission. But even though Karen's father also gave permission, this second union was illegal because Texas law forbade polygamy. David Koresh, who was now in his late 20s, soon had another revelation. He was to take several more wives. Some Branch Davidians were uncomfortable with this new decree, but Koresh could always point to scripture to support his actions. Over the next year, he married his wife Rachel's 12 year old sister Michelle, a 17 year old girl named Robyn Bunz, a 20 year old Australian convert named Nicole Gent, and a Hawaiian woman in her early 20s named Dana Okimoto. Koresh informed these girls and young women that being selected as his bride was a tremendous honour. They had been spiritually chosen to help him spread his seed. The Bible commanded that humans must be fruitful and multiply. And as the Lamb of God, Koresh's children would have a very special role to play in the end time. It is unclear how most of the chosen girls and women felt about the matter due to a lack of documentation. But because there was great status and honour in being chosen by Koresh, some of the girls may have felt as though they had a divine purpose, while others felt afraid and coerced. Some of their parents gave their approval. Others objected openly and were overruled. Although David Koresh believed that God's law trumped state and federal ones, these marriages still had to be kept secret from the authorities to prevent government interference and unpleasant consequences. A number of young male followers were asked to marry Koresh's new wives to provide legal cover for any children born to them. These relationships were purely for appearances. Each wife could perform domestic duties for her pretend husband, like doing his laundry, but they were not to be physically intimate. More than three years after his revelation to take a second wife, David Koresh announced another revelation that he called the New Light. Based on scripture in the book of revelation that described four and 20 elders who would help rule the kingdom of God. After the End Time was complete, Koresh announced that he needed to father 24 children. His offspring were destined to be the elders described in the Bible. In order to have these children, he would now become the husband of every branch Davidian woman. Women who were already married to other men were told that those relationships would cease. From now on, Koresh was their partner in every sense of the word. All men in the church, aside from Koresh, were ordered to be celibate from there on out and their marriages were annulled. Sex with partners was forbidden, as was masturbation. Only Koresh could engage in sexual activity. He reassured the other men that this was a duty, not a pleasure for him. By giving up their wives and intimate relationships, the men of the church would also be blessed. God would look kindly upon their sacrifices for him. From then on, all of the men slept on the first floor of the compound. Women, children and David Koresh had their bedrooms on the second floor. The new light was difficult for most of the Branch Davidians to accept. Even some of Koresh's most ardent and loyal followers struggled with it. One evening, David Thibodeau stumbled across Steve Schneider, one of Koresh's inner circle. Slumped over with his head in his hands, Steve confided in David that he was having difficulty accepting the new light. His wife Judy was now considered Koresh's wife, and Steve was agonising over losing her. Ultimately, however, he came to a painful kind of acceptance, asking David, if your wife had a chance to marry the lamb, would you want to hold her back? In 1990, Judy Schneider conceived a daughter with Koresh, who was born on November 6 and named Mary Minor Songbird. Every evening after Bible study, Koresh selected which wife he would spend the night with. Kathy Schroeder, a former Branch Davidian, told author Geoff Gwynne that some women would loiter around the chapel afterwards, hoping to be chosen. According to Kathy, Koresh made sure to give every woman some attention. But he had obviously favourites, including his legal wife Rachel, her little Sister Michelle, a 15 year old Australian girl called Aisha Gyrefus, and Judy Schneider. He had children with all of them. Branch Davidians observed that Koresh's preferred wives also happened to be those considered most attractive. He justified this by pointing out that God's children should be beautiful. Sometimes Koresh teased the other men, asking, I got all the women, aren't you jealous? Before reassuring them that he'd happily trade places with them if he could. It wasn't easy having to procreate so much. He didn't limit his interest to women in the church. David Koresh was infatuated with the poor pop star Madonna, who gained celebrity status during the 1980s, and he taped a photograph of her to his motorcycle. Koresh confided to one of his inner circle that God had appeared to him in a dream and said, I will give thee Madonna. He believed that this was a message Madonna would eventually hear about the Branch Davidians, move to Mount Carmel and become one of his wives. By 1993, David Koresh had 17 children. With 11 different girls and women. He was well on his way to achieving his goal of fathering. 24. Not everyone went along with Koresh's new teachings. Some of his marriages ended. Dana Okamoto began doubting what Koresh was saying and felt uncomfortable with the way children were disciplined at Mount Carmel. In 1992, she left the compound and took the two sons she'd had with Koresh. With her another wife, Robyn Buns, objected strongly to the New Light teaching that all women were Koresh's wives. Unlike Dana Okamoto, Robyn didn't live at Mount Carmel. She resided with the Californian Branch Davidians. When David Koresh caught wind that Robin was thinking of leaving the church, he took the toddler son he and Robin had together back to Mount Carmel with him. He didn't mind losing Robin, but losing one of his children was another matter. Robin was able to regain custody of her son after contacting local law enforcement. They in turn reached out to the Sheriff's department in McLennan county, and Koresh handed over the child. After receiving a visit at Mount Carmel, some couples and male Branch Davidians began to defect, too. The most significant to do so was Mark Bro, a young Californian convert who'd established a close relationship with David Koresh over the course of four years. Mark's knowledge of the Bible almost rivalled Koresh's, and Koresh believed he might be another prophet as well. Though less powerful than he was, Mark Brough had recently married another Branch Davidian, an Australian woman named Elizabeth Baronyi. He was disgusted by Koresh's New Light revelation and had no intention of allowing Koresh near Elizabeth. Mark contacted Elizabeth, who was living in Australia at the time, and informed her of the new teaching. Like Mark, Elizabeth was horrified by the idea, writing a letter to Mark that read, you are my only love, the love of my life, and I don't believe I will be able to go through with what is being asked. Mark came up with a secret plan to leave Mount Carmel and join Elizabeth. The next time Koresh travelled to California, Mark accompanied him. He then used money Elizabeth had sent him to fly from Los Angeles to Melbourne. Once in Australia, Mark Breaux began openly speaking out against his former mentor. Koresh was devastated by the loss of one of his closest followers, but he had no idea of just how detrimental Mark Grow's defection would be. Even though a few Branch Davidians had left Mount Carmel, most remained, and the population had grown steadily since Koresh had taken over in 1989. More than 120 people lived there by early 1993, and 46 of those individuals were children. Even though the group maintained a very spartan lifestyle, they still needed funds to support them. David Koresh estimated that it cost between 30 and $35 to feed each person for a month, which is between 67 and 78 US dollars in today's money. Some Branch Davidians had jobs and donated their earnings. Others contributed Social Security and pension Checks to the communal funds. Steady money came in from a car repair shop that Koresh opened. But these funds combined still weren't enough. In September of 1990, Koresh came up with a new idea after learning that one of his clients at the car repair shop was also a licensed gun dealer. What if the Branch Davidians bought second hand guns cheaply, then refurbished them and sold them at gun shows? He met with the gun dealer Henry McMahon, who schooled Koresh in the business, explaining what customers were looking for. The group began purchasing old handguns and rifles from Henry that they would repair and polish, then sell at shows all over Texas. Soon they expanded their business, buying from multiple dealers and stocking other hunting gear as well. They purchased cheap hunting vests from stores like Walmart, and then the Branch Davidian women adjusted them to add more pockets and special features. By early 1992, primary campaigns were underway for the next U.S. presidential election, and it looked as though a candidate from the Democrat party might defeat the Republican incumbent, George Bush. The prospect of a Democrat president created fears amongst some constituents that gun laws might be tightened, with the National Rifle association warning that sales of fully automatic rifles would soon be banned. People who already owned such firearms, however, would be permitted to keep them under grandfather laws. This anxiety created an increased demand for fully automatic weapons. Henry McMahon proposed that the Branch Davidians buy semi automatic weapons, then convert them to fully automatic. As only licensed gun dealers could sell fully automatic weapons, he would take care of the sales and they'd share the profits. Koresh agreed to the plan. In the spring of 1992, the Branch Davidians began buying rifle conversion kits as well as semi automatic weapons. These purchases were legal. However, converting semi automatic weapons without the proper permits and without paying taxes was illegal. The Branch Davidians didn't bother with this part of the process. As they began converting more and more firearms, David Koresh also saw a chance to build up their own arsenal. Believing that a battle between his followers and the forces of Babylon was inevitable and even imminent, he figured it made sense to be armed in anticipation of this event. Soon they had AR15 semi automatic rifles that they'd converted to fully automatic, the equivalent of an M16 assault rifle nicknamed the Meat Chopper during World War II, they bought grenade hulls along with the ingredients that would turn them into explosives, black gunpowder and powdered aluminium. At the same time that the Branch Davidians began converting weapons and preparing for an impending battle, former member Mark Brough was waging his own kind of war against them. Now living in Melbourne, he'd spoken out against David Koresh and his new light mandate to the Branch Davidians. There, Koresh's Australian followers began to falter in their belief. Mark Breaux didn't stop there. He contacted immigration officials in the us, alerting them to the fact there were foreign visitors who'd overstayed their tourist visas living at Mount Carmel. He also reached out to the family members of Branch Davidians, elected officials, journalists, law enforcement and child protective services. Mark alleged that Koresh was committing statutory rape with underage girls and accused him of physical abuse against children. Other former Branch Davidians made similar allegations. Several said they had personally witnessed David Koresh beating children as young as 8 months old with a wooden spoon. One accusation read, on one occasion, Vernon spanked my daughter for 40 minutes because she did not sit on his lap. She was eight months old at the time. Her bottom was badly bruised and he made her bottom bleed from spanking her so much. These allegations led to the opening of an investigation by McLennan County's Child Protective Services office. CPS investigations supervisor Joyce Sparks led the investigation, paying several visits to Mount Carmel. Each time, she was escorted carefully through the compound in what felt like a staged tour. However, she noted that the Branch Davidians let her speak to whoever she wanted and if she asked to see anything in particular, they would show it to her. Joyce Sparks interviewed David Koresh as well as some parents and children. No one said they had seen children being harmed and none of the children said that they had been hurt. Joyce found herself frustrated, feeling that despite their apparent transparency, everyone she spoke to at Mount Carmel was giving her answers that were prepared and well practiced. Koresh's tendency to always refer back to the Bible was also frustrating. When Joyce explained to him that they had to keep religion separate from their conversations about caring for children, he replied, I can't do that. In April 1992, Joyce Sparks closed her investigation after conducting nine weeks of interviews. She felt defeated. Joyce knew that children were being spanked as a form of corporal punishment, but couldn't find any evidence of the kind of abuse that was being alleged. Nor was there any proof that Koresh had been raping underage girls, though Joyce suspected that he was. Koresh had spoken at length about Psalm 45 from the Bible and how important it was to him. Amongst the verses of Psalm 45, which is known as the Royal Wedding Psalm, are the following. Listen, daughter, and pay careful attention. Forget your people and your father's house. Let the King be enthralled by your beauty. Honour him, for he is your Lord. Years later, something in particular that David Koresh had said to Joyce Sparks would continue to echo in her ears. Feeling persecuted by the government's interest in the goings on at Mount Carmel, he made a prediction about what was going to happen in the near future. Koresh had remarked, the enemy will surround the camp and the saints will die. There will be blood and fire. An explosion at the end. To be continued next week.

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