Loading summary
Transcript3 lines
- [00:00]
A
In 1992, federal agents surrounded a remote cabin in the mountains of Idaho. It belonged to Randy Weaver, a Christian survivalist with links to the far right. Weaver was wanted on a minor weapons charge, but a series of blunders and misunderstandings turned the situation into an armed and deadly standoff. American Scandal brings to life some of the biggest controversies in US history. Presidential lies, environmental disasters, corporate fraud. And in the latest series, a family of religious fanatics moves to Ruby Ridge in northern Idaho to wait out the apocalypse. But their paranoia and suspicion of authority lead to a confrontation with federal law enforcement and their own personal Armageddon. I'm about to play a clip from American Scandal's Ruby Ridge standoff. Follow American Scandal on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [01:00]
B
In 1992, a deadly standoff at Ruby Ridge in Idaho shocked the nation and forever altered the way many Americans view law enforcement. This 11 day confrontation in the mountains left a legacy of animosity and distrust between the federal government and the most radical elements of the American right wing. It led directly to a surge in militia membership across the United States. And when Timothy McVeigh was apprehended for the Oklahoma City bombing three years later, he cited revenge for Ruby Ridge as a primary motive behind his atrocities. But the man at the center of it all, Randy Weaver, never intended to inspire such violence. He really just wanted to be left alone. In the mid-1980s, Randy and his wife Vicki Weaver had been driven by their obsessive religious faith to move their young family to northern Idaho. There, the Weavers fortified a ramshackle compound to prepare for the apocalypse in what they believed would be a final battle against their enemies. But in the end, their preparations for the end times became a tragic, self fulfilling prophecy. In 1991, Weaver failed to show up for trial on gun related charges and the U.S. marshals were dispatched to bring him in. What followed was a chain of misunderstandings and reckless escalations on both sides that led to multiple fatalities. In the aftermath, there would be criminal trials and congressional hearings. But despite the attempts of government officials to conceal their mistakes, eventually the truth would emerge about what really happened at Ruby Ridge. This is episode one, Visions of Armageddon. It's the morning of August 21, 1992, in the remote mountains of northern Idaho. U.S. marshal Dave Hunt barrels downhill through thick forest, clutching his rifle as distant gunshots echo through the trees. Running alongside him is one of his colleagues from the Marshal Service. A few hours ago, Hunt, this colleague and four other marshals hiked into the woods to conduct a surveillance mission. They were scouting a compound owned by a fugitive named Randy Weaver, a man Hunt has been trying to convince to surrender peacefully for months. But the mission went disastrously wrong. The Marshalls were accidentally discovered by Weaver's family, and a firefight broke out. Now at least one person is dead, and Hunt desperately needs to summon reinforcements. Hunt and his colleague break through the brush, reaching a broad meadow. The distant gunshots finally fall silent, and they risk slowing down to catch their breath. Across the meadow is a small wooden cabin. It belongs to Ruth Roe, one of the Weaver's neighbors who's been assisting the marshals with this operation. She's standing on her porch, peering at the two men who've suddenly come out of the shadows of the forest. Marshall, is that you? Everything all right? What's all that shooting? Ruth, call 911. Get the sheriff out here now. Ruth nods and disappears inside. Hunt turns to his colleague. All right, you go. Get up the road. If the Weavers try to run, cut him off. I'll call Washington. The marshals split up. Hunt's colleague heads across the meadow toward the road while Hunt hurries toward Ruth's cabin. He dashes up the steps of the small porch and strides through the door. Ruth is in the kitchen, a phone pressed to her ear. No, he's here now. She thrust the receiver at Hunt. It's the sheriff's office. Right now. He can wait. Where are your kids? You need to evacuate. They're out back, I think. What's happened up there? Well, exactly what I've been trying to avoid for the last year and a half. Hunt grabs the receiver and puts the phone to his ear. Yeah, hello, this is Marshal Dave Hunt up on the Ruby Ridge. I've got one officer dead and more pinned down. I need help real quick. Yeah, I want the state police. I want all the help I can get. I gotta go. Yeah, as quick as you can. Pont hangs up and Ruth looks shocked. What is going on? You said someone's dead. Ruth. I've got to call headquarters in Washington. But it is not safe here. Did Randy do something? Him or one of the others? It's not clear yet. One of the Weavers may be dead, too. Oh, God. Ruth, I need you to get your things, get your kids and get out of here. You understand? Like right now. Ruth nods, trembling slightly. She turns and heads toward the other end of the cabin. The calling out for her kids. Hunt dials his headquarters in Washington. He notices that his fingers are stained with blood and they tremble slightly as he dials he takes a deep breath to steady himself. Yeah, this is Operation Northern Exposure. We've had a fatality. As Marshall Hunt waits to be connected to his superiors, he stares out the window of the cabin up at Ruby Ridge. He tries to imagine what's going through Randy Weaver's mind. His hatred of the government already ran bone deep, but now the feds may have just shot and killed a member of his family. Hunt doesn't know what's going to happen next, but it's hard to imagine how Randy Weaver will ever come down that hill alive.
- [06:07]
A
You can binge all episodes of American Scandals, Ruby Ridge Standoff early and ad free by joining Wondery. Start your free trial in the Wondery app, Apple Podcasts, or spot.