Edward S.G. Dennis, Jr.

“ Koresh knew that he and other Davidians would be arrested and charged with murder of the ATF agents. Koresh and others in the compound were acutely aware of the secular consequences of their acts. Texas has the death penalty by lethal injection. At one point in the negotiations Koresh joked, "When they give me the lethal injection, give me the cheap stuff, huh?". Efforts were aimed at convincing Koresh that if he and the others exited the compound they would be treated well and that they might "beat the rap." ”

“ On March 26 the negotiator told Schneider that 10 people must come out by noon. The negotiators' log reflects that Schneider became angry and said that "These people don't care! You can kill us whatever, these people fear God (not you) ." The log reflects on March 25 an interview with Lisa Gent, mother of Peter and Nicole, in which she reported that Peter may have known of plans for a mass suicide. On March 26 Dr. Bruce Perry, a psychiatrist from Baylor University who interviewed the released children, reported that he suspected the children may have heard talk about suicide from adults. ”

“ Even if the FBI had been more keenly aware of his intentions, it was limited to gassing the compound as the only non-lethal means of resolving the crisis. The probability that the FBI could have broken Koresh's hold over his followers through negotiations was extremely low based upon what we have learned following the incident. ”

“ Some negotiators believe that as a result of these actions the Davidians concluded that the negotiators had no influence over the decision makers and that the FBI was not trustworthy. Several negotiators and behavioral scientists expressed the opinion that although David Koresh and his core lollowers may never have come out through negotiation, more people might have exited the compound voluntarily during the stand-off if the negotiation strategy had been followed more rigorously. ”

“ The memo advises doing the opposite of what one would do in traditional hostage negotiations with a psychopath (i.e. wresting control) , but rather moving back would be taking power from Koresh. It concludes " [t] he bottom line is that we can always resort to tactical pressure, but it should be the absolute last option."
A memo dated March 9, 1993, recommends that efforts should be made to break Koresh's spirit because his psychopathic tendencies to control and manipulate have caused the negotiations to meet with limited success. ”

“ He said because Kathy Schroeder was charged with murder, he does not think anyone else will come out. However, Schneider affirmed that he was not going to commit suicide. Schneider asked if he could speak with an FBI chaplain and suggested a face-to-face meeting with his attorney, Jack Zimmerman, Sheriff Harwell and the chaplain from Baylor who had sent in the letter. Schneider told the negotiator that what would work would be to "throw a match to the building, people will have to come out." Koresh had not come to the phone for days, despite repeated requests by the negotiators. ”

“ For the stand-off in Waco the FBI called upon the services of the Criminal Investigative Analysis subunit, which falls under the Investigative Support Unit of the FBI's NCAVC. The special agents in this subunit offer assistance such as personality assessments of known individuals, suggestions as to strategy and on-site assistance with major violent crimes. ”

“ Carmel on February 28, set up its command posts and began telephone negotiations with the people inside the compound. It was estimated that over 100 men, women and children with nearly 250 weapons were inside the compound. The compound was stocked with a year's supply of food rations and was otherwise prepared to withstand an extended siege. David Koresh, the group's charismatic leader, had been wounded in the gun battle with ATF.
Early negotiations were successful, and twenty-one children and two elderly adults exited the compound during the first six days of the stand-off. ”

“ Thirteen adult bodies had fatal gunshot wounds. Most of these wounds were gunshot wounds to the head. Several adults died of gunshot wounds to the chest and face. Two adults were fatally shot in the back. Three young children were shot to death and one three year old boy was fatally stabbed in the chest. Two other minors suffered fatal blows to the head. Koresh died of a gunshot to the mid-forehead. Schneider died of a gunshot wound of the mouth. The bodies of Koresh and Schneider were found in the communication room of the compound. ”

“ Thus if the FBI continued to wait, they were looking at possibly one year of negotiation during which time they could not protect against disaster, such as a gun battle, an explosion or people breaking into the compound. ”

“ Koresh finally came to the telephone that afternoon and told the negotiators he knew his life would be over once he went into their hands. He said he knew he would be charged with murder when he came out. He requested six gallons of milk and they were sent in. On that day several people tried to enter the compound but were apprehended.
During the clearing operations on March 28 the adults held children up to the windows. Concern is reflected on the log that they might use the children as shields if fighting broke out. ”

“ The FBI did anticipate that a fire might occur at the compound. Fire fighting equipment was not kept close to the scene because the heavy weaponry used by Koresh and his followers presented unacceptable risks to fire fighters. In any event, the independent arson experts concluded that the fire spread so quickly in the poorly constructed compound that even prompt fire fighting efforts would have been ineffective. ”

“ A comprehensive factual report is being prepared by the Department and the FBI. I have primarily relied upon the record gathered by the Department as the basis for the conclusions in this Report, supplemented by a number of follow-up interviews. However, I am satisfied that the factual inquiry by the Department was conducted in a thorough and objective manner. ”

“ On March 20 the FBI agreed to turn off the loudspeakers in honor of the Davidians' Sabbath. Schneider told the negotiators the afternoon of the 20th that a lot of people might be coming out. That night Koresh was allowed to speak with Branch and Whitcliffe who had left the compound and to give them a Bible study over the phone. Shortly after midnight Victorine Hollingsworth and Anetta Richard exited the compound. ”

“ However, one released member said there was a suicide plan. Other released members denied there was a suicide plan. In any event, the risk of suicide was taken into account during the negotiations and in the development of the gas plan. ”

“ The negotiators opposed this decision, arguing that as on March 12, it would harm the negotiations to have negative actions taken when many people had come out and there was talk of others coming out the next day. The night of March 21 and the early morning hours of March 22 the FBI cleared vehicles around the compound, played loud Tibetan chants on the loudspeakers and used the external floodlights. Schneider complained to the negotiators that the last time people came out the power was cut off and this time they were rewarded with the loud music. ”

“ The negotiators reported that they were not satisfied with the quality of the information flowing from the tactical components to the negotiators. The negotiators complained that the tactical representative in the command center did not use the RAPID START system, but generally reported information orally and the negotiators rarely received any written intelligence information generated by the tactical teams unless they actively sought it out. ”

“ It was determined that a second opinion should be obtained from the military on the viability of the plan and more information should be gathered on the effects of CS gas.
On April 14, 1993 another meeting was held at FBI headquarters. Military commanders provided their assessment of the plan. The results of studies of the effects of CS gas, including the effects on children, pregnant women and the elderly were discussed. During the meeting it was noted that American soldiers are exposed to CS gas as part of their routine training. ”

“ Dr. Park Dietz, a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of California, was consulted by the FBI. Dr. Dietz is under contract with the FBI as a forensic psychiatrist. ”

“ He suggested that if a theologian could convince the people that Koresh was wrong, maybe some 40 to 50 people would come out. The log reflects that Arnold had contacted the FBI early in the stand-off and offered to assist them. A tape of Arnold was later sent into the compound. On March 17 tapes of released members with positive comments about their release were played over the loudspeakers. Busses were brought within view of the compound. The loudspeakers addressed the Davidians telling them the busses were to transport them after their exit. ”

“ Footnotes ↑ HRT members threw diversionary "flash-bangs" at some Davidians who came outside the compound after the Davidians had been told not to do so near the end of the stand-off. Although flash-bangs make a loud noise which might be mistaken for a gunshot, they are non-lethal devices only intended to stun and confuse the target. ”

“ Gas was inserted-through windows in the compound-from a boom attached to CEV-1 by means of a Mark V System, which is a liquid tear gas dispenser which will shoot a stream of liquid tear gas approximately 50 feet for a duration of approximately 15 seconds. ”

“ ATF specifically requested the assistance of the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team ("HRT") , a highly trained and rigorously selected counter terrorist unit designed for high threat tactical assignments. FBI SWAT teams were deployed along with a full crisis management team consisting of three SACs and four ASACs supervising two command posts with full technical support. ”

“ Fatigue may have been the single most debilitating factor working against the FBI in the stand-off. REDACTED FROM PUBLIC REPORT PENDING RELEASEOF IMPOUNDED MATERIAL. Evaluate funding for the development of a chemical means to render individuals unconscious for a period of time without warning. ”