David Koresh

“ Section Three describes how media interest in the Branch Davidian Compound came to hamper ATF's raid planners and commanders. The Waco Tribune-Herald began investigating Koresh in April 1992. In October 1992, ATF learned of the Tribune-Herald newspaper's investigation. By January 1993, reporters had completed drafting the newspaper's "Sinful Messiah" series, which contained startling revelations about the Branch Davidians' life-style and possession of dangerous weapons. ”

“ KIMBERLY MARTIN
- BF 03/02/93 During the final stages of the negotiation efforts to effect a total release of all occupants of the compound, DAVID KORESH agreed to release "the rest of the children and women" (3/2/93 at 4:55 a.m.) . During the morning hours of 3/2/93, KORESH stated to Negotiators, "Children (are) like hostages because they are too young to make decisions." He also went on to state in response to a direct inquiry by the Negotiation Team, that, "If I (DAVID KORESH) wanted to commit suicide, I would have already done it!" ”

“ 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. ”

“ Failing to appreciate the significance of the undercover agent's report, they ordered the raid to proceed.
The entry teams, concealed in cattle trailers, arrived at the Compound more than 40 minutes after Koresh had received the tip. Koresh used that time to prepare a deadly ambush. As the agents exited the trailers, gunfire erupted from the Compound and cult members threw homemade handgrenades at the agents. In the face of overwhelming firepower the agents displayed extraordinary discipline and courage. ”

“ Although the planners considered trying to lure Koresh away from the Compound, they abandoned the idea quickly because of intelligence reports that Koresh rarely ventured off Compound grounds. The planners rejected a siege because of the physical attributes of the Compound, because of a fear of mass suicide, and because former cult members reported that Koresh had enough food, water, and other resources to withstand a lengthy siege. The planners decided to conduct a raid and developed a tactical plan that hinged on separating the Compound's men from the weapons. ”

“ Aguilera gathered evidence from many sources, such as records of previous deliveries to Koresh and interviews with a broad range of people, including local law enforcement officers and former cult members. The evidence that Koresh posted guards at the Compound, trained followers to fire the weapons, and believed he would have a violent confrontation with law enforcement indicated strongly that Koresh was prepared to use the arsenal he was amassing. ”

“ It serves as dangerous precedent that should not continue.
II. Factual Background On February 28, 1993 agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) attempted to serve an arrest warrant on David Koresh and a search warrant on the Branch Davidian compound outside of Waco, TX. While executing these lawful warrants, the agents were met with a hale of gunfire. ATF agents Conway C. LeBleu, Todd W. McKeehan, Robert J. Williams and Steven D. Willis died as a result of gunshot wounds inflicted during the ambush. ”

“ Project Statement The mission of the Treasury Department Office of Enforcement was to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the ATF operation, from the initiation of its investigation of Koresh's activities through the raid at the Branch Davidian Compound on February 28 and its aftermath. Under the overall supervision of Assistant Secretary Noble, a team of attorneys and law enforcement agents conducted interviews, obtained primary source materials and exhibits, viewed the Compound and other key sites near Waco, and analyzed the materials and information gathered. ”

“ Based on a review of the evidence, the section concludes that ATF focused properly on Koresh after receiving complaints from local law enforcement officials. Similarly, after reviewing evidence of firearms violations unearthed by the ATF investigation, including Koresh's purchases of weapons and accounts that he was manufacturing weapons illegally on the Compound, the section determines that ATF had a firm basis for searching the Compound and arresting Koresh. ”

“ The weapons and explosives experts also served without pay and provided the Review with written reports answering specific questions about whether the materials ATF investigators determined to have been delivered to Koresh and his followers constituted explosives or illegal firearms or whether they are commonly used to produce such items. ”

“ The Review team also began interviewing ATF agents. Because of allegations that statements by ATF management about the raid did not accurately reflect the understanding of those on the scene, the Review started by interviewing line agents who had been involved in the investigation of the case and the planning and execution of the raid. Before conducting any interviews, peer support counselors briefed the investigative team concerning the reactions they could expect from agents who had lived through the extraordinary trauma of the raid and murders on February 28. ”

“ Susan G. Rowley, Special Agent
Thomas R. Smith, Special Agent
Robert K. Tevens, Special Agent
Ina W. E. Boston, Intelligence Research Specialist
Mary Steinbacher, Correspondence Analyst
Vanessa L. Bolden, Secretary ”

“ During their conversations, Koresh would often provide lengthy presentations of his religious beliefs. Sparks developed an understanding of how Koresh thought and how he was viewed within the Branch Davidian group at the residence. When ATF sought her opinion about the raid, she stated that the Branch Davidians believed that Koresh was the Lamb of God and that they would protect him to the death. "They will get their guns and kill you," Sparks recalls saying. ”

“ The teaching included the attainment of perfection through marriage, and claimed omniscience for Koreshism, which could throw new light upon all things, including such subjects as astronomy and philosophy. The earth is not round, light is not diffused, as science teaches, and man has not five senses, but seven—so said Koresh. He described his doctrine as communistic and co-operative. The use of money was forbidden, its place being taken by cheques representing the amount of services rendered to the community. ”

“ Koresh is seen as a user of others who does not value his people as equals or human beings. He plans to catch the FBI unaware, which could include destruction by fire or explosion. "He may be prepared to do whatever he has to do to fulfill his ultimate game plan." "He is willing to kill, to see his followers die and to die himself." "Koresh's clock is running and he is fully capable of creating the circumstances to bring this matter to 'a magnificent' end in his mind, a conclusion that could take the lives of all of his followers and as many of the authorities as possible." ”

“ In traditional hostage situations, a strategy which has been successful has been negotiations coupled with ever increasing tactical presence. In this situation, however, it is believed this strategy, if carried to excess, could eventually be counter productive and could result in loss of life. Every time his followers sense movement of tactical personnel, Koresh validates his prophetic warnings that an attack is forthcoming and they are going to have to defend themselves. According to his teachings, if they die defending their faith, they will be saved. ”

“ Ross also had been in contact with Steve Schneider's sister, who had asked him to help devise a strategy to "deprogram" Schneider. The ATF also contacted Ross in January 1993 for information about Koresh. Ross also telephoned the FBI on March 27 and March 28, offering advice about negotiation strategies. Ross suggested that the FBI attempt to embarrass Koresh by informing other members of the compound about Koresh's faults and failures in life, in order to convince them that Koresh was not the prophet they had been led to believe. ”

“ FBI behavioralist Murray Miron believed that this latest attempt was merely another stalling tactic. Therefore, based on his prior behavior and manipulative personality, it was not unreasonable for negotiators to conclude that Koresh would not honor this latest promise. We would note that had Koresh been interested in surrendering to authorities, he could have done so at any time during the 51-day siege. During the same period, 37 of his followers surrendered and called into the compound to inform Koresh and others that they were being treated well and had not been hurt. ”

“ On the other hand, the FBI received an unsolicited letter from the Harvard Negotiation Project containing thoughtful and specific suggestions to assist the negotiators in formulating a framework for further negotiations with Koresh. A smaller number of offers came from individuals lacking a firm grip on reality, such as people claiming to be God or Jesus offering to "order" Koresh to leave the compound. One person was arrested on his way to the compound brandishing a samurai sword, which he said "God had told him to deliver to Koresh." ”

“ KORESH always talks about the "end", suggesting to his followers that "it is closer than you think". If KORESH dies before his followers, the women are to kill themselves and the children. If the women are unable, the men are to help them. KORESH teaches his followers that they must follow him to the "end", even if that means killing themselves.... KORESH realizes that in an environment outside of the compound, without his controlover the followers, he would lose his status as the Messiah, thus a mass suicide ordered by KORESH cannot be discounted. ”

“ 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. ”

“ Schroeder had been shot by ATF agents on February 28 when he and two other individuals ambushed the agents. A handgun was also discovered with the body.
In a conversation with negotiators beginning at 2:45 p.m., Koresh agreed to send Mark Anthony Jones, age 12, out of the compound as soon as Koresh completed his "Bible study" with the negotiators. Koresh launched into his monologue at 2:48 p.m., and continued without interruption until 3:51 p.m. This "Bible study," as with Koresh's other preaching and sermonizing, rambled and made little sense, except perhaps to his followers. ”

“ Also, the prosecutors had to develop a legal strategy to separate those individuals who would be criminally charged from those individuals who were merely witnesses, and to ensure that all were either held in jail or released with sufficient guarantees to ensure their appearances at trial.
During the early conversations, Koresh informed the negotiators that he had been wounded. He had been shot in the hip area with the bullet exiting the area of his upper buttocks. He had also been shot in the left wrist. ”

“ Negotiations occurred almost constantly 24 hours a day. Despite a steady rotation of negotiators, it is clear from the transcripts that negotiators allowed their emotions to influence the discussions. The FBI did not take appropriate steps to understand the mindset of the subjects of the negotiations. Numerous experts offered their advice on the specific beliefs of Koresh and the Davidians. Throughout the process, it is clear that the negotiators did not engage the Davidians in meaningful negotiations by ignoring the Davidian point of view. ”

“ Koresh told his next door neighbor that he believed that the self- identified "college students" were too old to be actual college students, with cars too new and expensive to be owned by college students. He commented that they were probably Federal agents. [14] The agents were also informed by one of Koresh's neighbors shortly after they began surveillance that Koresh suspected they were not what they claimed to be. [15] On one occasion, the Davidians visited their new neighbors in the undercover house to deliver a six pack of beer, but the occupants of the house would not let them in. ”

“ Ultimately, the most useful information came from those experts (both inside and outside the FBI) from whom the FBI solicited information. These experts supplied a wide range of information about Koresh's state of mind and behavior, and provided input on some of the most important issues the FBI faced. For example, many of the experts agreed that the possibility of mass suicide existed, but no consensus emerged about the likelihood of suicide. [1] Significantly, all the experts agreed that Koresh would not leave the compound voluntarily. ”