David Koresh

US cult leader, David Koresh was born Vernon Howell in West Texas. His mother Bonnie Holdman was only 14 when his illegitimate birth occurred. Koresh's childhood was disruptive. A dyslexic he dropped out of school in the 9th grade. He was kicked out of his SDA church for 'ranting and raving' and went to Hollywood to try and make it as a rock star. After failed attempts at obtaining his dreams he went to Mt. Carmel religious commune outside Waco, Texas in 1983. It was run by a splinter faction from the SDA church who called themselves Branch Davidians that was formed by Bulgarian Victor Houteff in the 1930s. Koresh began to preach at Mt. Carmel. He even claimed to be an angel sent by God and wanted to combine rock and roll along with religion. Koresh was expelled from Mt. Vernon along with 25 disciples. They went on an aimless trek through the South West until they stopped at Palestine, Texas. On Tuesday, November 3, 1987 Koresh and his followers tried to take over the Mt. Carmel commune by force. They fired machine guns at the commune, and in turn, they were fired back upon. The local authorities intervened and jailed members from both sides. However Koresh got out on bail and finally took over Mt. Carmel. His rival was deemed mentally unsound and charges were dropped in the trial in 1988. Koresh was now in total control of Mt. Carmel. He began to attract largely vulnerable and insecure people to his "flock". Koresh got married to a 14 year old girl but decided that he could have a "harem of many wives" as he wanted. He set up a harem which he called his "house of David". Some of his concubines were as young as 10 years. He created a goon squad that he called "mighty men". Koresh then claimed that he was not only the only one allowed to have as many 'wives' as he wanted, but also the only one who could have a wife. He eventually 'married' as many as 19 cult women and fathered at least 12 of their children. In 1990 he legally changed his name to David Koresh (a combination of "King David" and the Hebrew name for Cyrus the Great). Koresh had now become an absolute dictator. While his disciples worked on the farm in the sweltering heat he stayed inside an air-conditioned indoors. He even changed the name of the commune to Ranch Apocalypse. Koresh gradually began building an arsenal at the Ranch. They had a .50 caliber machine gun and over 300 firearms amounting to 11 tons of firepower in all. A bus was even buried to act as a bunker! The FBI became concerned about the developments at Koresh's Ranch. On Sunday, February 28, 1993 they launched a command raid on the Ranch. The siege lasted 51 days. Finally tired of waiting, the FBI used tear gas bombs, (designed like hand grenades) and sent in tanks. A fire broke out in the ranch. By the time they were able to break in and put if out they found David Koresh along with 75 followers dead (including 25 children, 12 his own).