David Koresh (17 August 1959 – 19 April 1993), born Vernon Wayne Howell, was an American cult leader and the head of the Branch Davidians. Koresh and 82 of his followers were killed during a siege of their Waco, Texas compound by the ATF in 1993.
Biography[]
Vernon Wayne Howell was born in Houston, Texas in 1959; his father was not present, and his mother had a relationship with an alcoholic, leaving Howell with a dysfunctional household. He had poor study skills and dyslexia and was placed in special education as a result, and he joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church after having an illegal relationship with a 15-year-old and becoming "born-again". He later became involved with the Branch Davidians and claimed to be a prophet in 1983, changing his name to "David Koresh" in 1990 in honor of Cyrus the Great, who freed the Jews from Babylonia. He committed child and statutory rape, and he also took over the Mount Carmel compound in Waco, Texas from Benjamin Roden's followers after violent shootouts. Koresh's violent actions led to the ATF and US National Guard besieging the Waco compound in 1993, and, after a 51-day standoff, he set fire to the compound and shot himself. 82 of his followers died.