Koresh, page 45
“No, well, let me”: FBI negotiation transcript, tape #184, pp. 28–29.
The FBI was all punk talk: FBI negotiation transcript, tape #193, pp. 24–25.
“You’re all going to hell”: Mark Smith, “Koresh urged disciples to ‘kill for God,’” Houston Chronicle, February 3, 1994.
“He not only understood”: Kat Schroeder video, YouTube, Part 11. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQx9MzgNNio.
“reckless disregard”: Susan Aschoff, “After the ‘war’ at Waco,” Tampa Bay Tribune, February 28, 2000.
“Don’t make me go”: FBI negotiation transcript, tape #140, pg. 46.
“Of course, the prophets say”: FBI negotiation transcript, tape #136, pp. 27.
“I guess they take your clothes”: FBI negotiation transcript, tape #141, pp. 37–38.
“They’re on their way?”: FBI negotiation transcript, tape #144, pg. 59.
“Hey, we’re going to sub you”: Interview with Gary Noesner.
“I don’t think anybody else”: “The Waco Siege—BPR Interviews: Gary Noesner Part 1—Brown Political Review.”
His gut told him: Interview with Jim Jamar for “Waco: The Inside Story,” Frontline, PBS, August 7, 1995.
CHAPTER 45: ACCEPTANCE
the compound was getting rancid: Pamela Colloff, “The Fire That Time,” Texas Monthly, April 2008.
Babies cried: Ibid.
“If they go Barry Manilow”: Sam Howe Verhovek, “Decibels, Not Bullets, Bombard Texas Sect,” New York Times, March 25, 1993.
told agents to pull the chants: “The Tragedy at Waco: New Evidence Examined,” pg. 1011.
David read the letter: Sara Rimer, “From Hope to Ashes: F.B.I. Negotiator Looks Back,” New York Times, April 19, 1993.
“Again, this is not a threat”: FBI negotiation transcript, tape #162, pg. 4.
“I really am not anymore”: FBI negotiation transcript, tape #162, pg. 16.
“A lot of people here”: FBI negotiation transcript, tape #162, pg. 32.
“I know it”: FBI negotiation transcript, tape #162, pg. 39.
He and Judy: FBI negotiation transcript, tape #175, pg. 27.
“All of a sudden”: FBI negotiation transcript, tape #186, pg. 36.
“Tell me honestly”: FBI negotiation transcript, tape #214, pp. 31–32.
He had wrinkles: FBI negotiation transcript, tape #174, pg. 10.
“I’m looking forward”: FBI negotiation transcript, tape #173, pg. 53.
“We don’t have much time”: Kenneth R. Samples, Erwin M. de Castro, Richard Abanes, and Robert J. Lyle, Prophets of the Apocalypse: David Koresh and Other American Messiahs (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1994), pg. 181.
Put a match: FBI negotiation transcript, tape #175, pg. 52.
“Sometime when you have a chance”: Ibid., pg. 55.
But Jamar stuck by his guns: Interview with Jim Jamar for “Waco: The Inside Story,” Frontline, PBS, August 7, 1995.
On March 27: Interview with Byron Sage.
“You don’t know”: FBI negotiation transcript, tape #205, pg. 17.
“Yeah, my babies”: FBI negotiation transcript, tape #184, pg. 23.
“Half the time”: FBI negotiation transcript, tape #tape 212, pg. 3.
“Well, some people”: FBI negotiation transcript, tape #217 pg. 36.
Even the tactical guys: FBI negotiation transcript, tape #239, pg. 25.
The figure of two hundred million: Marc Breault, “The Psychology and Theology Behind David Koresh and the Branch Davidians,” Marc Breault Ramblings (blog), April 30, 2018. blogspot.com/2018/04/the-psychology-and-theology-behind.html.
“He has to figure”: Mark England, “Crisis Point at Passover,” Waco Tribune-Herald, April 4, 1993.
“The thing about the Lake Waco area”: FBI negotiation transcript, tape #203, pg. 7.
City officials ordered: Darlene McCormick, “FBI will let lawyer have 1 last talk: Today’s conversation with cult leader could be final allowed until standoff,” Waco Tribune-Herald, April 14, 1993.
“Vernon used to teach”: Tommy Witherspoon, “‘Yahweh’ contacts Howell: Letter allegedly written by God and delivered to Davidians called a sign by some, a decoy by others,” Waco Tribune-Herald, April 11, 1993.
“He’s trying to tell”: Mark England, “2nd letter promises no peace: Messages warns FBI not to harm Howell, ‘God’s lamb,’” Waco Tribune-Herald, April 13, 1993.
“all the hallmarks”: “The Tragedy at Waco: New Evidence Examined,” pg. 380.
“Koresh is probably”: Ibid., pg. 403.
CHAPTER 46: THE MANUSCRIPT
The negotiator said that Hillary: FBI negotiation transcript, tape #213, pg. 39.
Concertina wire: “The Tragedy at Waco: New Evidence Examined,” pg. 18.
“We can’t grade your paper”: Chris Plante, “Army reportedly declined to review FBI approach to Waco siege,” CNN News, August 31, 1999.
One of the participants: “The Tragedy at Waco: New Evidence Examined,”, pg. 988.
Around this time: Natalie Russell, “I’m in Poland, and Waco Is Burning,” UVA Miller Center website, April 19, 2017; interview with Bernard Nussbaum.
“I’ll be in custody”: “Witness to Waco,” MSNBC documentary, 2009. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLKPNvyrM30.
“They’re going to say”: “The Branch Davidians—David Koresh,” Cults, Stitcher podcast, Part 5.
“When it comes”: FBI negotiation transcript, tape #233, pg. 10.
Jamar and the others: “Revelations of Waco: The Legacy of Waco,” Waco, directed by Dwight Fisher, February 28, 2018, Paramount Network.
“Wait a minute”: “The Tragedy at Waco: New Evidence Examined,” pg. 990.
Hubbell recalled: Ibid., pg. 1027.
If supplies ran short: Ibid., pg. 873.
“I can’t say”: Ibid., pp. 39, 71.
Clinton’s account of the conversation: Clinton’s version of the story is contained in Bill Clinton, My Life (New York: Knopf, 2004), pg. 498.
“It is your decision”: “The Tragedy at Waco: New Evidence Examined,” pg. 995.
“Hello Dick”: J. J. Robertson, Beyond the Flames (San Diego: ProMotion Publishing, 1996), pg. 269.
“If you look”: FBI negotiation transcript, tape #242, pg. 12.
“The Constitution has been so ripped apart”: Ibid., tape #242, pg. 16.
CHAPTER 47: LETTERS
Journalists tracked down Sandy: Unless otherwise noted, material in this section comes from multiple interviews with Sandy.
More letters from the public: FBI Records: The Vault—Waco Main File Part 01 of 10, March 7. https://vault.fbi.gov/waco-branch-davidian-compound.
One of the Davidians: Pamela Colloff, “The Fire That Time,” Texas Monthly, April 2008.
CHAPTER 48: GAS
“Steve? This is Byron Sage”: FBI negotiation transcript, tape #245, pg. 3.
the Davidians snapped awake: Pamela Colloff, “The Fire That Time,” Texas Monthly, April 2008.
“These fucking idiots”: FBI negotiation transcript, tape #245, pg. 7.
they spotted followers: Interview with Jim McGee.
A lot of gas: Ibid.
Rogers radioed his okay: “The Tragedy at Waco: New Evidence Examined,” pg. 5.
three pyrotechnic rounds: Special Counsel John C. Danforth, Final Report to the Deputy Attorney General (Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office, 2000), pp. 29–30.
It had missed Byron: Pamela Colloff, “The Fire That Time,” Texas Monthly, April 2008.
“Holy shit”: “The Tragedy at Waco: New Evidence Examined,” pg. 899.
Inside, Clive Doyle: “The Branch Davidians: In Their Own Words,” Uncontrolled Video, 2016. www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqhnM0KfrHg.
At around 10:30 a.m.: Paul Anderson, Janet Reno: Doing the Right Thing (New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1994), pg. 193.
“I want a fire on the front”: This excerpt and the ones to follow are drawn from various sources: Lee Hancock, “How the Branch Davidians Set the Fires for a Self-fulfilling Prophecy of their Doomsday,” Dallas Morning News, April 18, 2018; Teresa Talerico, “Recordings May Reveal Fire’s Origins,” Waco Tribune-Herald, February 15, 1994; “The Tragedy at Waco: New Evidence Examined,” pg. 1532.
Graeme Craddock saw: “Admissions of Branch Davidians,” Interim Report to the Deputy Attorney General, July 21, 2000, pg. 8. https://www.hsdl.org/?view&did=731749.
The operative thought the man: Ibid., pg. 123.
“It’s going to go up”: Interview with Jim McGee.
A local man: J. J. Robertson, Beyond the Flames (San Diego: ProMotion Publishing, 1996), pg. 310.
Flashes of fire: “Turning Point, Waco: The Untold Story,” ABC News special, 1994.
“Who are you?”: Interview with Jim McGee.
“Steve, David, we’re attempting”: FBI negotiation transcript, tape #245, pp. 10–11.
Byron turned his back: Interview with Byron Sage.
“You will not be harmed”: FBI negotiation transcript, tape #247, pg. 10.
“Oh, my God”: “The Tragedy at Waco: New Evidence Examined,” pg. 875.
About ten others: “The Branch Davidians: In their Own Words,” Uncontrolled Video, 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqhnM0KfrHg.
There were no gas masks: Muriel Pearson, “Survivors of 1993 Waco siege describe what happened in fire that ended the 51-day standoff,” ABC News, January 3, 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LB6nvIqX2g
Heat began pressing: “The Branch Davidians: In Their Own Words,” Uncontrolled Video, 2016. www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqhnM0KfrHg.
He turned around: “The Tragedy at Waco: New Evidence Examined,” pg. 660.
When he looked back: Katy Forrester, “Waco survivor says Netflix show finally exposes the FBI’s ‘horrifying crimes’ and the real story is more disturbing,” Irish Sun, May 29, 2020.
Doyle staggered forward: “Revelations of Waco: The Legacy of Waco,” Waco, directed by Dwight Fisher, February 28, 2018, Paramount Network.
“David, don’t do this”: FBI negotiation transcript, tape #247, pg. 11.
Ten minutes after: Drew Parma, “Bunker last refuge for most in cult: Last remnant of compound has yielded more than half of bodies found,” Waco Tribune-Herald, April 30, 1993.
Byron stopped talking: Eric Benson, “The FBI Agent Who Can’t Stop Thinking About Waco,” Texas Monthly, April 2018.
A T-intersection: Interview with Bill Johnston.
At one point: Pamela Colloff, “A Mother’s Words,” Texas Monthly, February 2009.
“Please, let David be gone: “Witness to Waco,” MSNBC Documentary, 2009. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLKPNvyrM30.
Kat Schroeder, watching: Jeff Truesdell, “Waco Survivors Still Believe Cult’s Teachings 25 Years After Siege,” People, January 24, 2018.
“He’s been done shitty”: Darcey Steinke, “The Waco Siege,” Spin, July 1993.
“Let’s go to the studio”: BBC Radio 5 Podcast, End of Days, 2018, “Episode Six: Blind Faith.”
Gail Monbelly, whose sister: Ibid.
Sandy was still hiding: Interview with Sandy.
Bernard Nussbaum: Natalie Russell, “I’m in Poland, and Waco Is Burning,” UVA Miller Center website, April 19, 2017; interview with Bernard Nussbaum.
“What is this?”: Lou Michel and Dan Herbeck, American Terrorist: Timothy McVeigh and the Oklahoma City Bombing (Pennsauken Township: BookBaby, 2015), pg. 247.
To reach the bunker: Interim Report to the Deputy Attorney General, July 21, 2000, pg. 126.
Byron understood immediately: Eric Benson, “The FBI Agent Who Can’t Stop Thinking About Waco,” Texas Monthly, April 2018.
Throughout the day: Brad Bailey and Bob Darden, Mad Man in Waco (WRS Publishing, 1993), pg. 1.
She, pointedly: Paul Anderson, Janet Reno: Doing the Right Thing (New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1994), pg. 194.
“Reno was being praised”: Bill Clinton, My Life (New York: Knopf, 2004), pg. 499.
Late that evening: Anderson, Janet Reno, pg. 196.
The phone rang again: Ibid., pg. 198.
After leaving the compound: Interview with Byron Sage.
CHAPTER 49: BODIES
“YOU HAVE BROUGHT”: FBI Records: The Vault—Waco Main File Part 01. https://vault.fbi.gov.
“The Bureau’s efforts”: “The Tragedy at Waco: New Evidence Examined,” pg. 575.
Publicly, she continued: Michael Isikoff and Thomas Pierre, “Reno says decision fully hers,” Waco Tribune-Herald, April 20, 1993.
Most of the others: Interim Report to the Deputy Attorney General, July 21, 2000, pg. 132.
David Koresh had been shot: Darlene McCormick, “The Price of Loyalty,” Waco Tribune-Herald, May 12, 1993.
David was found: Eric Benson, “The FBI Agent Who Can’t Stop Thinking About Waco,” Texas Monthly, April 2018.
One family huddled together: Turning Point, Waco: The Untold Story, ABC News special, 1994.
On the second floor: Ibid.
Among the debris: Darlene McCormick, “Remains show cult’s dual life: Officials find evidence of group’s aggressive and peaceful nature,” Waco Tribune-Herald, May 30, 1993.
Even more mysterious: Mark England, “‘No one wants to help’: Troubled brother-in-law wants to clear cult member’s death,” Waco Tribune-Herald, January 23, 1994.
“There’s no way”: No author, “Waco Inferno Remembered By Davidians,” New York Times, April 18, 1994.
“I think he’ll show up”: Sam Howe Verhovek, “Investigators Puzzle Over Last Moments of a Cult,” New York Times, May 5, 1993.
“I have my faith”: Pamela Colloff, “The Fire That Time,” Texas Monthly, April 2008.
“This is going to be”: Mark England, “Decimated compound draws crowds anyway: ‘This is going to be like Graceland,’ shirt merchant says,” Waco Tribune-Herald, July 6, 1993.
“Yeah. No problems”: Interview with Jim McGee.
Arson dogs were brought in: Interim Report to the Deputy Attorney General, July 21, 2000.
Seven of the nine survivors: “Revelations of Waco: The Legacy of Waco,” Waco, directed by Dwight Fisher, February 28, 2018, Paramount Network.
The body of one: Interim Report to the Deputy Attorney General, Medical Analysis, July 21, 2000, pp. 10-11.
Corderman pointed out: “The Tragedy at Waco: New Evidence Examined,” Congressional report, December 28, 2000, pg. 13.
One agent, Charles Riley: Jonathan Weisman, “Doubts raised on Waco cover-up; Documents found in House files refer to military tear gas,” Baltimore Sun, September 14, 1999.
the flashes found: “The Tragedy at Waco: New Evidence Examined,” pg. 21.
“almost all the agents”: Gordon Mclean, “The Noisy Echoes of Waco,” Vice, April 20, 2013.
“Yeah, I mean”: Interview with Chuck Hustmyre.
ATF KILLS FAMILIES: “Revelations of Waco: The Legacy of Waco,” Waco, directed by Dwight Fisher.
“Waco can happen”: Tara Isabella Burton, “The Waco tragedy, explained,” Vox, April 19, 2018.
“Waco started this war”: Clyde Haberman, “Memories of Waco Siege Continue to Fuel Far-Right Groups,” New York Times, July 20, 2015.
The journalist Mark Potok: Interview with Mark Potok.
“I hope you get”: Interview with Byron Sage.
CHAPTER 50: SPECTERS
After the fire: Unless otherwise noted, the material in this section comes from multiple interviews with Sandy.
Once, someone sent her: Charles Saul and Kathy Fair, “David Koresh ‘was a prophet,’” Houston Chronicle, June 27, 1993, Page 1.
“You know the war”: Susan Aschoff, “After the ‘war’ at Waco,” Tampa Bay Tribune, February 28, 2000.
“Sinful Messiah” series was named: J. B. Smith, “Branch Davidian tragedy at 25: How the story overtook the storytellers,” Waco Tribune-Herald, February 24, 2018.
“I think he felt”: Ibid.
One law enforcement official: Robert Bryce, “The Wounds of Waco,” Texas Observer, December 21, 2001.
He eventually took a job: Ibid.
“Well, that’s me”: Robert Bryce, “Life After Waco,” Austin Chronicle, June 23, 2000.
“We’d lost so much”: Lee Hancock, “How the 1993 Waco standoff began with a bloody gun battle that federal agents now regret,” Dallas Morning News, February 25, 2018.
“Don’t talk about Waco”: Spencer Wilking, “ATF agents at fatal 1993 Waco raid describe being under barrage of gunfire,” ABC News, January 5, 2018.
Years after the fire: Interview with Marc Breault.
EPILOGUE
“the tender mercies”: Michael Barkun, “Appropriated Martyrs: The Branch Davidians and the Radical Right,” Terrorism and Political Violence 19, no. 1 (2007): 117–42.
David Koresh had been foretold: Ibid.
“Waco became a door”: Ibid.
Index
A specific form of pagination for this digital edition has been developed to match the print edition from which the index was created. If the application you are reading this on supports this feature, the page references noted in this index should align. At this time, however, not all digital devices support this functionality. Therefore, we encourage you to please use your device’s search capabilities to locate a specific entry.
abortion, 6, 43
Abrams M-1 tanks, 295, 308, 317, 359, 366
Adair, Dale, 330
Aguilera, Davy, 226–27, 229–30, 233, 239
AIDS, 137, 153
AK-47s, 160, 187, 200, 212, 259, 262
Alamo, The (movie), 19–20
Alamo siege, 19–20, 211–12
Alaskan Malamutes, 181, 257, 268
Alfred P. Murrah Building bombing, 391–92
Amen, Jesse “Lord Lightning,” 326–27
Anarchist Cookbook, 230
antitypes, 79–80, 98
Apocalypse, 48, 70, 80, 91, 105, 180–81, 207, 219, 222, 349
AR-15s, 227, 238, 248, 256
Army Special Forces, 288, 296
Army Special Operations Command, 295, 296
