David Koresh was a well-known American cult leader, know his cause of death, children and wife
Find out more about his background, death cause, and much more.
Waco: American Siege, a new Netflix documentary series, intends to shed light on the contentious death of David Koresh, the leader of the Branch Davidians, during the 1993 siege of their compound in Waco, Texas.
The television show is expected to provide fresh insight into the catastrophe that rocked the world over 30 years ago and took the lives of 76 people, including 25 children.
Who is David Koresh Branch Davidians Waco leader, cause of death, family, wife and children
Additionally, the show also deeply explores the character of David Koresh as a divisive person who is still seen as controversial today. While some consider him a dangerous cult leader who indoctrinated his followers and was accountable for their deaths, others see him as a religious figure who gave his life in defense of his convictions.
Due to this, David Koresh has become a trending topic of discussion in recent days, with many people trying to find out more about his background and how he died. So, here’s what we know about him:
Who is David Koresh?
David Koresh was a renowned American cult leader. He has been in the news because the Netflix documentary series ‘Waco: American Siege’ will focus on his rise and then controversial death.
His real name is Vernon Wayne Howell. He was born on August 17, 1959, in Houston, Texas, U.S. His mother’s name was Bonnie Sue Clark, and his father’s name was Bobby Wayne Howel.
David Koresh was enrolled in special education classes due to his dyslexia and poor vision. In his junior year, he also dropped out of Garland High School. He relocated to Waco, Texas, in 1981 and joined the Branch Davidians there.
He was married, and his wife’s name is Rachel Jones. However, many other accounts say that he has multiple wives. He claims to have more than 12 children, however, he has two children, Star and Cyrus, with his legal wife Rachel.
He died on April 19, 1993, in Mount Carmel Center, McLennan County, Texas, U.S. At the time of his death, he was just 33 years old.
His career
David Koresh joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the faith of his mother, claiming to have had a religious awakening. He fell head over heels in love with the pastor’s daughter, but after continuously pursuing her, he was dismissed from the congregation.
In 1981, he joined the Davidian Seventh-Day Adventist Church-based Branch Davidians. In church services at the Mount Carmel Center, the sect’s administrative center west of Waco, Koresh sang and played the guitar. Later on, he rose to become the sect’s leader.
However, he had a turbulent relationship with the Roden family—previous sect leaders—and was finally ejected from their property. During the following two years, he and his supporters lived in squalor in Texas, where they had established a camp. At this time, California, the UK, Israel, and Australia were among the places where Koresh attracted new adherents.
Nevertheless, Koresh was charged with taking part in several instances of child sexual and physical abuse. He was able to take young girls as his spiritual brides according to his theory of “the House of David,” which permitted him to have several spouses.
Cause of death of David Koresh
David Koresh and 75 other Branch Davidians, including children, perished in a 1993 confrontation between Koresh and his supporters and the US authorities. According to the police, during the exchange of fire, he suffered a gunshot wound to the head and passed away. However, it is still unclear if he died or committed suicide.