Waco: Rise of a False Prophet (Part 1/3) | Forensic Files

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The Christian Bible is composed of 66 books which are divided into the Old Testament based primarily on the Hebrew
Bible and the New Testament, an exploration of the teachings and life of Jesus Christ.
The very final book of the Bible is the book of Revelation, a 22 chapter series penned by a prophet known as John of
Patmas. It is an apocalyptic text that details a spiritual battle between good and evil
culminating in Jesus returning to Earth. Combining warnings to followers with prophecies about the future, the book of
Revelation anticipates the ultimate defeat of Satan and a final judgment passed on all human beings.
Those deemed worthy by their deeds during life and their adherence to Christ will be saved, resurrected to
live in a new heaven and earth, free from pain, suffering, and death. Unbelievers and individuals deemed to be
wicked will be sentenced to a lake of fire, a final demise and the ultimate punishment for lost souls dubbed the
second death. The mysterious language of the book of Revelation and its many prophecies have
led to countless Christian scholars, leaders, and adherence attempting to predict when this end of the world will
come. In chapter 5 of the book, John of Patmas introduces the prophecy of the seven
seals. Seven separate events that will take place between Jesus's lifetime and his eventual return known as the second
coming. These prophecies are written on a book or a scroll sealed shut with seven wax
seals, which no one but a figure dubbed the lamb of God is able to open. Quote, "Then I saw in the right hand of him who
sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals.
And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?"
But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept
because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, "Do
not weep. See, the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has triumphed.
He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals." Then I saw a lamb looking as if it had
been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders.
The lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which had the seven spirits of God sent
out into all the earth. He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.
Traditionally, the lamb of God has been interpreted as Jesus himself, whom Christians believe was sacrificed to
atone for humanity sins, just as actual lambs were sacrificed in stories of the Old Testament.
However, some individuals have used scripture to argue that this lamb was a different Messiah who would assist Jesus
in the final spiritual battle. They found more passages in other parts of the Bible that also prophesized a
second Messiah whose name was Cyrus the Great. In Hebrew, the name Cyrus translates to
Kesh. The 7th Day Adventist Church originated in the state of New York during the
1840s and places a particular emphasis on the impending second coming of Christ.
The name Adventist stems from the group's belief that Jesus will soon return to Earth, with several pioneers
of the Adventist faith attempting to predict when his return would occur. Although opinions have differed, a
consistent theme is that Christ will return after a period of turmoil. In addition to this emphasis on the
second coming, 7th Day Adventism has a number of other defining features. its adherence observed the Sabbath on
Saturdays instead of Sundays as most other Christians do. Engage in missionary work to spread the word of
Christ. Advocate for a vegetarian diet and believe firmly in God's final judgment predicted by the book of
Revelation. Bible study must be ongoing and is crucial to the faith as all truth that
can be known lies within its passages. By the early 1920s, the 7th Day Adventist Church had spread from the
east coast of America to the west as well as overseas. One adherent to the faith was an
immigrant from Bulgaria named Victor Hotf. Victor had immigrated to the US at the
age of 22 and initially lived in Illinois before later relocating to California.
Although he was originally baptized in the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Victor later converted to 7th Day Adventism in
1919 at the age of 34. He became consumed by his faith and spent all of his spare time when he
wasn't working pouring over the Bible, especially the book of Revelation. While earning a living as a washing
machine repairman, Victor also taught classes at a 7th Day Adventist Sabbath School, a weekly religious education
program held on Saturday mornings before church service. Victor began to worry that other members
of his faith weren't taking it seriously enough. He made a list of problems he had
observed in other congregants, including a disbelief in prophecy, selling church
merchandise, following earthly trends and fashions too closely, and a lack of reverence.
When Victor began speaking more openly about his concerns in his classes and at other Adventist gatherings, church
elders took note and asked him to stop. They also objected to some of his interpretations of scripture.
Victor refused and in 1930 he published a manuscript titled The Shepherd's Rod in which he called for denominational
reform and a recommmitment from all 7th Day Adventists. Victor predicted that the second coming
of Christ was imminent and that soon there would be an apocalypse where Christ's warriors would defeat the evil
armies of Babylon. a term 7th Day Adventists used to refer to the fallen state of traditional Christianity.
That same year, Victor's actions led to him being dysfellowshipped by the church, but he maintained a strong
following of his own. When he could no longer teach Sabbath school in church, he continued to do so
at a house across the road. Some study groups at different Adventist churches across the country worked off his ideas,
which led to those who promoted Victor's material being dysfellowshipped, too. Eventually, the church declared Victor's
work to be outright heresy, and in 1934, he began his own organization called the
Shepherd's Rod. This was later officially renamed the Devidian 7th Day Adventists.
The name Devidian stemmed from Victor Hotef's belief that he was destined to restore the Davidic kingdom, the
historic kingdom of Israel ruled over by descendants of King David. A direct ancestor of Jesus, King David's
lineage is key to Christianity's messianic prophecies. Seeking a base that would allow him to
establish headquarters for his new church, Victor scoured a map of the United States, looking for a suitable
place. He wanted somewhere with the cheap land and a culture receptive to religion.
By 1935, he'd found a location that fit perfectly and purchased almost 200 acres
of land that sat northwest of the Texan city of Waco. Sitting deep in the heartland of Texas,
wedged some distance between the progressive capital of Austin and major city Dallas, Waco was then a small
conservative city primarily known for being the birthplace of the soft drink Dr. Pepper.
Other than that, there was little that stood out about it. In 1935, its population sat at around
55,000. Located on the banks of the Brazis River and built in a valleylike area, Waco was
also home to Baylor University, a private Baptist college where students were expected to abstain from alcohol,
premarital sex, and dancing. Even within the religious state of Texas, Waco had a fervor that was seen
as particularly strong. According to author Jeff Gwyn, other Texans nicknamed the city Jerusalem on
the Brazis and the buckle of the Bible belt. These were unofficial titles that Waco
residents took pride in. The land purchased by Victor Hotf was 7 mi northwest of the city limits and lay
on the shores of Lake Waco. Victor named his headquarters Mount Carmel in honor of a biblical passage
found in the book of Micah that describes the land of Judah becoming desolate due to people's wicked deeds.
God is then asked to shepherd his people who are living in the midst of Carmel. The passage is one of hope for a
miraculous rescue and a peaceful, bountiful future. Roughly 120 people moved to Mount Carmel
with Victor Hotf and they built a community there. In addition to working on the property
and for surrounding neighborhoods, the Devidians still worked to bring more converts to their church.
They acquired a printing press and used it to publish Victor's sermons, which were then sent to every 7th Day
Adventist whose address was available. Victor did not claim to be a messianic figure, but his followers saw him as a
prophet who could foretell the coming of a new savior. As the years passed, Mount Carmel grew
both in size and population. In 1937, the now 52-year-old Victor Hotf married Florence Hermanson, the
17-year-old daughter of two of his most devoted followers. Some church members were disturbed by
this significant age gap. Florence became Victor's primary assistant, transcribing all of his sermons and
assisting her husband in his ministry. Almost 20 years after Victor established Mount Carmel, he fell ill towards the
end of 1954. He died of heart failure in February 1955, just a few weeks before his 70th
birthday. Shocked and shaken by the sudden loss of their leader, the Devidians future
seemed uncertain. But to their surprise, Victor's widow, Florence Hotf, explained they didn't
need to wonder about the path forward. As Victor lay dying in hospital, he'd revealed to Florence that he knew when
the end time would arrive, 4 years from now on Wednesday, April 22, 1959. Jesus would arrive on Earth along with a
holy cleansing fire and only 144,000 people known as the elect would survive this apocalypse.
After it was over, they would emerge triumphant and live happily in God's new kingdom on earth.
Florence explained that Victor had tasked her with taking over the church's leadership and recruiting many more
members in anticipation of the imminent spiritual battle. Not everyone agreed with Florence
leading the Devidians. One member named Benjamin Rhoden claimed that he'd received messages from God
that he should be the new leader, but Florence Hotf and the church's executive council refuted this.
Over the next few years, the Devidians worked at recruiting more members. They purchased more land east of Waco, a
sprawling 941 acres in a rather desolate scrubland area with the address 1781 E Ranch Road.
This land was dubbed New Mount Carmel, and members used cheap materials to build a church, a main building, and
some shacks that would serve as residences. Tents, trucks, and buses were also used
as additional accommodation. The Devidians also began broadcasting recruitment messages, purchasing a
weekly time slot on ABC radio. Their show was called the 11th hour call and was recorded from a studio they'd
built at New Mount Carmel. As Wednesday, April 22, 1959 neared, the group sold their personal possessions,
gave their money to the church, and sent out broadcasts and pamphlets encouraging
people to join them at New Mount Carmel to await the impending end time. Roughly 1,000 people heeded their call,
descending on New Mount Carmel and crowding inside and around its chapel as they waited for the apocalypse to begin.
They waited all through Wednesday, April 22 with nothing happening. As midnight struck and the date ticked
over to Thursday, April 23, most of the crowd left New Mount Carmel on mass in a
state of utter disillusionment. Newcomers who'd hoped to see Jesus return to Earth weren't the only ones
disappointed. Devidian members were left stunned by the failed prophecy. It even prompted some to doubt the
legitimacy of their deceased founder Victor Hotf. If he had indeed made the incorrect
prediction that Florence had relayed, then he was no true prophet. Some Devidians left Mount Carmel and
returned to 7th Day Adventism. Others abandoned their faith altogether. In the wake of the failed end time, only
about 50 Devidians remained. Florence Hotf was not one of them. After informing her followers that she
had been mistaken, she sold most of New Mount Carmel's land, relocated to California, and began working for tech
giant IBM. She later remarried and eventually passed away in 2008 at the age of 89.
With Florence out of the picture, another Devidian was ready to fill her shoes. Benjamin Rhoden had always objected to
Florence succeeding her husband after his death and had long said that God wanted him to lead instead.
Born into a Jewish family, Benjamin had converted to Christianity and then 7th Day Adventism after meeting his wife.
The couple had heard of Victor Hotf during the mid 1940s and relocated to Waco to join his church.
Their admiration of Victor did not extend to his wife, and Benjamin Rooden had aloudly disputed her claims that the
end time would commence on April 22, 1959. No one took much notice of his arguments
until Florence's prophecy failed. Under Benjamin's leadership, the Devidians became known as the branch
devidians with Benjamin adopting the term branch from biblical scripture. In one passage he cited as an
inspiration, Jesus told his followers. I am the true vine and you are the branches.
Benjamin declared that the Christian holidays of Christmas and Easter were actually pagan celebrations with origins
in the winter solstice and spring equinox. From now on, branch devidians would observe her braic customs instead,
celebrating the Jewish holidays of Passover, soot, and Old Testament feast days.
Benjamin purchased the 77 acres that remained of New Mount Carmel and was joined by about 40 followers.
Although most of the Branch Devidians lived side by side at New Mount Carmel, they were by no means cut off from the
broader community. Some of the children attended local public schools, while a number of adult
members held jobs in downtown Waco. A few worked as cashiers at various stores. Others worked in manual labor as
trades people and landscapers. Benjamin's wife, Lois Rhoden, was his second in command and biggest supporter.
The couple acquired property in Israel with the intention of eventually moving their entire congregation to Jerusalem.
Over the next two decades, Ben and Lois worked side by side with additional support from their elder son, George.
George Rhoden was a big personality, and he had a passion for building the church
that some congregants found inspiring. But he could also be arrogant with no interest in anyone's opinion but his
own, and could also be both verbally and physically aggressive. George's parents didn't like his
attitude, but they appreciated his enthusiasm. In 1977, Benjamin Rhoden, now aged in his mid70s,
fell sick, and his wife, Lois, took on a greater role in the church's leadership.
Lois, who was more than a decade younger than her husband, intended to take on the role of church president after
Benjamin passed away. At around this same time, she summoned a meeting of church members to share
something amazing that had happened to her. She had been awake at 2:00 a.m. reading
a verse in the book of Revelation that referred to an angel descending from heaven when she looked outside her
window and saw a shining silver angel fly by. Although the angel said nothing, Lois
intuitively knew that the angel was the embodiment of what she called the Holy Spirit mother.
In Christianity, a central doctrine is that of the Holy Trinity. The notion that God is one being existing as three
co-equal persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Father is God, the creator of the
universe. The Son is Jesus Christ who came to earth in human form. The Holy Spirit is the non-physical presence of
God in daily life. Lois explained that she had always believed the Holy Spirit was masculine
in nature. Upon seeing the angel, she'd had a revelation that it was actually feminine.
The Holy Trinity blended both masculine and feminine energy. Some branch devidians reacted negatively
to this message, believing it to be blasphemous, but others were intrigued and receptive
to the idea. Benjamin Rhoden, who by this point was very sick, supported his wife, and her
vision was said to be evidence that she was a true prophet. When Benjamin died on October 22, 1978,
Lois became the new branch Devidian president. Her son George was not happy about this.
George was an ambitious person who believed he was destined to lead. Several years earlier, in 1976, the then
38-year-old George ran in the United States presidential election, nominating himself as a Democratic candidate.
According to author Jeff Gwyn, there is no evidence that he received a single vote in either the Democratic primary or
the national election. He now turned his attention to taking on his father's role as church leader as
he'd long seen himself as the natural heir. In 1979, George called for a leadership election.
His mother won in a landslide. Undeterred, George continued to badger the branch devidians and declare himself
the rightful leader. This prompted Lois to obtain a restraining order against her son,
barring him from New Mount Carmel. George left and split his time between Texas and California.
But sometimes he defied the court order and returned to New Mount Carmel, lurking around its perimeters.
He refused to give up his ambition of leading the branch devidians, and would argue his case both in person and in
long rambling letters. Lois continued running the church as well as traveling both domestically and
overseas to procilitize. By the early 1980s, Lois was in her mid60s and mindful that she needed to
come up with a succession plan. George showed no signs of giving up his goal of taking over the branch
devidians, which was not what Lois wanted. She needed to find someone else to be
the church's next prophet. One day during the summer of 1981, two young friends drove down to Waco from
the East Texas city of Tyler after hearing reports that there was a woman at New Mount Carmel who was a true
prophet. The journey took over 2 hours for 21-year-old Vernon How and his friend
Harriet, whom he'd met at a 7th Day Adventist church back home. Vernon had already experienced a lot of
instability in his young life. His mother had given birth to him when she was just 14 years old, and his father, 6
years her senior, had been a distant presence, refusing to even visit Vernon when he was born.
Vernon and his mother, Bonnie, lived with various extended family members until Bonnie married when Vernon was 2
years old. Her new husband spanked Vernon as punishment in a way Bonnie felt was
excessive. She left her husband but felt overwhelmed by her situation as a young
single mother in a conservative and judgmental community. She gave Vernon to her mother to raise,
believing this was in his best interests. Vernon's grandmother posed as his mother. When Bonnie visited him, she
pretended to be his aunt. By the time Vernon was five, Bonnie had remarried a merchant marine named Roy
and felt well enough to care for her son again. When she told Vernon who she really was
to him, the truth left him feeling shocked, confused, and as though his entire world had just tipped upside
down. He moved in with Bonnie and Roy who was a disciplinarian and difficult for
Vernon to get along with. His parents soon had another child named Roger who appeared to Vernon to be the favorite.
Vernon would later say, "I was always getting whooped by Roy for everything." While Roger got away with murder.
Vernon would also later reveal that at around the same time that he reunited with his mother, one of his male
relatives began sexually abusing him. The abuse, which included rape, went on for 4 years. He never revealed the
identity of his abuser as he didn't want to upset his mother. Vernon struggled at school due to a
learning disorder that has been speculated to have been attention deficit hyperactive disorder or ADHD.
But he loved church. He attended 7th Day Adventist sermons with his mother and grandmother and would memorize entire
chapters of the Bible. Vernon later dropped out of high school and became a carpenter.
At 19, he fell in love with Sarah, not her real name, who was 3 years his junior.
In violation of Texas's statutory rape laws, Vernon began an intimate relationship with Sarah, who soon became
pregnant due to Vernon not believing in birth control. She terminated the pregnancy, but the
two remained a couple. Sarah's father allowed Vernon to move into their home. But when Sarah became
pregnant again, he threw Vernon out. Sarah also felt Vernon wasn't fit to be a father and cut off contact with him.
Heartbroken, Vernon moved back in with his mother and stepfather while deciding he would devote himself to God in the
hopes of improving his life and winning Sarah back. Vernon was enthusiastic about church,
but the church elders were less enthused about him. He frequently interrupted Bible studies
with questions and opinions. Vernon found it frustrating that all of their studies focused on long ago
prophets from ancient times. He wanted to know about present-day prophets and what they were saying.
Vernon also spoke with the church's pastor about some sexual concerns he had. He described himself as a
compulsive masturbator and was distraught over this behavior, which he considered a sin against God.
The pastor encouraged him to pray and trust that Jesus could help him overcome his desires.
By the time he was 20, Vernon became fixated with the idea of finding a god-fearing wife, which he believed
would take care of his obsession with sex. He struck up a relationship with the pastor's 15-year-old daughter and told
the pastor she was destined to be his wife. The pastor forbade Vernon from seeing
his daughter, but Vernon was adamant that he had to marry her. Ultimately, he was barred from the
congregation. Not all of the other congregants disliked Vernon. A young woman named Harriet befriended
him and told him about Lois Rhoden and the branch devidians. Harriet's mother had been a member of
Shepherd's Rod over in California. And Harriet said that Lois's congregation was highly spiritual.
Even better, Lois herself was a prophet. Together, they decided to pay the branch
devidians a visit. The pair were welcomed in by the group, and Vernon was mesmerized by their
teachings. When Lois invited him to stay and study alongside them, he readily accepted the
offer. Vernon moved into New Mount Carmel, where he was something of a misfit. Some of his fellow congregants would
later tell author Jeff Gwyn that Vernon wasn't quite like the rest of them. While most of the other branch Devidians
were either middle-aged or children, Vernon was in his early 20s. He wore thick eyeglasses, his hair was long and
straggly, and he dreamed of becoming a rock star. Vernon could be awkward, mumbling when
he spoke or praying overly loudly from behind his closed bedroom door. Sometimes he spoke about inappropriate
things like his habit of masturbating too much. But Vernon could also be an asset to the
group. His skills as a carpenter meant he became something of a handyman at New Mount Carmel, repairing its flimsy and
rickety buildings that always seemed to be falling apart. Vernon performed this work without
complaint. After he'd been living there for a few months, Lois Rhoden began employing
Vernon as her personal chauffeur. She didn't like to drive long distances, instead preferring to use the time to
reflect and think. So Vernon would drive Lois to appointments or speaking engagements.
Over time, the pair grew closer. Vernon was thirsty for biblical knowledge, and Lois had lots to tell him
about the other contemporary prophets who had paved the way for her. She shared with him how her husband
Benjamin Rhoden had advocated for celebrating Hebraic holidays and how she herself had experienced the revelation
that the Holy Spirit was feminine. Lois suspected that Vernon might also be destined to be a prophet.
This idea thrilled and donored him. He'd always felt the presence of God in his life, even when he'd felt forsaken.
Over the next 2 years, Vernon and Lois spent more and more time together in private Bible classes.
Under Lois's tutelage, Vernon was becoming more articulate and charismatic. He mumbled less and spoke with
confidence. By 1983, Lois sometimes employed Vernon as her public representative.
When Lois's son, George, found out that his mother was seemingly grooming Vernon
to be her successor, he became angry. Worse still, he soon heard rumors that Lois and Vernon's relationship was also
physical. Some members of the church had speculated for a while that the two were
having sex. Even though there was a restraining order out against him, George began
returning to New Mount Carmel and staying for lengthy periods. Lois didn't alert the authorities to his
breach of the order for reasons unknown. Eventually, George moved back permanently and decided to air his
grievances. One day, he invited all of the branch devidians to the chapel for an important
conversation. Standing in front of the other congregants while wearing a gun at his
holster, George Rhoden announced that Vernon Howal was raping his mother. The accusation didn't prompt the
leadership overhaul George had likely been hoping for. Lois and Vernon ignored his claims and carried on with their
private tutorials. The truth was the pair had been having sex in an attempt to conceive a child.
They drew their inspiration from some scripture found in the Old Testament book of Isaiah.
And I went unto the prophetess s and she conceived and bore a son. As Lois was 65 years old and passed
menopause, their attempts to have a baby failed. Yet Lois and Vernon remained certain
that their work together was being commanded by God. In 1983, Lois took Vernon with her on a
pilgrimage to Israel, where he could finally see the Holy Land described in the Bible for himself.
The more Vernon worked with Lois, the stronger his own preaching abilities became.
After the pair returned home from Israel, Lois invited all of the branch devidians at New Mount Carmel to attend
a series of Bible studies Vernon would be leading, telling them, "Vernon's been talking about something I think everyone
should hear." Dubbed the serpent's root, Vernon's classes centered on the role of serpents
in the Bible. Traditionally seen as a symbol of evil and deception, a serpent first appears
in the Bible's very first book of Genesis, where it tempts Eve into weeding fruit from a forbidden tree in
the Garden of Eden. The book of Revelation later identifies this serpent as Satan.
But Vernon Hal had found scripture to support the idea that serpents weren't always evil. In fact, if you acted as a
serpent in service of the Lord, then being a serpent could be a righteous thing.
Those who attended Vernon's classes were struck by how adept he was at reciting scripture and interpreting its meaning.
They were already very familiar with the Bible, but he was introducing them to ideas that felt shockingly innovative
and resonant. On top of that, Vernon had an easy, folksy kind of demeanor that was warm
and engaging. He sang and played guitar with an appealing, youthful energy. He'd come a long way since his first
days at New Mount Carmel. Vernon continued to take on a larger leadership role within the branch
devidians. He visited authority figures in downtown Waco as a representative of the church,
introducing himself and offering to discuss the Bible. People who he visited regularly included
the Mlennon County District Attorney and its sheriff. Vernon built friendly relationships with
them and eventually began bringing along a new recruit as well. Wayne Martin was a Harvard Law School
graduate who left the 7th Day Adventist Church to join the branch devidians along with his wife and children.
Wayne and Vernon became good friends and Wayne became the church's legal counselor.
One of Vernon's most loyal followers within the branch devidians was a 54 yearear-old man named Perry Jones.
Perry had first followed Victor Hotf when he started Shepherd's Rod in California, then became a branch
Devidian alongside the Rhodens. Before Vernon rose in the church's ranks, Perry had acted as Lois's second
in command. His wife Mary Bell and their children were members of the branch devidians as
well. In early 1984, when Vernon Hal was 24 years old, he said he received a prophecy from God that he must marry one
of Perry's daughters, Rachel, who was 10 years his junior at 14 years old. Under Texas state law, miners could
marry with their parents' permission. Perry and Mary Bell consented to the union and Vernon and Rachel were wed on
Wednesday, January 14, 1984. Although Lois Rhoden was still in charge, Vernon no longer deferred to her
as much as he used to. When he encouraged her to make some changes within the church, Lois listened and
took his advice seriously. After a photo was taken of Lois that appeared to show her with bruises around
the eyes, likely due to poor lighting, Vernon told her this was an indication she was losing her prophetic power.
Lois was getting older and was not in the best of health, having recently been diagnosed with breast cancer.
Vernon felt ready to take over. Lois's son, George Rhoden, wasn't happy about this.
George wasn't as popular amongst the branch devidians as Vernon, but he still had some followers, and there were a few
congregants who didn't like Vernon. George began agitating against Vernon and even took his argument outside of
New Mount Carmel. One day he sent a telegram to the county DA that read in part, "Have a Jim Jones type character
in Waco, Texas making death threats to me and family and proclaiming mass murder at New Mount Carmel Center.
Need investigation now." George's comparison of Vernon How to Jim Jones was a reference to the People's
Temple cult leader, whose crimes were covered in episode 60 of Case File. Roughly 5 years earlier, Jim Jones had
murdered 99 individuals at his Jonestown compound in Guyana by forcing many of them to consume cyanide.
The massacre had shocked Americans and its ramifications were still being felt during the early 1980s.
The DA, who had established a cordial relationship with Vernon, did not investigate George's claims.
Not long after this, a fire broke out at New Mount Carmel and its administration
center was burnt down. George blamed Vernon and his mother for the fire, pointing out that as the
people in charge, they were responsible for anything that went wrong. Tension was rising between George and
Vernon, and it was being felt by the other residents of New Mount Carmel. Deciding to extricate himself before the
situation worsened any further, Vernon left abruptly in mid 1984. While still maintaining a connection
with the branch devidians, Vernon and about two dozen of his most loyal followers moved about 100 m east of Waco
to the Texan city of Palestine. They purchased 20 acres of land covered with pine trees.
Members of the group made do by sleeping in cars, trucks, tents, and buses while
building a log cabin that would function as their headquarters. Despite the primitive and basic living
conditions, Vernon and his followers were optimistic. He reassured them that this new home was
merely temporary. Soon they would return to New Mount Carmel, where he would assume his rightful place as leader.
By this point, Vernon's wife, Rachel, was pregnant with the couple's first child.
Eager for his first child to be born in Israel, Vernon again traveled to the Middle East, this time accompanied by
his young wife. The couple stayed in a small apartment in Jerusalem while Vernon studied the Bible with local
rabbis. He also took it upon himself to fulfill some biblical scripture. In the book of Revelation, a hill
outside Jerusalem called Mount Zion is measured to ensure there will be enough room for the 144,000 elect who returned
to the Holy Land after the final battle. Vernon wanted to see the hill for himself and make sure the area could
accommodate the elect. After doing so, he and Rachel flew back to Texas. Their community was surprised to see
them back before Rachel had given birth. Over time, Vernon explained that he'd received a prophecy that upended his
plans. It was no longer crucial that his first child be born in Israel, as Vernon was
now facing more pressing matters. While he was in Jerusalem, seven angels had taken him up to heaven, where he'd
received some important information. First of all, Vernon was informed that he was the same Cyrus as the king of the
same name who appears in the Bible's book of Isaiah. In 586 BC, Babylon conquered Israel and
imprisoned many Jews. Almost 5 decades later, King Cyrus of Persia defeated the Babylonians with his
army and freed the Jewish people. His actions in defense of the Jews led to Cyrus being declared a Messiah of God,
the only non-Jewish Messiah in the Bible. As the present-day embodiment of Cyrus,
it was Vernon How's destiny to once again help the righteous defeat Babylon. The second piece of information related
to the seven seals mentioned in the book of Revelation. It is written that only the lamb of God
can open the seven seals which must be opened in order to unleash certain events that will lead to the second
coming of Christ. Although Christians traditionally believed that Jesus was the lamb of God
himself, Vernon had been told that he was actually the lamb. Therefore, he was the only one capable
of opening the seven seals and launching the end time. The final revelation was the most
terrifying. In order to fulfill the prophecy outlined in the book of Revelation, the
lamb and his followers would have to go to battle with Babylon, a term that in contemporary use meant forces that
opposed their religion. During this battle, the righteous would be killed, but it was only a temporary
death. And once good had finally defeated evil, they would be resurrected. With these prophecies revealed to him,
Vernon explained that he was changing his name in honor of two biblical kings. His first name would be David and his
surname would be the Hebrew version of Cyrus. Caresh, the newly christened David Caresh,
decided he needed more followers if he was going to be able to take on Babylon. Thinking there might be more
opportunities to expand in a big city like Los Angeles, Caresh, his wife Rachel, and a few other followers headed
to California in mid 1985. By this stage, Rachel had given birth to the couple's first child, a boy named
Cyrus. The group was welcomed by some branch devidians who lived in the area and
began seeking out potential converts. The city of Lominda, about 60 mi east of Los Angeles, had a large 7th Day
Adventist population and even an affiliated college. Karesh spent lots of time on the college
campus, striking up conversations with young students. Caresh also used his musical skills to
try and draw in more members, playing his evangelical rock songs in parking lots to attract attention.
He soon welcomed a young college graduate named Mark Bro to his flock. Mark was impressed with Caresh's
knowledge of the Bible and left the Adventists to become a branch Devidian. Mark and Caresh quickly became close.
Like Caresh, Mark had a strong knowledge of scripture and was also a musician. He joined a fledgling band Caresh had
started playing keys. Originally from Hawaii, Mark helped Caresh recruit more followers from the
7th Day Adventist Church in his home state. Caresh still went back to Palestine occasionally to check in on his base.
But in California, he was able to save more money than was possible in Texas. More job opportunities meant his members
were expanding their incomes, and they passed that money along to him. Soon David had enough money to travel
overseas in search of international converts. When Benjamin Rhoden had been in charge
of the church, he'd done some missionary work in Australia, which resulted in a small community of branch devidians
there. David Caresh followed in his predecessors footsteps in 1986, flying to Melbourne in the hope of finding more
converts. Quite a few Australians joined his church, including twins Peter and Nicole
Jant and the Gyus family of four. They flew over to the United States to live alongside their fellow worshippers
in California and Texas. Next, Caresh went to England with the intention of recruiting 7th Day
Adventists there. England's Adventist leaders warned congregants of Caresh's arrival and he
was banned from holding Bible studies at their churches. He rented meeting halls instead and
ultimately recruited 30 Britons. Many of these converts were part of what was called the Windrush generation,
individuals who moved to the UK from Caribbean nations after World War II. The 7th Day Adventist Church had become
popular in the Caribbean after being introduced to the region by visiting missionaries.
Like Caresh's Australian converts, the British branch devidians eventually relocated to the United States.
The 20 acres owned by the group in Palestine, Texas, wasn't large enough to accommodate its ever growing population.
David Caresh was eager to return to New Mount Carmel and lead his followers from
there. In the years since Caresh had left New Carmel, his mentor Lois Rhoden had died
of breast cancer and her son George was running the compound. He had renamed it Rodenville.
But most of the Branch Devidians left behind didn't like George's aggressive style and soon left the church.
Only a few followers remained, and finances quickly dwindled with fewer people bringing in money.
George Rooden began renting out some of the cabins that had been built on the land to outsiders.
The isolated setting attracted tenants who were engaging in untoward activities, including selling
pornographic materials and manufacturing illicit drugs. Despite his dwindling support, George
Rooden remained fixated on David Caresh and was determined to defeat him once and for all.
He knew that Caresh wanted to regain control of New Mount Carmel, so he concocted a plan to get rid of him
permanently. George contacted Caresh and challenged him to a competition. Whichever one of them could raise a
person from the dead was New Mount Carmel's rightful leader. If Caresh was truly doing God's work,
then he should be able to resurrect a corpse just as Jesus was said to have done centuries earlier.
A year earlier, in October of 1986, George had exumed the casket of a branched Devidian named Anna Hughes, who
had been buried in a cemetery on the property almost two decades earlier in 1968.
Anna's casket was moved into New Mount Carmel's chapel and an Israeli flag was draped across it.
George then told Caresh that whoever brought Anna back to life first could have new Mount Carmel.
The loser would have to leave and never return. Rather than accept the challenge, David
Caresh drove to Waco and reported to the county sheriff that George Rooden had desecrated a grave.
He asked the sheriff to arrest George for this crime. When Caresh was told that nothing could
be done without evidence, Caresh left and returned a few days later with photographs of a coffin caked in dirt
taken from inside the New Mount Carmel Chapel. One of his contacts within the compound
had snapped the pictures at Caresh's request. The sheriff and his deputies told Caresh
that these photos weren't proof enough. Because the coffin was sealed shut, there was no evidence that human remains
were even inside. In order to arrest the George Rhoden, they would need pictures of the actual
corpse. Determined to obtain the necessary evidence, on Monday, November 2, 1987,
David Caresh gathered seven of his most trusted followers and took them to a Walmart.
The group purchased camouflage hunting clothes and guns. It was well known that George Rhoden
carried an Uzi firearm with him at all times. if they were going onto his property,
they would need to be armed as well. That night at 3:00 a.m., the group sneaked on to New Mount Carmel, dressed
in camouflage, and with black grease paint smeared on their faces. They brought along shotguns, 22 caliber
rifles, and more than 3,000 rounds of ammunition. They made their way to the chapel, but
Anna Hughes's coffin was gone. The group spent the next day hiding behind the property.
They hadn't given up on finding the coffin's whereabouts. At one point, they spoke to some
residents who were living in a house on the land and warned them that they were planning to confront George Rhoden.
They advised the residents to leave for their own safety. They did so, but not before informing
George of the situation. George, enraged by Caresha's reappearance on the compound, raced
outside wearing a black cowboy hat and carrying his Uzi. "Is that you, Vernon?" he yelled.
Caresh replied, "George, just leave the property. We don't want anyone getting hurt."
In response, George began firing indiscriminately at Caresh and his followers. The group ducked and took cover while
returning fire. Their guns were not of the same caliber as George's, but the gunfight raged on
for 45 minutes. Eventually, one of the shooters on Kesha's side managed to hit the magazine
on George's Uzi, which jammed the gun and rendered it useless. A metal splinter struck George's hand
near his thumb, and he became pinned down behind a tree. At around the same time, sheriff's
deputies, who'd caught wind of the gunfight, came roaring up to the property, sirens wailing.
Caresh and his followers were ordered to drop their weapons and lie face down on
the ground before being escorted to the local station. Ultimately, the facts were that even
though George Rhoden had started firing first, Caresh and his followers had gone
to his property armed and without permission. All eight of them were charged with
attempted murder. David Caresh and his followers received bail and returned to their side at
Palestine to await their trial, which was scheduled to commence in 5 months time.
Several weeks before their trial began, George Rhoden was taken to court after someone alerted the authorities to the
fact that a restraining order still technically barred him from New Mount Carmel. Moreover, taxes hadn't been paid
on the property in almost 20 years, and more than $60,000 was owed to the county.
George filed legal motions filled with foul language and threatened the court against ruling in Caresh's favor,
stating, "Maybe God will make it up to you in the end and send you herpes and AIDS."
The judge subsequently ruled that he was in contempt of court and sentenced him to 6 months in prison.
David Caresh seized the opportunity, paying back the taxes owed on the property. The branch devidians loyal to
Caresh began returning, reclaiming Rodenville as Mount Carmel again. The outside tenants George had installed
were evicted, and the branch Devidians set about repairing the property. They also reported evidence of drug
manufacturing to the police as well as a cash of firearms George had left behind.
David Caresh and his co-acused weren't allowed to own guns while they were awaiting trial.
The trial began on Tuesday, April 12th, 1988. All eight of the defendants were represented by attorney Gary Koker, who
argued that his clients had been acting in self-defense. One of the items of evidence he wished
to introduce was Anna Hughes's casket, which George Rooden had moved from the chapel to a storage shed.
One day during the trial, a number of branch devidians attempted to carry the casket up the courthouse steps only to
drop it along the way. It was subsequently removed to sit in a rotunda next to the courthouse.
The judge refused to allow the casket as evidence and told the branch devidians to remove it immediately, stating, "The
remains of a body are not appropriate to have sitting in a public building." Eight men, including six of the
defendants, had to slowly carry the heavy casket down the street and into a waiting van.
They were trailed by fellow church members as well as a television cameraman and a newspaper photographer.
Defense attorney Gary Koker questioned George Rhoden on the stand. When asked if he'd tried to resurrect
Dana Hughes, George replied, "I attempted three times yes." Ultimately, the jury acquitted seven of
the defendants of their charges, but told the judge they couldn't come to a verdict against David Caresh. A hung
jury was declared, and the district attorney chose not to refile charges against Caresh.
After George Rhoden completed his sentence, he moved to the city of Odessa, almost 350 mi west of Waco.
He continued to assert that he was a messiah anointed by God and the rightful branch devidian leader.
In October 1989, he was visited by a branch devidian named Weman Dale Adair who'd left Mount Carmel.
Weman wanted to share a vision he'd had that he was actually the true messiah. This led to an argument and George
killed Weman with an axe. He was subsequently found not guilty by reason of insanity and committed to a forensic
mental health facility. He was no longer an impediment to David Caresh's leadership.
In 1998, George Rhoden died of a heart attack. In 1990, Vernon How legally changed his
name to David Karash. He was now the official head at New Mount Carmel, typically referred to as
simply Mount Carmel. About 60 followers joined him there, roughly half of whom had lived there
previously. The remaining half were new converts who'd relocated from Australia, the UK,
Hawaii, and California. Mount Carmel had attained a sort of mythical status amongst the converts
who'd heard how it was something akin to the promised land for the branch devidians.
In reality, it wasn't much nicer than the basic camp the group had set up in the town of Palestine.
The earth was dry and barren from the scorching Texas heat with almost no shade thanks to trees that were stunted
and sparse. Flies, mosquitoes, and ants were prevalent at the site with their presence prompting some of the branch
devidians to dub their new home the antill. The dwellings had running water and electricity, but no heating or cooling.
Ineffective space heaters and fans were used instead. Poor construction did little to protect
the buildings from the elements, and the wind that often blew across the property
could be heard whistling through the plywood walls. Bunk beds were used to fit more people
in. Men had an outhouse that used a septic tank, while women used chamber pots to go to the toilet.
Children were tasked with digging holes and disposing of the chamber pot contents each day.
Unhappy with the standard of living, some new members soon departed. David Caresh viewed this as a kind of
test of their faith. Only those who were true believers remained. Over the course of several years, the
group redesigned and rebuilt the site. The individual houses that made up Mount Carmel were torn down and the materials
were repurposed to create one sprawling multi-story L-shaped building with various rooms.
Branch Devidian David Tibido would later describe it as a rambling two and threetory complex cobbled together out
of salvaged lumber and cheap siding. At the center was a kind of watchtowwer that provided a 360° view of the entire
property and all the roads leading in. There was also a kitchen, a cafeteria, a chapel, some offices, a gymnasium, and a
swimming pool. Small bedrooms were scattered throughout the first and second floors.
Life at Mount Carmel was highly structured. Meals were eaten together, though the diet was basic and often
consisted of just bananas and popcorn. Mandatory gatherings for prayer and quiet reflection were held every morning
and afternoon and were known as the daily. These were followed by communion. The congregation was divided by gender
with women sitting on the right side and men on the left. David Caresh held group Bible studies
most nights where he invited debate from his followers and encouraged exploration.
These classes started at 700 p.m. and lasted for as long as Kesh felt moved to speak. Sometimes Karesh played his
guitar which had passages of scripture painted on it. Even though he often reminded the branch
devidians that he was just a messenger and not a figure to be worshiped, his fluid and sometimes dramatic sermons
made it easy to believe he truly was a prophet channeling godly knowledge. When Caresh spoke of the book of
Revelation and other scripture, he made Christianity's teachings feel immediate,
local, and alive instead of unrelatable stories from an ancient and remote setting.
Central to Caresh's teachings was the prophecy of the seven seals. He elaborated on the revelation about the
seals that he'd had while staying in Israel, explaining that he, as the lamb of God, was the only one who could
reveal the seals, and they had to be opened one at a time. In the Bible, the opening of the first
four seals unleashes the four horsemen of the apocalypse: conquest, war, famine, and death. According to Caresh,
these first four seals were warnings that announced the impending disasters to come.
The fifth seal specifically related to what would happen to Karash and his followers. When it was opened, there
would be a big battle between the branch devidians and external forces believed to be the American government.
On very rare occasions, Caresh held private one-on-one Bible studies with specially selected individuals.
These cherished classes were revered by the branch devidians, and being chosen was a great honor.
Sometimes Caresh was absent from Mount Carmel. He still traveled into state and overseas from time to time to conduct
business and recruit more members. Perry Jones, his father-in-law, took charge of Mount Carmel whenever Caresh
was away. Parents were encouraged to homeschool their children. The congregation at Mount Carmel was
diverse with members hailing from various socioeconomic, educational, and racial backgrounds.
Though most of the branch dividians were white Americans aged in their 30s and 40s, there were also quite a few black
members, including most of the British converts and Caresh's highly trusted friend Wayne Martin and his family.
Other branch devidians came from Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, and the Philippines.
Some were college graduates with degrees from prestigious universities such as Harvard, while others hadn't pursued
tertiary studies. While some people had jobs outside of the compound, many did not and instead
devoted their time to renovating and working on the property. Branch Devidians were not permitted to leave
Mount Carmel at night in search of entertainment. The group held their own movie nights at
the compound instead using a television and VHS machine they'd purchased. Caresh always chose the film. He liked
action blockbusters that starred Arnold Schwarzenegger. Caresh could go out at night and drove
into Waco some evenings to play gigs with his band, performing a mix of covers and his own Christian themed
songs. Being a rock star was still a deeply held ambition for Caresh that existed
alongside his passion for the Bible. He sang vocals and played guitar at a regular Saturday night residency in a
bar called the Qstick. On stage, Caresh wore t-shirts that read, "David Caresh/God
rocks." His backup musicians were all fellow branch devidians with a convert from
Hawaii named Steve Schneider acting as the band manager. As part of his missionary travels,
Caresh sometimes went back to Southern California where he'd been based a few years earlier.
While there, he tried to get a record deal and to drove around with his band in a shiny silver tour bus labeled
Messiah Productions. But Caresh's evangelical rock songs attracted little interest from record
labels. However, the band found a new member and a convert allin-one when they met a
21-year-old drummer named David Tibido out in LA. David was playing for another band at
the time and wasn't religious, but he liked Caresh's friendly smile, sincerity, and downto-earth manner.
Over the course of several weeks, David spent time with Caresh, Steve Schneider,
and the band, both the jamming and discussing the Bible. David Tibido accepted an invitation to
visit Mount Carmel and ultimately stayed on, drawn to the community and friendship there.
As well as going out to bars and pubs to play music, David Caresh enjoyed additional benefits that other branch
Devidians didn't. He drank beer from time to time and also smoked cigarettes. Smoking was forbidden, but Caresh
pointed to a psalm that described smoke emanating from God's nostril to justify this indulgence.
Although many branch devidians as converts from 7th Day Adventism maintained a vegetarian diet, Kesh
decreed that meat should be served sometimes and that everyone must eat what they were given.
But it was the ultimate exception granted to David Caresh that would become the church's most notorious
feature. It related to a revelation Caresh received from God that he called the new
light. Several years earlier, in the spring of 1986, while Caresh was living in Palestine, Texas, he told his
17-year-old wife, Rachel, that God had told him to take another wife. Rachel wasn't happy about this, but she
later reported that she'd had a dream that gave her the same message. Caresh chose his second bride, the
daughter of a longtime branch Devidian named Clive Doyle. Like his first wife, Karen Doyle was 14
years old when Caresh married her. Caresh's marriage to Rachel had been legal as her parents gave permission.
But even though Karen's father also gave permission, this second union was illegal because Texas law forbade
polygamy. David Caresh, who was now in his late 20s, soon had another revelation.
He was to take several more wives. Some branch devidians were uncomfortable with this new decree, but Caresh could
always point to scripture to support his actions. Over the next year, he married
his wife Rachel's 12-year-old sister Michelle, a 17-year-old girl named Robin Buns, a 20-year-old Australian convert
named Nicole Jant, and a Hawaiian woman in her early 20s named Dana Okimoto. Caresh informed these girls and young
women that being selected as his bride was a tremendous honor. They had been spiritually chosen to help
him spread his seed. The Bible commanded that humans must be fruitful and multiply. And as the lamb
of God, Caresh's children would have a very special role to play in the end time.
It is unclear how most of the chosen girls and women felt about the matter due to a lack of documentation.
But because there was great status and honor in being chosen by Kesh, some of the girls may have felt as though they
had a divine purpose while others felt afraid and coerced. Some of their parents gave their
approval. Others objected openly and were overruled. Although David Caresh believed that
God's law trumped state and federal ones, these marriages still had to be kept secret from the authorities to
prevent government interference and unpleasant consequences. A number of young male followers were
asked to marry Caresh's new wives to provide legal cover for any children born to them.
These relationships were purely for appearances. Each wife could perform domestic duties
for her pretend husband, like doing his laundry, but they were not to be physically intimate.
More than 3 years after his revelation to take a second wife, David Caresh announced another revelation that he
called the new light. Based on scripture in the book of Revelation that described four and 20
elders who would help rule the kingdom of God after the end time was complete. Kesh announced that he needed to father
24 children. His offspring were destined to be the elders described in the Bible.
In order to have these children, he would now become the husband of every branch Devidian woman.
Women who were already married to other men were told that those relationships would cease from now on. Caresh was
their partner in every sense of the word. All men in the church aside from Caresh
were ordered to be celibate from there on out and their marriages were enolled. Sex with partners was forbidden as was
masturbation. only Caresh could engage in sexual activity. He reassured the other men that this was
a duty, not a pleasure for him. By giving up their wives and intimate relationships, the men of the church
would also be blessed. God would look kindly upon their sacrifices for him. From then on, all of the men slept on
the first floor of the compound. Women, children, and David Caresh had their bedrooms on the second floor.
The new light was difficult for most of the branch devidians to accept. Even some of Caresh's most ardent and loyal
followers struggled with it. One evening, David Tibido stumbled across Steve Schneider, one of Caresh's
inner circle, slumped over with his head in his hands. Steve confided in David that he was
having difficulty accepting the new light. His wife Judy was now considered Caresh's wife and Steve was agonizing
over losing her. Ultimately, however, he came to a painful kind of acceptance, asking
David, "If your wife had a chance to marry the lamb, would you want to hold her back?"
In 1990, Judy Schneider conceived a daughter with Caresh, who was born on November 6 and named Minor Songbird.
Every evening after Bible study, Caresh selected which wife he would spend the night with.
Kathy Schroeder, a former branch devidian, told author Jeff Gwyn that some women would loiter around the
chapel afterwards, hoping to be chosen. According to Kathy, Caresh made sure to give every woman some attention, but he
had obvious favorites, including his legal wife Rachel, her little sister Michelle, a 15-year-old Australian girl
called Aisha Gyus, and Judy Schneider. He had children with all of them. Branch Devidians observed that Caresh's
preferred wives also happened to be those considered most attractive. He justified this by pointing out that
God's children should be beautiful. Sometimes Karesh teased the other men, asking, "I got all the women. Aren't you
jealous?" before reassuring them that he'd happily trade places with them if he could. It wasn't easy having to
procreate so much. He didn't limit his interest to women in the church. David Caresh was infatuated with the pop
star Madonna who gained celebrity status during the 1980s and he taped a photograph of her to his motorcycle.
Caresh confided to one of his inner circle that God had appeared to him in a dream and said, "I will give thee
Madonna." He believed that this was a message. Madonna would eventually hear about the
branch devidians, move to Mount Carmel, and become one of his wives. By 1993, David Caresh had 17 children
with 11 different girls and women. He was well on his way to achieving his goal of fathering 24.
Not everyone went along with Caresh's new teachings. some of his marriages ended.
Dana Okamoto began doubting what Caresh was saying and felt uncomfortable with the way children were disciplined at
Mount Carmel. In 1992, she left the compound and took the two sons she'd had with Caresh with her.
Another wife, Robin Buns, objected strongly to the new light teaching that all women were Caresh's wives.
Unlike Dana Okamoto, Robin didn't live at Mount Carmel. She resided with the Californian branch devidians.
When David Caresh caught wind that Robin was thinking of leaving the church, he took the toddler son he and Robin had
together back to Mount Carmel with him. He didn't mind losing Robin, but losing one of his children was another matter.
Robin was able to regain custody of her son after contacting local law enforcement. They in turn reached out to
the sheriff's department in Mlennon County and Kesh handed over the child after receiving a visit at Mount Carmel.
Some couples and male branch devidians began to defect too. The most significant to do so was Mark Bro, a
young Californian convert who'd established a close relationship with David Caresh over the course of 4 years.
Mark's knowledge of the Bible almost rivaled Caresh's and Caresh believed he might be another prophet as well, though
less powerful than he was. Mark Bro had recently married another branch devidian, an Australian woman
named Elizabeth Baroni. He was disgusted by Caresh's new light revelation and had no intention of
allowing Caresh near Elizabeth. Mark contacted Elizabeth, who was living in Australia at the time, and informed
her of the new teaching. Like Mark, Elizabeth was horrified by the idea, writing a letter to Mark that
read, "You are my only love, the love of my life, and I don't believe I will be able to go through with what he's being
asked." Mark came up with a secret plan to leave Mount Carmel and join Elizabeth.
The next time Caresh traveled to California, Mark accompanied him. He then used money Elizabeth had sent him
to fly from Los Angeles to Melbourne. Once in Australia, Mark Bro began openly speaking out against his former mentor.
Caresh was devastated by the loss of one of his closest followers, but he had no
idea of just how detrimental Mark Bro's defection would be. Even though a few branch devidians had
left Mount Carmel, most remained, and the population had grown steadily since Caresh had taken over in 1989.
More than 120 people lived there by early 1993, and 46 of those individuals were children.
Even though the group maintained a very spartan lifestyle, they still needed funds to support them.
David Caresh estimated that it cost between $30 and $35 to feed each person for a month, which is between 67 and 78
in today's money. Some branch devidians had jobs and donated their earnings. Others
contributed social security and pension checks to the communal funds. Steady money came in from a car repair
shop that Caresh opened. But these funds combined still weren't enough. In September of 1990, Caresh came up
with a new idea after learning that one of his clients at the car repair shop was also a licensed gun dealer.
What if the Branch Devidians bought secondhand guns cheaply, then refurbished them and sold them at gun
shows? He met with the gun dealer, Henry Mcmman, who schooled Caresh in the business, explaining what customers were
looking for. The group began purchasing old handguns and rifles from Henry that they would
repair and polish, then sell at shows all over Texas. Soon they expanded their business,
buying from multiple dealers and stocking other hunting gear as well. They purchased cheap hunting vests from
stores like Walmart and then the Branch Deinian women adjusted them to add more pockets and special features.
By early 1992, primary campaigns were underway for the next US presidential election, and it looked as though a
candidate from the Democrat party might defeat the Republican incumbent George Bush.
The prospect of a Democrat president created fears amongst some constituents that gun laws might be tightened with
the National Rifle Association warning that sales of fully automatic rifles would soon be banned.
People who already owned such firearms, however, would be permitted to keep them
under grandfather laws. This anxiety created an increased demand for fully automatic weapons.
Henry Mcmah proposed that the branch devidians buy semi-automatic weapons then convert them to fully automatic.
As only licensed gun dealers could sell fully automatic weapons, he would take care of the sales and they'd share the
profits. Caresh agreed to the plan. In the spring of 1992, the branch devidians began
buying rifle conversion kits as well as semi-automatic weapons. These purchases were legal.
However, converting semi-automatic weapons without the proper permits and without paying taxes was illegal.
The Branch Devidians didn't bother with this part of the process. As they began converting more and more
firearms, David Caresh also saw a chance to build up their own arsenal. Believing that a battle between his
followers and the forces of Babylon was inevitable and even imminent, he figured
it made sense to be armed in anticipation of this event. Soon they had AR-15 semi-automatic
rifles that they'd converted to fully automatic, the equivalent of an M16 assault rifle, nicknamed the meat
chopper during World War II. They bought grenade holes along with the ingredients that would turn them into
explosives, black gunpowder and powdered aluminium. At the same time that the Branch
Devidians began converting weapons and preparing for an impending battle, former member Mark Bro was waging his
own kind of war against them. Now living in Melbourne, he'd spoken out against David Caresh and his new light
mandate to the branch devidians there. Caresh's Australian followers began to falter in their belief.
Mark Bro didn't stop there. He contacted immigration officials in the US, alerting them to the fact there were
foreign visitors who'd overstayed their tourist visas living at Mount Carmel. He also reached out to the family
members of branch devidians, elected officials, journalists, law enforcement, and child protective services.
Mark alleged that Caresh was committing statutory rape with underage girls and accused him of physical abuse against
children. Other former branch devidians made similar allegations. Several said they had personally
witnessed David Caresh beating children as young as 8 months old with a wooden spoon.
One accusation read, "On one occasion, Vernon spanked my daughter for 40 minutes because she did not sit on his
lap. She was 8 months old at the time. Her bottom was badly bruised and he made her bottom bleed from spanking her so
much." These allegations led to the opening of an investigation by Mlennon Countyy's
Child Protective Services Office. CPS investigation supervisor Joyce Sparks led the investigation, paying
several visits to Mount Carmel. Each time she was escorted carefully through the compound in what felt like a
staged tour. However, she noted that the branch devidians let her speak to whoever she
wanted, and if she asked to see anything in particular, they would show it to her.
Joyce Sparks interviewed David Caresh, as well as some parents and children. No one said they had seen children being
harmed, and none of the children said that they had been hurt. Joyce found herself frustrated, feeling
that despite their apparent transparency, everyone she spoke to at Mount Carmel was giving her answers that
were prepared and well practiced. Caresh's tendency to always refer back to the Bible was also frustrating.
When Joyce explained to him that they had to keep religion separate from their conversations about caring for children,
he replied, "I can't do that." In April 1992, Joyce Sparks closed her investigation after conducting 9 weeks
of interviews. She felt defeated. Joyce knew that children were being spanked as a form of corporal
punishment, but couldn't find any evidence of the kind of abuse that was being alleged.
Nor was there any proof that Caresh had been raping underage girls, though Joyce
suspected that he was. Caresh had spoken at length about Psalm 45 from the Bible and how important it
was to him. Amongst the verses of Psalm 45, which is known as the royal wedding psalm, are
the following lines. Listen, daughter, and pay careful attention. Forget your people and your father's
house. Let the king be enthralled by your beauty. Honor him, for he is your lord.
Years later, something in particular that David Caresh had said to Joyce Sparks would continue to echo in her
ears. Feeling persecuted by the government's interest in the goings on at Mount Carmel, he made a prediction about what
was going to happen in the near future, Caresh had remarked, "The enemy will surround the camp and
the saints will die. There will be blood and fire. An explosion at the end to be continued next week.

[Part 1 of 3] In 1981, a 20-year-old named Vernon Howell drove more than two hours from his hometown in east Texas to visit a church near Waco that was home to a group known as the Branch Davidians. Vernon would be welcomed into the church’s fold, setting off a course of events that would ultimately end in tragedy and permanently alter the United States of America.

CREDITS Narration – Anonymous Host Research & writing – Erin Munro Production & music – Mike Migas Audio editing – Anthony Telfer

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Brief Summary

The episode covers the rise of David Koresh, the Devidian movement, and the Waco standoff.

Key points

The Scroll of Revelation. A scroll sealed with seven seals holds the key to apocalyptic prophecies.
Victor's Prophecy. Victor Hotf predicts the second coming of Christ and an apocalypse in 1959.
Failed Prophecy. The Devidians gather for the predicted apocalypse but face disillusionment instead.
Vernon's Troubled Childhood. Vernon faced excessive punishment and overwhelming challenges as a child.
Revelation of Identity. Vernon learns he is the modern embodiment of the biblical king Cyrus.
Prophetic Mission. Vernon discovers he is the lamb of God destined to open the seven seals.

Episode highlights

Episode quotes

"Jesus would arrive on Earth along with a holy cleansing fire.".

A shocking claim about the imminent apocalypse.

13:18WatchApr 18, 2026

Tension

75/ 100High tension

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