| Birth: | Aug. 17, 1959 |
| Death: | Apr. 19, 1993 |
 Cult Leader. Born in 1959 to Bonnie Hadelman. He lived with his grandparents and they were the acting parents in his life. As a child he was called Vernie. Suffering from dyslexia and as a result, bad grades, he never finished high school. He enjoyed the Bible and music. At the age of 20 he joined the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Having different ideas from the church leaders he was asked to leave the church. In 1981 he joined the religious sect the Branch Davidians who had settled 10 miles out of Waco, Texas in 1935. Lois Roden the prophetess was in her sixties. After her death in 1986 Howell and Lois' son George began a power struggle to become head of the sect. Being unsuccessful, he left with his followers and went to East Texas. They returned to Waco in 1987 armed and prepared to fight. In the fight George Roden was shot. Howell and his followers were put on trial for attempted murder. The followers were acquitted and Howell's trial was declared a mistrial. In 1990 he legally changed his name to David Koresh and became the leader of the Branch Davidians. The name change came from the belief that he was the head of the biblical House of David. The compound was called Mount Carmel. On February 28, 1993 the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Federal Bureau of Investigation tried to execute a warrant for David at Mount Carmel. They had been investigating charges of illegal weapons and child abuse. As a result of the Davidians resisting the warrant a shoot out occured and left ten people dead, including 4 BATF agents. The Davidians stayed inside their compound for 51 days. During that time negotiations continued for them to surrender. On April 19, 1993 the compound burned to the ground. Lost were 74 followers along with their leader. (bio by: Julie Karen Hancock (Cooper) Jackson) | |
He is buried in Tyler, TX.
http://www.findagrave.com/
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