Vernon Wayne Howell & The Waco Massacre

1. Vernon Wayne Howell &The Waco Massacre By: Justin Forrester

3. His Life • born in Houston, Texas on August 17, 1959 • His mother, Bonnie Sue Clark, had him when she was 14 and she was a single mother. • After that Bonnie began seeing a violent alcoholic and sent Vernon at age 4 to be raised with his maternal grandmother Earline Clark. • At age 7 his mother returned with her husband Roy Haldeman.

4. His Life • When he was 20, Howell turned to the Church of Seventh Day Adventists, which was his mother's church. But he was expelled for being a bad influence on the young people, and for telling the pastor that God wanted him to have his daughter as his wife. • After being kicked out of the church, he went to Hollywood to become a rock star but it never took off. • In 1981 he went to Waco, Texas where he joined the Branch Davidians

5. Late Night Conversations • During the siege he talked to FBI agents at night and said his childhood was lonely. • He said the other kids teased him and called him "Vernie." He was dyslexic, but learned how to write phonetically. He eventually dropped out of Garland High School his junior year. • He did have musical ability and a strong interest in the Bible. By 12, he had memorized large tracts of the bible and started lecturing other kids.

6. The Branch Message • The prime objective of The Branch Message is to uplift, magnify and vindicate the Only-Begotten Son, Yahshua Ha Mashiach (Jesus Christ). • It is based off of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Which believes in the “Second Coming” of Jesus Christ and the end of the world in a fiery apocalypse

7. Branch Davidians • Located in Waco, at the Mt. Carmel compound, founded by Benjamin Lloyd Roden and Lois Irene Scott Roden in 1955. • Occurring after the unexpected passing of the Shepherd’s Rod “Davidian” Victor T. Houteff on February 5th 1955 • Vernon Howell became leader in 1990 after a power struggle began between Howell and Lois Roden's son George.

8. Rise To Power • George Roden and Vernon Howell were fighting over who will become leader. • 1985 Howell leaves the commune and settles in Palestine, Texas, where he is joined by Branch Davidians who had been run off of Mt. Carmel compound at gunpoint by Roden. • They stay there. for nearly 2 years, living in cardboard and plywood shacks until late 1987 when conflict arises. • Late 1987, Roden digs up the body of a member, Anna Hughes, and issueing a challenge to Howell: the one who could raise her from the dead is the one to lead the community.

9. Rise to Power • Vernon tells police to charge him for abusing a corpse but nothing happens. • November 3, Howell returns to the Mt. Carmel compound with seven male followers, all dressed in camouflage and bearing assault rifles, hunting rifles, shotguns, and ammunition. • The two groups engage in a gunfight; during the exchange, Roden is shot in the chest and hands. • The trial would result in Koresh and his followers walking from the courtroom as free men.

10. Rise To Power • Roden however, is evicted from the compound, but still was considered the leader. • 1989 George is put into mental hospital for the plea of insanity over a murder, until his death in 1998 by trying to escape from Big Springs. • 1990 Vernon Howell is now the leader of the Branch Dravidians and changes his name.

11. A New Man • David Koresh is what he changes his name to • The court document said that the change was "for publicity and business purposes." • He said the switch arose from his belief that he was now head of the biblical House of David. • Koresh is a Hebrew transliteration of Cyrus, the name of the Persian king who allowed the Jews held captive in Babylon to return to Israel.

12. Waco Massacre • Claimed he was sent by god and wanted to combine rock and roll with religion. • Had multiple wives some being as old as 10 years old. Total was 19 women and he fathered 12 children. • Changed to compound name to Ranch Apocalypse. • Had total build up of 11 tons of firepower

13. Waco Massacre • Koresh claimed to have unlocked the Seven Seals within the Book of Revelation. The Seven Seals are supposed to portend events leading to the apocalypse. • Was 50 days long and 76 men women and children died. • Was building “Army of God” to await the second coming of Jesus Christ • His prophecy was that a great apocalyptic battle with Babylon was coming and there would be destruction and fire and deaths. 

14. Waco Massacre • The FBI did multiple things to disrupt and force him to give up such as: 1-Bright lights to disrupt sleep 2-Loud Music and chants 3- cut phone lines 4- cut power multiple times

15. Waco Massacre • Sunday February 28 1993, FBI attempts to execute arrest of David Koresh for sexual abuse. Also was concerned about the weapon build up on compound. • Gunfire erupts and 4 agents killed and 16 wounded. • Byron Sage is chief negotiator.

16. Waco Massacre • March 2- Koresh says upon national broadcast of his audio tape of his religious teaching he will surrender • 1:30 tape is broadcasted • 5:58 Koresh says god spoke to him and said to wait until Passover. (April 5) • President Clinton deploys military vehicles for safety purposes.

17. Waco Massacre • April 5- nothing happens and Koresh refuses to confirm exit date • Janet Reno (attorney general) proposes tear gas plan. • April 18- Reno tells Clinton the tear gas plan and gets ready to invade. • Children on compound hold signs in windows saying “ Flames Await”

18. Waco Massacre • April 19 • 5:59 compound notified of violent assault and is to come out • 6:02 tear gas begins to be sprayed • 6:04 Davidians start shooting • 6:31 entire building is gassed • 7:30 breach front side door on 1st floor • 11:00 Reno tells Clinton everything is going fine

19. Waco Massacre • 11:45 wall on rear side collapses • 12:07 Davadians simultaneously start fires • 12:12 Call to Koresh to lead them to safety • 12:25 Davidians start killing themselves. • 12:41 fire fighting efforts begin • Koresh is said to be shot in head by his right hand man, who in turn killed himself. • http://cnn.com/video/?/video/us/2011/04/14/waco.koresh.fbi.audio.cnn

22. Links www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/Waco/timeline2.html http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/waco/davidkoresh.html http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/458664/20130418/waco-massacre-explosion-factory.htm http://www.the-branch.org/Koresh's_Warfare_Against_True_Branch_Davidians_Doug_Mitchell#a1

23. Links • http://www.branch-davidianhistory.net/history.aspx?c=13 • http://www.historycommons.org/entity.jsp?entity=george_roden_1 • http://www.equip.org/articles/the-branch-davidians/