David Koresh

David Koresh, born Vernon Wayne Howell (August 17, 1959 - April 19, 1993) was a self-proclaimed head of the Branch Davidians from 1988 until a raid by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (now BATFE) and subsequent siege by the Federal Bureau of Investigation ended with the burning of Branch Davidian ranch, the Mount Carmel Center.

Early life

Vernon Wayne Howell was born on August 17, 1959 in Houston, Texas to a 15-year old single mother. He never knew his father and was raised by his grandparents. Koresh described his early childhood as lonely, saying that the other kids teased him and called him "Vernie". As a young boy, he was abused by his stepfather. A poor student because of dyslexia, Vernon dropped out of high school. By 18, he was working as a carpenter.

Related Topics:
August 17 - 1959 - Houston - Texas - Dyslexia - High school - Carpenter

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When he was 20, Howell joined his mother's church, the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He fell in love with a 15-year-old girl, who became pregnant, but marriage was forbidden by the girl's father and church elders. Vernon began to challenge the elders on many points of scripture and was expelled for being a bad influence on young people.

Related Topics:
Seventh-day Adventist Church - Pregnant

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Shortly thereafter, he went to Hollywood hoping to become a rock and roll guitarist; however, nothing came of this. In 1981 he moved to Waco, Texas where he joined the Branch Davidians, a religious sect which had split from the Seventh-day Adventists. They had established their headquarters at a ranch about 10 miles out of Waco, which they called the Mount Carmel Center (after the Biblical Mount Carmel, Israel), in 1955.

Related Topics:
Hollywood - Rock and roll - 1981 - Waco, Texas - Mount Carmel, Israel - 1955

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