- Date de naissance : 17 août 1959
- Date de décès : 19 avril 1993
- Nationalité :
Estados Unidos - Personne
David Koresh, born Vernon Wayne Howell on August 17, 1959, in Houston, Texas, was a religious leader and the head of the Branch Davidians sect, based in Waco, Texas. He is primarily known for his central role in the tragic incident of the Waco siege in 1993.
Early Life and Conversion
Koresh was born in Houston and grew up in a turbulent family environment. He had a troubled youth marked by family difficulties and academic problems. In his teenage years, he was introduced to the Seventh-day Adventist Church by his mother and showed an interest in religion.
In the 1980s, Koresh joined a dissident branch of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, known as the Branch Davidians, based in Waco, Texas. He quickly rose to prominence within this community and eventually took control of the group after the death of its previous leader.
Leadership within the Branch Davidians
Under Koresh's leadership, the Branch Davidians adopted an apocalyptic interpretation of the Bible, with himself presenting as the prophet and messiah. He taught his followers that the end of the world was imminent and that they needed to prepare for a final conflict with the forces of evil.
Koresh consolidated his authority by establishing strict control over the daily lives of members, including their personal relationships and education. He also practiced polygamy, taking multiple wives, some of whom were teenagers.
The Waco Siege and Tragic End
In 1993, US federal authorities launched an operation to search the Davidian compound in Waco, suspecting the presence of illegal weapons. What was supposed to be a routine search quickly turned into a deadly confrontation as gunfire erupted, resulting in the deaths of several federal agents and Davidian members.
This conflict escalated into a 51-day siege, during which Koresh and his followers barricaded themselves inside their compound. Despite attempts at negotiation, the siege culminated in an FBI assault on April 19, 1993. The assault triggered a fire that engulfed the compound, killing Koresh and the vast majority of the Branch Davidians, including women and children.
Numéros d'identification
- IMDb ID (nm0466205)
- MusicBrainz artist ID (d93c6823-c659-4501-a14e-4ca813bf09f5)
- ISNI (0000000055370149)
- VIAF ID (393149066574165601696)
Sources
Publicité
