Who is David Koresh? How Did He Die? Know Biography and Family
by Sakthi | Updated Mar 23, 2023
Who is David Koresh?
David Koresh was an American religious leader who was born Vernon Wayne Howell on August 17, 1959, in Houston, Texas. He became the leader of a religious group called the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas, in the early 1990s. Koresh believed that he was a prophet and the Lamb of God mentioned in the Bible's Book of Revelation. He led the Branch Davidians in a unique blend of Christianity and apocalypticism, which included the belief in an imminent apocalypse that would be followed by the establishment of the Kingdom of God on Earth.
Koresh's leadership style was charismatic and authoritarian, and he was known for his apocalyptic beliefs and predictions of the end of the world. He preached a mix of Christianity, Seventh-day Adventist teachings, and his own interpretations of scripture, often emphasizing the importance of sexual purity and the role of the group in preparing for the end of days.
David Koresh Biography
As an adult, Koresh joined the Branch Davidians, a religious sect that had broken away from the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He quickly rose to a position of leadership within the group and changed his name to David Koresh in honor of King David and the Persian king Cyrus the Great. Let us look at a brief biography of him in the table below.
Specifications
Details
Full Name
Vernon Wayne Howell
Popular Name
David Koresh
Date of birth
August 17,1959
Date of death
April 19, 1993
Cause of Death
Gunshot wound to the head or fire wounds sustained in the Waco siege
Profession
Leader of the Branch Davidians cult
Marital status
Married
Spouse Name
Rachel Jones
David Koresh Age
On August 17, 1959 David Koresh was born in Texas, U.S. On April 19, 1993, he died in Texas, U.S. As per his birth and death dates, he was 33 years old when he died. He joined the group in 1981 and quickly rose to a leadership position, eventually proclaiming himself as the group's spiritual leader.
However, the incident at Waco remains a controversial event in American history, and the actions of law enforcement agencies in the lead-up to the fire have been the subject of intense debate and scrutiny.
David Koresh Family
David Koresh was born Vernon Wayne Howell on August 17, 1959, in Houston, Texas. He was the son of a single mother, Bonnie Sue Clark, and his father's identity is unknown. Koresh grew up in a dysfunctional family, and his childhood was marked by poverty and abuse. David Koresh, the leader of the Branch Davidian religious sect, had multiple wives, some of whom were underage at the time of their marriage. The identities of all of his wives are not publicly known, but Rachel Jones is a well-known wife of David Koresh.
Rachel Jones (AKA Rachel Koresh): Rachel was one of the first women to join the Branch Davidians after David Koresh became leader. She was 14 years old at the time and later became Koresh's legal wife. Rachel had several children with Koresh, some of whom died in the 1993 Waco siege. Rachel died in the fire that consumed the Branch Davidian compound. He fathered several children with his wives, and many of his followers saw him as a father figure. The identities of all of Koresh's children are not publicly known, but the following are some of the more well-known children of David Koresh: Cyrus Howell, Star Howell, Bobby Howell, and Serenity Jones.
How Did David Koresh Die?
David Koresh, the leader of the Branch Davidian religious sect, died in a fire that consumed the group's compound near Waco, Texas, on April 19, 1993. The incident was the culmination of a 51-day standoff between the Branch Davidians and law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). The siege began on February 28, 1993, when the ATF attempted to serve a search warrant on the Branch Davidian compound, which was suspected of harboring illegal weapons. The ensuing gunfight resulted in the deaths of four ATF agents and six Branch Davidians. The FBI then took over the siege, hoping to negotiate a peaceful surrender of the remaining Branch Davidians, including Koresh and his followers.
However, negotiations broke down, and on April 19, the FBI initiated a plan to end the siege by using tear gas to force the Branch Davidians out of the compound. The tear gas was intended to irritate the occupants' eyes and skin and force them out of the building. However, a fire erupted within the compound, and it quickly spread, engulfing the entire structure in flames. In the chaos of the fire, 75 Branch Davidians, including Koresh, died. Some of the victims were children, and many of them died from smoke inhalation or were burned alive. Koresh was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head, which is believed to have been self-inflicted. It is unclear whether Koresh shot himself before or after the fire started.
The incident at Waco remains a controversial and heavily debated event in American history, and the actions of law enforcement agencies leading up to and during the siege have been the subject of much scrutiny and criticism.
Who is David Koresh: FAQs
David Koresh was an American religious leader who was born Vernon Wayne Howell on August 17, 1959, in Houston, Texas.
Yes, David Koresh is married.
David Koresh had multiple wives, some of whom were underage at the time of their marriage. The identities of all of his wives are not publicly known, but Rachel Jones is a well-known wife of David Koresh.
David Koresh had at least 14 children with multiple women within the Branch Davidian group.
On August 17, 1959 David Koresh was born in Texas, U.S. On April 19, 1993, he died in Texas, U.S. As per his birth and death dates, he was 33 years old when he died.