David Koresh

David Koresh (born Vernon Wayne Howell; August 17, 1959 – April 19, 1993) was an American cult leader and the head of the Branch Davidians, a religious sect and offshoot of the Seventh-day Adventists. He played a central role in the Waco siege of 1993, where he and his followers engaged in a standoff with federal agents. Koresh claimed to be the final prophet and his apocalyptic Biblical teachings attracted various followers. Prior to his leadership, Koresh was a member of the Branch Davidians and eventually took over Mount Carmel Center in 1987. He faced allegations of polygamy and child sexual abuse, along with accusations of stockpiling weapons.