Report to the Deputy Attorney General on the Events at Waco, Texas
Report to the Deputy Attorney
General on the Events at Waco, Texas
February 28 to April 19, 1993
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October 8, 1993 [Redacted Version]
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
REPORT ON THE EVENTS AT
WACO, TEXAS
FEBRUARY 28 TO APRIL 19, 1993
Richard Scruggs
Assistant to the Attorney General |
Victor Gonzalez Inspector, Federal Bureau of Investigation | |
Steven Zipperstein Special Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Division |
Herbert Cousins Assistant Inspector, Federal Bureau of Investigation | |
Robert Lyon Assistant Counsel, Office of Professional Responsibility |
Roderick Beverly Assistant Inspector, Federal Bureau of Investigation |
Table of Contents
[edit]I. Introduction
- A. The Branch Davidians
- B. The FBI's Response to Crisis Situations
II. Chronology: February 28 to April 19, 1993
III. The FBI's Management of the Standoff at Mt. Carmel
- A. Introduction
- B. The FBI's Strategy for Handling the Standoff
- C. The Role of FBI Headquarters in the Standoff
- D. The Negotiations
- 1. Organization of the Negotiation Teams
- 2. Negotiation Strategy
- 3. Significant Negotiation Events During the Standoff
- a) Early Negotiations: February 28 - March 5
- b) Negotiation Team Themes
- c) Negotiations From March 6 to 13
- d) Negotiations From March 14 to 22
- 4. The Negotiators' Conclusions
- 5. Differences in Opinions Within The Crisis Management Team
- 6. Meetings Between the Branch Davidians and Private Counsel
- E. Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) and SWAT Teams
- 1. HRT
- 2. HRT Tactics
- 3. Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Program
- F. Technical Assistance
- G. Security of the Perimeter Surrounding the Branch Davidian Compound
IV. The Role of Experts During the Standoff
- A. Introduction
- B. Forensic Psychologists/Psychiatrists/Psycholinguists
- 1. Dr. Roger Bell
- 2. Dr. Park Dietz
- 3. Dr. C. Di Giovanni
- 4. Dr. Anthony J. Pinizotto
- 5. Dr. Mike Webster
- 6. Bruce D. Perry
- 7. Dr. Murray S. Miron
- 8. Dr. Joseph L. Krofcheck
- 9. FBI Behavioral Scientists
- C. Religious/Theological Experts
- 1. Dr. Philip Arnold
- 2. Dr. Bill Austin
- 3. Jeriel Bingham
- 4. Reverend Trevor Delafield
- 5. Dr. Robert Wallace and Dr. John Fredericks
- 6. Dr. Michael Haynes
- 7. Dr. Glenn Hilburn
- D. Medical Experts
- E. "Cult Experts"
V. Family and Other Outside Contacts
- A. Introduction
- B. Contacts Between Persons Inside the Compound and Family Members
- C. Miscellaneous Contacts
- D. FBI Contacts With Family Members
VI. Attitudes of Koresh and others in the Compound
- A. Introduction
- B. Religion/Devotion to Koresh
- C. Intention to Stay Inside the Compound
- D. Law Enforcement/Government
- E. Death and Suicide
- 1. Suicide Possible
- 2. Suicide Not Possible
- 3. Expert Opinions Regarding Suicide
VII. Child Abuse
- A. A. Introduction
- B. Evidence of Historical Child Sexual and Physical Abuse
- 1. Sexual Abuse
- 2. Physical Abuse
- 3. Circumstantial Evidence of Ongoing Abuse During the Standoff
- 4. Public Statements About Child Abuse After the Standoff
VIII. The Role of Other Law Enforcement Organizations
- A. The Texas Rangers
- B. The United States Attorney's Office
- C. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms 233
IX. The Justice Department's Role: February 28 - March 12, 1993
- A. Introduction
- B. The Justice Department During the Transition Period 235
- C. Acting Attorney General Gerson's Handling of Waco: February 28 - March 12, 1993 236
XI. Planning and Decision-making Between March 23 and April 19, 1993
- A. Coordination of the Prosecutive and Investigative Teams
- B. The CS Gas-Insertion Plan
- 1. Tactical Concerns
- 2. The Strategy
- C. Week of April 12, 1993
- 1. April 12 Meetings
- 2. April 14 Meetings
- 3. April 15 Meetings
- 4. April 16 Meetings
- 5. April 17 Events
- 6. April 18 Events
- 7. The Attorney General's Concerns
- 8. The Attorney General's Retrospective
- D. Details of the Tear Gas Plan
XII. The Events of April 19, 1993
- A. Introduction
- B. Preparations to Implement the Plan
- C. Initial Implementation of the Tear Gas Plan
- D. The Gassing Escalates
- E. The Fire
- 1. Infrared Aerial Video and Still Photos
- 2. Eyewitness Observations from outside the Compound
- 3. Reports of Shooting During the Fire
- 4. Davidians Escaping and Being Rescued During the Fire
- 5. Statements of Surviving Davidians
- 6. Firefighting Efforts
- 7. False Accusations that the FBI Started the Fire
XIII. The Aftermath of the April 19 Fire
- A. Introduction
- B. Processing the Crime Scene
- C. Identification of Bodies/Medical Examiner Reports
- 1. Branch Davidians Killed During February 28 Shootout
- 2. Identified Branch Davidians From April 19 Fire
- 3. Unidentified Branch Davidians From April 19 Fire
- D. The Arson Investigation
- 1. Introduction
- 2. The Arson Report
- 3. The Fire Development Analysis
XIV. Prosecutions
- A. Introduction
- B. Prosecutive Efforts During the Standoff
- C. Initial Series of Indictments
- 1. United States v. Kathy Schroeder, Brad Branch and Kevin Whitecliff
- 2. United States v. Norman Washington Allison (aka Delroy Nash) and Woodrow Kendrick
- 3. United States v. Schroeder, Whitecliff, Branch, Jaime Castillo and Clive Doyle
- 4. United States v. Paul Fatta
- 5. United States v. Graeme Craddock
- 6. United States v. Schroeder, Branch, Whitecliff, Doyle Castillo and Livingstone Fagan
- D. The Omnibus Indictment
- E. Schroeder's Guilty Plea
APPENDIX
- A. Photographs of Compound
- B. List of Military Personnel and Equipment
- C. List of Demands by Davidians During Standoff and FBI Responses
- D. Arson Report
- E. Koresh Letters
- F. Copy of Indictment
- G. List of Children Released During Standoff
- H. Intelligence on Sanitary Conditions Inside Compound
- I. Intelligence on Davidians, water supply
- J. Riot Control Agent, CS Information Obtained from British and U.S. Studies
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it is a work of the United States federal government (see 17 U.S.C. 105).
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