The Ashes of Waco: Very Sad News

The Ashes of Waco

The Ashes of Waco digital collection
The CONTENTdm site containing the digitized materials and the metadata records from the Dick J. Reavis Papers.
The Ashes of Waco website
Portal page to the digital collection. Includes a transcribed interview with author Dick J. Reavis, and information about the author, the book, the papers, the grant, the digital collection and the Southwestern Writers Collection.

Grant Project Funded By:

Alkek Library Links

Waco Links

An interview with Waco survivor David Thibodeau, from reasononline
from Oct. 4, 1999
Apologetics Index: Branch Davidians
Apologetics Research Resources on religious movements, cults, sects, world religions and related issues
Ashes of Waco - the book
Includes overview and reader reviews.
Evaluation of the Handling of the Branch Davidian Stand-off in Waco, Texas
Redacted version of October 8, 1993 DOJ report.
Final Report to the Deputy Attorney General: Concerning the 1993 Confrontation at the Mt. Carmel Complex, Waco, Texas (aka "Danforth Report")
Published Nov. 8, 2000. Includes links to press release, preface, exhibits and appendices.
Guide to the Dick J. Reavis Papers
Finding aid for the archives from where the Ashes of Waco research materials come. Available in PDF or EAD format. Includes biographical information on Mr. Reavis.
Introduction to the Branch Davidians
Link-heavy resource on the BD's and the incident.
List of Autopsy Reports
Autopsy reports and photographs of April 19 victims.
Memorializing Mount Carmel Center in Waco, Texas
Excellent site for photos and descriptions of the Mount Carmel property over the past eight years. Also includes photos of the Mount Carmel building model created by the author of the site, and links to other resources.
Report to the Deputy Attorney General on the Events at Waco, Texas
Redacted version of October 8, 1993 DOJ report.
Texas Rangers Investigative Report
September 1999 report includes numerous photographs, diagrams and other records of evidence
Waco Siege entry from Wikipedia
Information from various contributors on the raid, including its prelude and aftermath, as well as references and a bibliography.
Waco: A New Revelation
1999 documentary on the incident, which uncovers new evidence. Website includes a link to the Danforth Report. You can watch the entire documentary on the Google videos site (video.google.com).
Waco: Rules of Engagement
Probably the most famous and successful of Waco-related documentaries. You can order it from this site or rent/buy it from various sources.
Waco: The Inside Story
Website for PBS' Frontline program, with a lot of good resources, including pictures, audio clips, official documents, and a bibliography.

January 26, 2009

Very Sad News

We are very upset to report the tragic and untimely death of Bonnie Haldeman, David Koresh's mother. All reports we've found thus far are vague (and contain disagreements regarding Mrs. Haldeman's age and even the spelling of her name), but it appears that she was stabbed to death by her sister Beverly Clark last Friday (Jan. 23). Most reports indicate that they were alone at the time, but it is possible that their mother was also present in the house. We will be following this story closely.

We are also greatly saddened by the news that April 19 survivor Jaime Castillo passed away in late December of last year. In the late 80s Mr. Castillo, a drummer, answered an ad placed by Koresh, who was looking for musicians to play with. Over time Castillo became more and more involved with the Branch Davidian community and theology. He had been working as a personal trainer in Sylmar, California since his release from prison in 2006. Mr. Castillo died of liver failure brought about by hepatitis C. He was 40.

Our heartfelt sympathies and condolences go out to their families and friends.

Posted by Kurt Johnson on January 26, 2009 at 01:11 PM in Branch Davidians, Survivors | Permalink

Comments

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I preface my question, by offering condolences to family and friends. I cannot possibly know what his passing means to those who cared for him as I am an outsider, and because I was only a witness as far as the media of the time would allow me- and I feel it necessary to actually apologize for being curious even though I was affected deeply by the events that destroyed the Davidian compound. I want to understand, and no one has made me yet.

If it isn't too intrusive, I wonder what Castillo was incarcerated for? Every piece worked into the puzzle helps to give a human dimension to an event that failed us all in a horrific moment in modern history, no matter what our role was.

I struggle with being objective.

Thank you again for your work here.

Posted by: Claire | February 14, 2009 at 12:53 AM

Jaime Castillo was one of eight survivors convicted of firearms charges.

There is a lot of controversy attending the trial itself.

From 'The Ashes of Waco', p. 288:

"Jaime Castillo...prosecutor Johnston argued, was guilty of attempted murder because he had shot agent Ballesteros in the thumb. 'How did I come up with that?' the prosecutor asked the jury. 'Castillo, by his own admission, is at the front door and his rifle jams. Does a rifle jam just holding it, or does it jam while the action is going and he's at the front door?' Johnston derived his conclusion from a statement that Castillo gave the Texas Rangers: 'Castillo stated that he never fired a weapon during the initial raid, nor on the day of the fire. Castillo admitted to having a rifle that became jammed when attempting to load it...Castillo stated he tried to chamber a round in his rifle, but that it jammed.'"

Posted by: Kurt Johnson | February 17, 2009 at 04:39 PM

I was a long time personal friend of Jaime Castillo, from even before he met Koresh. For the record; i want people to know, Jaime Castillo stated to me upon his release from prison "To be honest i don't know what happened during the initial raid. I was asleep when the initial raid took place". Jaime had always maintained his innocence of what he was convicted for. He did admit to have held (not shot) a rifle during the seige, but claimed it was for self defense, in fear for his life. So, basically he was convicted on Conspiracy charges for admitting to having "held" a riffle.

Posted by: E.R. | May 03, 2009 at 04:31 AM

I WAS A FRIEND OF JAMIE CASTILLO BACK WHEN WE WERE IN 7TH GRADE AND LIVED IN EL MONTE , I REMEMBER HIM AS A REALLY SWEET AND KIND GUY , WE WERE FRIENDS IN SCHOOL AND WOULD OFTEN TALK ON THE PHONE I REMEMBER HIM ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT MUSIC AND HOW MUCH HE LOVED IT , HE WOULD OFTEN TELL ME LISTEN TO THIS SONG !BY THE TIME WE WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL WE LOST TOUCH BOTH WENT IN DIFFERANT DIRECTIONS DIFFERANT CROWDS, I WAS SADDEN MANY YEARS AGO WHEN SOMEONE TOLD ME THAT JAMIE HAD DIED IN WACO TEXAS IN THE COMPOUND , BUT I WAS EVEN MORE SADDEN TO FIND OUT THAT HE HADNT DIED IN WACO THAT HE HAD LIVED THROUGH IT AND HAD DID PRISON TIME AND JUST DIED LATE DECEMBER , IT WAS VERY SAD NEWS WHEN MY HUSBAND SHOWED ME THE PAPER , I WAS LIKE OH MY GOD HE HAD BEEN ALIVE ALL THIS TIME I SAY THIS BECAUSE FOR SOME REASON THROUGHOUT THE YEARS AFTER HEARING ABOUT WACO I HAVE THOUGHT OF HIM OFTEN , I WISH I WOULD HAVE KNOWN HE WAS ALIVE AND IN PRISON I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO SEND HIM LETTER, ILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HIM , MY FRIEND FROM 7TH GRADE GOD BLESS HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS HIS OLD FRIEND FROM BAKER SCHOOL
CHRISTINE

Posted by: CHRISTINE | October 19, 2009 at 01:47 PM