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.
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
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