New Netflix Doc Exposes Deadly Cult Leader Who Forced Followers To Be Celibate While Sleeping With Their Wives

New Netflix Doc Exposes Deadly Cult Leader Who Forced Followers To Be Celibate While Sleeping With Their Wives McLennan County Sheriff's Office | Netflix

The horrific crimes and twisted mind of David Koresh, the leader of the deadly Branch Davidians cult, have been exposed in a new light in the new Netflix documentary, “Waco: American Apocalypse.” While the dissolution of the cult left 86 people dead, including children and police officers, that was only one of the shocking events surrounding the group under Koresh’s leadership.

While the story of David Koresh came to light way before Netflix came on board, not everyone is familiar with what happened. Koresh, born Vernon Wayne Howell, was born in 1959 and had a pretty tough childhood. Finally, after having a relationship with an underage girl when he was 19, he was kicked out of his church after he told them God had ordained the relationship.

Netflix paints a stark portrait of David Koresh

That’s when he decided to create the Branch Davidians, a cult of which he was the sole leader and prophet. He claimed the end of days was coming and the followers must create a plan to embark on a violent fight that would require scores of homemade weapons.

As the Netflix documentary covers, Koresh wasn’t just making false prophesies about the future. He was also raping and sexually abusing children and having sex with the wives of his many of his followers, whom he’d instructed to remain celibate. Because his followers were brainwashed into believing Koresh was announced by God, they let it happen. He eventually had 17 children by 11 women in the group.

Eventually, the government became aware of what Koresh was up to on his compound at the Mount Carmel Center in Texas, near Waco. The event, which later became known as the Waco Siege, stretched over 51 days and ended on February 28, 1993, when the entire compound caught fire and dozens of people were killed, including Koresh himself. No one knows exactly what happened there, but Netflix puts forward some interesting theories.

“Waco: American Apocalypse” is available to stream on Netflix from March 22

Jennifer Still is a writer and editor with more than 10 years of experience. The managing editor of Bolde, she has bylines in Vanity Fair, Business Insider, The New York Times, Glamour, Bon Appetit, and many more. You can follow her on Twitter @jenniferlstill
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