Day 41 of the Waco Standoff

April 9, 1993
After several unsuccessful attempts to call the compound, and several occasions when the connection was lost because of technical problems, the negotiators spoke to Schneider at 11:28 a.m. Schneider repeated that Koresh would not come out until told to do so by God. Schneider offered no information as to a possible timetable. This call lasted until 12:35 p.m.
At 3:35 p.m., Schneider called the negotiators, then left the compound to drop off a letter from Koresh to the FBI. According to Schneider, Koresh dictated the letter to Judy Schneider. Schneider directed the negotiators' attention to the last page of the letter stating that it was "very important." The entire letter appears in the appendix to this report. The last page is as follows:

“Learn from David My seals or, as you have said, bear the consequences. I forewarn you the Lake Waco area of Old Mount Carmel will be terribly shaken. The waters of the lake will be emptied through the broken damn. [sic] The heavens are calling you to judgment.
Please consider these tokens of great concern.
Yahweh Koresh”

At the FBI's request, two experts analyzed the letter. The experts noted that Koresh was possibly a functioning, paranoidtype psychotic and that he had no intention of surrendering.(6) (Koresh sent out four additional letters -- two on April 10, one on April 11, and the last on April 14. The experts analyzed those letters and concluded that Koresh had no intention of leaving voluntarily).
At 7:03 p.m., Schneider exited the compound without any prior notice to negotiators and walked toward one of the armored vehicles. The agents released a "flash bang" near him, and he returned to the compound.
At 7:30 p.m., Schneider spoke with the negotiators. He was extremely angry about the "flash bang." Schneider screamed at the negotiators and said that he would come out anytime he wanted.
Also, at 7:30 p.m., another male exited the compound into the courtyard and was "flash banged."
The negotiators made numerous attempts to call into the compound between 8:00 p.m. and midnight, but the telephone was off the hook.
On this date, the FBI began to finish plans for inserting nonlethal Orthochlorobenzalmalononitrile (CS) tear gas into the compound. Discussions began at FBI Headquarters and with the Attorney General to determine if the plan would be approved and, if so, to decide when it would occur.

(The Myth: See? Just some more evidence that the FBI wouldn’t let anyone out of the church!)

[The Truth: Schneider was FURIOUS that he couldn’t walk around like he’d never shot any cops. There is absolutely NO ‘evidence’ that the FBI shot any of the Davidians, started the fire or pinned the Davidians down inside so they would burn to death.]



S. Olson