Cult of Personality (2020- )

He promises he will lead the faithful until the End Times. But the end, for his followers, comes sooner than expected. He is David Koresh, the so-called Sinful Messiah Of Waco, Texas. He will prepare his followers for a battle with the federal government, but also sleep with whoever he chooses, including pre-teen girls. It is the early 90s, when this man with rock star good looks and charisma rises to the top of a religious sect, one that is already preparing for the end of the world. By the time the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms show up to investigate claims of illegal arms sales, his followers are fully prepared to make a last stand. Whether that means fighting a gun battle, holding out in a siege or starting a blazing inferno, Koresh's followers will stay true to the last. But what kind of person inspires this kind of fanatical devotion? In this episode, we trace the rise and fall of David Koresh, speaking to law enforcement professionals who were there at the time, an expert on cults and deprogramming, and one of the few survivors, Australian Graeme Craddock. Over a quarter century later, the tragic events that took place on a ranch a few miles out of Waco, spawned endless conspiracy theories, and even motivated the Oklahoma City bomber, Timothy McVeigh. One thing for certain, is that David Koresh, the Sinful Messiah, casts a long shadow until this very day.