Witnessing Waco.

• Author: Lynch, Michael W.
• Position: David Thibodeau - Brief Article - Interview

David Thibodeau lived at the Branch Davidians' Mount Carmel "compound," located just outside Waco, Texas, during the 1993 raids by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and the FBI - events that ultimately left 80 Davidians, including more than 20 children, and four federal agents dead. Thibodeau, one of nine Davidians to survive the raids - and one of four never charged with a crime - is co-author of A Place Called Waco: A Survivor's Story (Public Affairs). He recently talked via telephone with REASON Washington Editor Michael W. Lynch. For the full version of the interview, go to Reason Online (www.reason.com/bi/int-thib.html).

Reason: How did you get involved with David Koresh?

David Thibodeau: I was a drummer living in Los Angeles in 1990. I went into Guitar Center, and David Koresh and Steven Schneider were looking at a drum set and they asked me to play it. I ended up giving Koresh a call and we started to play music together. I was invited to come out to Mount Carmel during Passover season. I started to really see that there was something there.

Reason: During the siege, did you ever have an agreement with the FBI to come out?

Thibodeau: The first one was in the first three days. This is where David lost a lot of credibility. We were set to come out and David said, "God has told me to wait." So we didn't come out.

Reason: Did you ever feel that the confrontation with the government was the fulfillment of prophecies?

Thibodeau: All the time. I'll give you an example. We...