What happened to the Branch Davidians?

Thirty years after the Siege of Waco, a new Netflix series sheds light on never-before-seen footage from the 51-day standoff between the Branch Davidian cult and law enforcement.

Many people are curious as to what happened to the remaining Branch Davidians and whether or not they still occupy the compound near Waco, Texas.

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What happened to the Branch Davidians?

Up to 76 Branch Davidians died during the siege from the fires that broke out in the main buildings on their compound or from gunshot wounds.

Nine of the survivors were jailed for various offenses related to the first AFT raids.

A few individuals remain scattered, but in general the group nearly ended with the death of their leader, David Koresh.

In a 2013 story about the group, NPR noted that many survivors still believe David Koresh to be a messianic figure.

Clive Doyle took on the role of unofficial historian and spokesman for the original Branch Davidians.

Doyle told NPR, “We survivors of 1993 are looking for David and all those who died in either the shooting or the fire.”

“We believe that God will revive this special group.”

Do the Branch Davidians still live in Waco, Texas?

When interviewed by the Texas Monthly publication in 2003, Doyle told them that he estimated that only about a dozen Branch Davidians remained in Texas after the siege.

Today, the Branch Davidian Compound is occupied by a group called Branch, The Lord Our Righteousness.

Their leader is Charles Pace, a former member of the Branch Davidians who clashed with Koresh and his teachings.

He differs from Koresh because he does not claim to be a prophet.

He told NPR, “I came back here after the slaughter and I feel like the Lord has anointed me and made me leader.”

“I do not claim to be a prophet. I am a teacher of righteousness, that is all I claim.”

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How can I watch the Netflix docuseries American Apocalypse?

The documentary series became available on the streaming platform on March 22, 2023.

It’s a three-part series that covers events chronologically and includes footage never seen before.

It also includes personal accounts from one of Koresh’s child brides and federal agents on the ground during the siege.

The series was directed by Tiller Russell.

He told Yahoo Entertainment, “It’s always, ‘Who’s to blame?’

“In my view, Waco has never been viewed as anything other than assigning blame rather than describing the humanistic experience of it without a political agenda grinding on it.”