David Koresh (born Vernon Wayne Howell) was an American cult leader who headed the Branch Davidians, an apocalyptic religious sect. He is best known for his central role in the 1993 Waco siege. Koresh claimed to be the final prophet and a messianic figure who would guide his followers through a violent end-times apocalypse. His manipulative leadership and illegal activities ultimately led to a fatal 51-day standoff with federal authorities at the group's compound in Waco, Texas.
