Editing David Koresh (section)

===Branch Davidians===
Koresh made his way to the Branch Davidian compound, and reportedly seduced the group's leader and described prophetess Lois Roden.<ref>[https://www.newsweek.com/messiah-waco-191160 The Messiah Of Waco], ''Newsweek''</ref> The couple claimed that she had become pregnant (when she was nearing 70) through their relationship, but that Roden had miscarried. Koresh claimed the miscarriage was God punishing Roden for stealing money. Koresh was able to usurp control of the group from Roden and her family through armed means. Following Roden's death in 1986 Koresh expelled Roden's supporters from the group, cementing his control over the group.<ref name = facts></ref>

During the 1980s Koresh took a 14 year old girl as his first wife.<ref>[https://heavy.com/news/2018/01/rachel-koresh-david-koresh-wife-bio/ Rachel Koresh, David Koresh’s Wife: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know], ''Heavy''</ref> He would sleep with a large number of women and girls, with some being as young as 12 years old.<ref name = girls>[https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2588106/amp/We-werent-brainwashed-Waco-cult-survivor-claims-new-memoir-Branch-Davidian-leader-David-Koresh-19-wives-slept-girls-young-12.html 'We weren't brainwashed': Waco cult survivor claims in new memoir that Branch Davidian leader David Koresh had 19 wives and slept with girls as young as 12], ''The Daily Mail''</ref>

In 1990 a California court granted Koresh's petition to formally change his name from Vernon Howell to David Koresh. He took the name David to symbolize a connection to the biblical King David.<ref name = Koresh></ref> His last name Koresh was the biblical name of Cyrus the Great.<ref name = facts></ref>

Koresh exercised near absolute control over the Branch Davidians, ruling every aspect of their lives and funding the group through buying and selling firearms. Children were beaten for the slightest offense, and grownups were required to engage in back breaking labor.<ref name = Koresh></ref> Koresh himself often slept until early afternoon, and would engage in pleasures that he denied his people on the grounds that "God" said it was OK. Koresh also advocated polygamy and developed a harem of women consisting of under-age girls in the cult compound- fathering around a dozen children as a result of this depravity.<ref name = girls></ref> All the other men on the compound had to be celibate.