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In the weeks preceding the raid, self-described cult expert Rick Ross, a Cult Awareness Network affiliated deprogrammer moved to a hotel in Dallas, and later to Waco during the standoff. Ross appeared on major network programs such as CBS, which had hired Ross as an on-scene analyst for their coverage of the Waco siege.[1] Ross described his role in advertising authorities about the Davidians and Koresh, and what actions should be take to end the siege[2]. He was quoted as saying that he was "consulted" by the BATF[3] and contacted the FBI on the March 4, 1993, requesting "that he be interviewed regarding his knowledge of cults in general and the Branch Davidians in particular". The FBI reports that it did not rely on Ross for advice whatsoever during the standoff, but that it did interview and received input from him. Ross also telephoned the FBI on March 27 and March 28, offering advice about negotiation strategies, suggesting that the FBI "attempt to embarrass Koresh by informing other members of the compound about Koresh's faults and failures in life, in order to convince them that Koresh was not the prophet they had been led to believe".[2] The ATF also contacted Ross in January 1993 for information about Koresh[2].

Dr. Park Dietz, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the UCLA School of Medicine contacted the FBI saying he had seen a televised interview with Rick Ross in which he stated that "he hoped Koresh would prove to be a coward who would prefer to write a book and sell the movie rights from prison rather than end up as a corpse" and noted that Ross's "equation of surrender with cowardice could set back negotiations substantially if Koresh had seen the broadcast".[2]

Mark MacWilliams notes that several studies have shown how "self-styled cult experts like Rick Ross, anticult organizations like the Cult Awareness Network (CAN), and disaffected Branch Davidian defectors like Mark Breault played important roles in popularizing a harshly negative image of Koresh as a dangerous cult leader. Portrayed as “self-obsessed, egomaniacal, sociopathic and heartless,” Koresh was frequently characterized as either a religious lunatic who doomed his followers to mass suicide or a con man who manipulated religion for his own bizarre personal advantage". [4]

Criticism of government agencies' involvement with Ross has come from Nancy Ammerman, a professor of sociology of religion, who cited FBI interview notes which stated that Ross "has a personal hatred for all religious cults." She claimed that the BATF and the FBI did rely on Ross when he recommended that agents "attempt to publicly humiliate Koresh, hoping to drive a wedge between him and his followers." She criticized them for doing so and ignoring the "wider social sciences community".[2][5][6]. Other scholars also criticized Ross' involvement.[7][2][8][9][10]

When the siege was ended CAN-affiliated spokespersons were prominent media personalities condemning Koresh and drawing parallels with Jonestown[2].




The great bulk of the information that Rick Ross communicated to the BATF and the FBI, however would have done little other than reinforce the widely prevalent stereotype of cults as criminal organisations ready to commit the worst atrocities at the mere bidding of a maniacal leader

The anti cultists main contribution to the Branch Davidian holocaust was in the preceding two deades of their influence over the mass media, and, in turn, over public opinion, which has resulted i the adoption if an essentially “demonic” (Pfohl 1994) view of nontraditional religions.


Deprogrammer Rick Ross appeared on major network programs a number of time, talking about his role in advising authorities about the Davidians and what actions should be taken to terminate the siege.

When the siege was ended CAN-affiliated spokespersons were prominent media personalities condemning Koresh and drawing parallels with Jonestown.

Priscilla Coates and official in the CAN claimed that no one is either Justice or Treasury spoke with anyone affiliated with CAN, her claim is contradicted by others.

RR asserted on more than one TV show that he had consulted with BATF agents before the February 28 raid.

[11]

Dr.,Park Dietz Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA School of Medicine

Dietz next contacted the FBI commanders on Wednesday, March 10, 1993, to advise that he had seen a television interview with self-described "cult expert" Rick Ross. Ross stated during the interview that he hoped Koresh would prove to be a coward who would prefer to write a book and sell the movie rights from prison rather than end up as a corpse. Dietz thought Ross' televised equation of surrender with cowardice could set back negotiations substantially if Koresh had seen the broadcast.

The FBI did not solicit advice from any "cult experts" or "cult deprogrammers." The FBI did receive a number of unsolicited offers of assistance from former Branch Davidian member Marc Breault (who has since published a paperback book about Koresh and the Branch Davidians). The FBI also received input from two self-described cult experts, Rick Ross (who moved to a hotel in Dallas, and later to Waco, during the standoff and appeared on local television programs, as well as the CNN broadcast of March 10 that upset Dr. Dietz) and Kelli Waxman. Following are brief summaries of the input received from these three individuals

Ross: Ross contacted the FBI on March 4, 1993 and requested that he be interviewed regarding his knowledge of cults in general and the Branch Davidians in particular. Ross said that he had been familiar with the Branch Davidians for several years, and had known several former Davidians. Ross provided information about Koresh to the Waco Tribune Herald for its series about the Branch Davidians. Ross also had been in contact with Steve Schneider's sister, who had asked him to help devise a strategy to "deprogram" Schneider. The ATF also contacted Ross in January 1993 for information about Koresh. Ross also telephoned the FBI on March 27 and March 28, offering advice about negotiation strategies. Ross suggested that the FBI attempt to embarrass Koresh by informing other members of the compound about Koresh's faults and failures in life, in order to convince them that Koresh was not the prophet they had been led to believe.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE REPORT ON THE EVENTS AT WACO, TEXAS

FEBRUARY 28 TO APRIL 19, 1993

http://www.justice.gov/publications/waco/wacofour.html


Mr. Rick Ross, who often works in conjunction with the Cult Awareness Network (CAN), has been quoted as saying that he was "consulted" by the BATF

REPORT TO THE JUSTICE AND TREASURY DEPARTMENTS

regarding law enforcement interaction with the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas

submitted by Nancy T. Ammerman

September 3, 1993

The Network and Mr. Ross have a direct ideological (and financial) interest in arousing suspicion and antagonism against what they call "cults". These same persons seem to have been major sources for the series of stories run by the Waco newspaper, beginning February 27. It seems clear that people within the "anti-cult" community had targeted the Branch Davidians for attention.

Although these people often call themselves "cult experts," they are certainly not recognized as such by the academic community. The activities of the CAN are seen by the National Council of Churches (among others) as a danger to religious liberty, and deprogramming tactics have been increasingly found to fall outside the law. At the very least, Mr. Ross and any ex-members he was associated with should have been seen as questionable sources of information. Having no access to information from the larger social science community, however, BATF had no way to put in perspective what they may have heard from angry ex-members and eager deprogrammers.


MacWilliams, Mark (2005). Symbolic Resistance to the Waco Tragedy on the Internet.


Mark MacWilliams notes that several studies have shown how "self-styled cult experts like Rick Ross, anticult organizations like the Cult Awareness Network (CAN), and disaffected Branch Davidian defectors like Mark Breault played important roles in popularizing a harshly negative image of Koresh as a dangerous cult leader. Portrayed as “self-obsessed, egomaniacal, sociopathic and heartless,” Koresh was frequently characterized as either a religious lunatic who doomed his followers to mass suicide or a con man who manipulated religion for his own bizarre personal advantage". [4]


MacWilliams, Mark. 2005. "Symbolic Resistance to the Waco Tragedy on the Internet." Nova Religio 8 (3): 59-82.

Several studies have noted how self-styled cult experts like Rick Ross,25 anticult organizations like the Cult Awareness Network (CAN), and disaffected Branch Davidian defectors like Mark Breault played important roles in popularizing a harshly negative image of Koresh as a dangerous cult leader. Portrayed as “self-obsessed, egomaniacal, sociopathic and heartless,” Koresh was frequently characterized as either a religious lunatic who doomed his followers to mass suicide or a con man who manipulated religion for his own bizarre personal advantage.


In 1992 and 1993, Ross opposed actions of the Branch Davidian group led by David Koresh in Waco, Texas.[12] Ross had previously deprogrammed a member of the group.[7][13] Ross was the only deprogrammer to work with Branch Davidian members prior to a siege involving the death of many of the group's members at Waco.[14] Television broadcaster CBS hired Ross as an on-scene analyst for their coverage of the Waco siege.[1] Ross also offered unsolicited advice to the FBI during the standoff.[13] A later Department of Justice report on the matter stated that "the FBI did not 'rely' on Ross for advice whatsoever during the standoff."[13] According to the report, the FBI "politely declined his unsolicited offers of assistance throughout the standoff" and treated the information Ross supplied as it would any other unsolicited information received from the public.[13] Criticism of government agencies' involvement with Ross has come from Nancy Ammerman, a professor of sociology of religion, who cited FBI interview notes which stated that Ross "has a personal hatred for all religious cults." She claimed that the BATF and the FBI did rely on Ross when he recommended that agents "attempt to publicly humiliate Koresh, hoping to drive a wedge between him and his followers." She criticized them for doing so and ignoring the "wider social sciences community".[15][5][16] Other scholars also criticized Ross' involvement.[7][15][17][8][18][19] Ross characterized his critics as cult apologists who held the belief that cult groups "should not be held accountable for their action like others within our society".[20]


  1. ^ a b Johnstone, Nick (December 12, 2004). "Beyond Belief". The Observer. London. Retrieved October 24, 2008.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Wright, S.A. 1995. Armageddon in Waco: Critical Perspectives on the Branch Davidian Conflict: University of Chicago Press.
  3. ^ Report to the Deputy Attorney General on the Events at Waco, Texas February 28 to April 19, 1993 (Report). United States Department of Justice. October 8, 1993. Retrieved 1 February 2014. {{cite report}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  4. ^ a b MacWilliams, Mark (2005). "Symbolic Resistance to the Waco Tragedy on the Internet". Nova Religio. 8 (3). University of California Press: 59–82. doi:10.1525/nr.2005.8.3.59.
  5. ^ a b Report to the Justice and Treasury Departments, Nancy Ammerman, September 3, 1993, with an Addendum dated September 10, 1993
  6. ^ Waco, Federal Law Enforcement, and Scholars of Religion, Nancy Ammerman, 1993
  7. ^ a b c Tabor, James D. (1997). Why Waco?. University of California Press. pp. 93–96, 138–139, 233. ISBN 0-520-20899-4. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ a b Newport, Kenneth G. C. (2006). Expecting the End. Baylor University Press. pp. 154–171. ISBN 1-932792-38-4. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ Wessinger, Catherine Lowman (2000). How the Millennium Comes Violently. New York, NY/London, UK: Seven Bridges Press. pp. 1, 60, 69, 98. ISBN 1-889119-24-5.
  10. ^ Michael, George (2003). Confronting Right-wing Extremism and Terrorism. New York, NY/London, UK: Routledge. p. 148. ISBN 0-415-31500-X.
  11. ^ Wright, S.A. 1995. Armageddon in Waco: Critical Perspectives on the Branch Davidian Conflict: University of Chicago Press.
  12. ^ Ortega, Tony (November 30, 1995). "Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlatans. Clients of deprogrammer Rick Ross call him a savior. Perhaps that's why people he's branded cult leaders want to crucify him". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved April 27, 2006.
  13. ^ a b c d US Department of Justice, Report to the Deputy Attorney General on the Events at Waco, Texas: Part IV, The Role of Experts During the Standoff, 28 February to 19 April 1993. Available online
  14. ^ Baum, Michele Dula, "Dangerous cults focus on leader, Deprogrammer Says", The Chattanooga Times, April 30, 1994
  15. ^ a b Wright, Stuart A. (ed.) (1995). Armageddon in Waco. University of Chicago Press. pp. 98–100, pp. 286–290. ISBN 0-226-90845-3. {{cite book}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  16. ^ Waco, Federal Law Enforcement, and Scholars of Religion, Nancy Ammerman, 1993
  17. ^ Chryssides, George D. (1999). Exploring New Religions. Continuum International Publishing Group. pp. 55–56. ISBN 0-8264-5959-5.
  18. ^ Wessinger, Catherine Lowman (2000). How the Millennium Comes Violently. New York, NY/London, UK: Seven Bridges Press. pp. 1, 60, 69, 98. ISBN 1-889119-24-5.
  19. ^ Michael, George (2003). Confronting Right-wing Extremism and Terrorism. New York, NY/London, UK: Routledge. p. 148. ISBN 0-415-31500-X.
  20. ^ "Letters to the Editor - What Happened at Waco". The Washington Post. July 23, 1995. Retrieved November 4, 2008.
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