Anonymous Host
๐ค SpeakerAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
Wayne Martin seemed nervous, dressed in a three-piece suit and fidgeting.
Sage looked Steve directly in the eyes and reassured him that he would give his life to protect two documents, the US Constitution and the Bible.
That was why he was meeting with them to come to a peaceful resolution.
Steve responded positively to this, telling Sage that he believed him completely and would do all that he could to conclude the siege, though he and Wayne repeatedly made it clear that Koresh would always have the final say.
Steve Schneider and Byron Sage agreed to meet again the following day.
When Steve went back into the compound, he told Koresh how much he liked and trusted Sage.
That night, Jeff Jamar ordered combat engineer vehicles to clear everything within 50 yards of the Mount Carmel building.
They crushed cars that belonged to Branch Davidians and were parked around the property.
This would prevent any Branch Davidians from using the vehicles as cover if they decided to run out of the building, guns blazing.
This was perceived as a hostile act and again inflamed tempers inside Mount Carmel.
Steve Schneider refused to meet with negotiators again the following day and he and Koresh argued with Byron Sage over the phone.
Are you going to kill me?
No, Sage replied, before the call ended abruptly.
Deciding they needed to speak to all Branch Davidians more directly, the negotiators began broadcasting messages over a loudspeaker system the FBI had set up outside the compound.
This would allow everyone inside the compound to hear them.
They broadcast tapes recorded by Branch Davidians who'd left the siege.
These upbeat recordings featured positive messages about their interactions with law enforcement.
The negotiators also arranged for a package full of documents to be dropped off at the compound, including letters from attorneys willing to represent Koresh and others, a letter from the Christian Broadcasting Network, and an audio tape from a theologian who'd listened to Koresh's sermons.
These tactics seemed to work, with Koresh saying that more people would soon be coming out, and they would eventually be followed by everyone else.