Interview with Julian Bonanno, April 20, 2023, in Waco, Texas, about Branch Davidians

Julian Bonanno was raised Roman Catholic, became a Buddhist, and then was also attracted to the theology of the Seventh-day Adventist Church while living in Hollywood. He met a young woman named Kathy Andrade at the SDA church, and in 1990 or 1991, she invited him to a house in Pomona, California, to meet a teacher who turned out to be David Koresh. A Bible was on a table, but Koresh was quoting scripture from memory. During a break, Julian spoke to Koresh and said, “You are either an effective liar/con artist or you really know your Bible.” Koresh said, “What if I am both?” Julian said, “I’ll just stay and see if you really are a con artist,” and Koresh laughed and said, “Have a seat.” The Bible study lasted about 4 1/2 hours.

Julian liked what Koresh was teaching about the book of Revelation and the Last Days. He judged that Koresh believed what he was teaching. As a result of listening to Koresh teach, Julian became a student of the Seven Seals (in the book of Revelation). He does not consider himself a Branch Davidian.

Julian believes that Koresh was divinely inspired to interpret the Bible's prophecies, but Koresh also had charisma. Julian believes that Koresh heard God speaking to him and followed God’s lead. Julian felt Koresh’s charisma when he walked into the room. Koresh had the “It” factor, just not in entertainment. Koresh’s ministry made a deep impression on many, as it did on Julian. If things had been different, Julian probably would have gone to Texas to study with Koresh.

Julian describes sisters Kathy and Jennifer Andrade as being extremely close. They both moved to Texas to join Koresh’s group. They were approximately in their early 20s. After Kathy and Jenny went to Texas, they did not come back. He spoke with Kathy on the phone. She had given birth to one of Koresh’s children, Chanel, and Kathy was extremely happy.

Julian read the Final Danforth Report (2000), which discusses the locations where people's bodies were found after the fire. Kathy and Chanel’s bodies were found just inside the open doorway of a concrete room where the mothers and children had taken shelter. Jennifer’s body was found outside the doorway of the concrete room. Julian believes that Jennifer was attempting to get to her sister and niece. Julian was devastated to learn that Kathy and Jennifer died apart from each other. He had learned that a combat engineering vehicle had driven into the center of the building to spray CS gas toward the open doorway of the concrete room. When he learned about the gassing, he thought, “How could this be happening on American soil?” The whole world watched the tank and CS gas assault on television.

Julian’s brother is a forensic pathologist. A website had the autopsy reports, so Julian asked his brother explain the autopsy reports to him. His brother told him that the autopsy reports appeared to have been altered. Julian believes that the federal government did not want members of the public to know how people inside the building really died.

Julian has attended Branch Davidian memorials from the early years on. The early memorials were very somber. At later memorials, he saw that survivors were learning to heal. So many lives were affected: those who died, those who survived, those family members who mourn deceased loved ones.

Julian states that the thirtieth anniversary memorial on April 19, 2023, was very special. It was a classy tribute to everyone who has passed, including friends of the Branch Davidians and family members. It was a beautiful tribute to those who lost their lives in 1993. Julian is inspired by the strength of the survivors, especially by a survivor who was a child in 1993. People in this community love each other.

He discusses how CS gas used in internal spaces equates to creating a fire. At Mount Carmel Center, CS was put into a room where children and their mothers were.

He thinks the events at Mount Carmel Center were a carefully executed plan in 1993 by federal agents using the media to prevent people in the public from empathizing with the people inside the Mount Carmel Center residence. The internet was rudimentary in 1993, just AOL. The FBI did not release videos of the women and children until after the fire was over. Julian believes that the federal agents knew it was a “kill mission.” He thinks it was a situation of “kill now” and ask questions later. Federal agents wanted the siege to be over, to get rid of the problem that was the Branch Davidians.

Julian concludes by stating that we have to make sure this does not happen again to a religious group or a family. The Branch Davidians were not a “cult.” As American citizens, we have a right to disagree with a government that kills innocent men, women, and children.