The sole Australian Waco Siege survivor believes his former cult leader, David Koresh, will return to the earth as Jesus for the second coming.
Melbourne-born Graeme Craddock, 56, was the last member of Koresh’s Branch Davidians to be hauled from the cult’s burning buildings 25 years ago.
His capture ended a 51-day-siege which saw 76 people in the religious doomsday cult killed during the final stand-off – including the notorious leader who once had 19 wives – with the youngest just 12 years old.
The sole Australian Waco Siege survivor believes his former cult leader, David Koresh, pictured, will return to the earth as Jesus for the second coming
Melbourne-born Graeme Craddock, 56, was the last member of Koresh’s Branch Davidians to be hauled from the cult’s burning buildings 25 years ago
Overhead of smoking fire consuming David Koresh-led Branch Davidian cult compound in 1993
‘Sometimes I do feel guilty that I’m still alive,’ Mr Craddock told 60 Minutes.
‘But I’m glad I’m alive because if I wasn’t here doing this, nobody would be able to tell you what I can tell you.’
35 cult members abandoned the leader during the lengthy siege – which ended in his death following a fiery gas attack.
The man believes his beloved cult leader was the only man on the planet who had been talking to God and that he is soon to return as Jesus in the second coming.
He also revealed he didn’t have a problem with Koresh ‘taking other men’s wives’ and compared him to King David – a biblical figure said to have 700 wives.
‘Whatever he did was according to what God had told him to do.’
Cult survivor Graeme Leonard Craddock arrives at county court in Waco, Texas, April 20, 1993
Craddock, left told 60 Minutes he feels guilty for being alive 25 years after the siege where 82 cult members died
The cult leader had 19 wives – and told his followers he was allowed at least 140 women
Koresh had declared he was entitled to ‘at least 140 wives’ and had fathered a dozen children.
20 children were killed during the stand off, a total of 82 adults died during the lengthy siege. Craddock was convicted of possessing a grenade and using or possessing a firearm during a crime for his part in the siege.
He served 13 years behind bars in Louisiana before he was deported back to Australia in 2006.
Vernon Wayne Howell, known as David Koresh, his wife Rachel, and their son Cyrus in front of their house
One of Koresh’s wives was just 12 years old – pictured here
Rachel Koresh holds daughter Star and her husband David holds son Cyrus