Kathryn Schroeder Waco: Where is Kathy Schroeder Now?

Kathryn Schroeder Waco

The town of Waco, Texas was the site of a well-known 51-day standoff in 1993 between the Branch Davidians, a religious group led by David Koresh, and the federal government, culminating in a violent confrontation. The Netflix series Waco: American Apocalypse offers a detailed account of the events that occurred during the infamous siege, as seen through the eyes of various survivors of the Branch Davidians, ATF and FBI agents, and others involved. Kathryn “Kathy” Schroeder, a former resident of Mount Carmel, shared her perspective on why she followed Koresh’s teachings and her decision to leave the compound prior to its destruction.

Who is Kathy Schroeder?

Kathy’s religious upbringing didn’t fully resonate with her until she returned to Florida after serving in the Air Force for three years. It was then that she reconnected with her former high school boyfriend, Michael Schroeder, who had a strong interest in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. When they learned of David Koresh’s message for the Branch Davidians, they were intrigued and relocated to Texas in 1989 to join the group at Mt. Carmel Center near Waco. Their shared goal was to live a life devoted to God, even though David proclaimed himself to be the Messiah and prohibited marriages within the sect. Despite having a son together, Kathy and Michael complied with the restriction.

They believed they were happy, as they worked toward a spiritual goal. Kathy even had a sexual relationship with David and staunchly defended him against accusations of misconduct with underage girls, insisting they were all adults. Kathy was a member of David’s group, The Mighty Men, which acted as his small army of protectors within the Mt. Carmel Center compound. She was given a hand grenade and instructed to use it to kill herself and the other four people in her room if things went awry during the siege. However, since her children were already in federal custody and her youngest needed her care, she left on March 12, 1993, 38 days before the final confrontation with authorities.

Where is Kathy Schroeder Now?

Kathy Schroeder immediately informed the police about the complex situation at her home, but they arrested her soon after. Before her arrest, she spent time with her 3-year-old son and learned that her husband had been killed on the first day of the shootout, February 28. Her three older children were being cared for by their father in South Dakota, as Air Force Sgt. William Mabb had joint guardianship. Kathy was charged with first-degree murder for conspiring to kill several special agents of the Bureau of ATF. However, she agreed to testify against others involved in the case and was sentenced to three years in prison on a reduced charge of resisting arrest.

According to recent reports, Kathy believes that if the 1983 siege had not occurred, she would still be an active Branch Davidian at Mt. Carmel Center. She would not have forced her children to stay with her, but she would not have judged them either. However, she now has her own perspective on God and seeks to live her life accordingly.

Waco siege

The Waco siege was a 51-day standoff between the United States government and an extremist religious group known as the Branch Davidians, which took place in 1993 near Waco, Texas. The group, led by David Koresh, had been suspected of weapons violations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) attempted to serve search and arrest warrants at the group’s compound. The initial raid by the ATF on February 28, 1993, resulted in a firefight and the deaths of four ATF agents and six Branch Davidians. This led to a siege of the compound by the FBI, which lasted for 51 days. Negotiations failed to resolve the situation, and on April 19, 1993, the FBI launched an assault on the compound, using tear gas and tanks. A fire broke out, and the compound burned to the ground, killing 76 people, including 25 children and two pregnant women. The Waco siege has been the subject of much controversy and debate, with some criticizing the government’s handling of the situation and others blaming the Branch Davidians for the tragedy. The incident has also been used as a rallying cry for anti-government groups and conspiracy theorists.

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