Casefile True Crime Case 339: Waco (Part 2/3)
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Apr 25, 2026 A federal raid on a secluded religious compound spirals into a violent gunbattle and chaotic retreat. Tensions from an earlier siege and surveillance tactics shape a high-stakes standoff. Allegations of child abuse and secret weapons shipments drive the investigation. Negotiations and a promised surrender falter amid confusion and escalating casualties.
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ATF's Institutional Pressure Shaped Tactics
- The ATF in early 1990s was underfunded, politically embattled, and desperate for high-profile wins to improve its image.
- That institutional pressure influenced aggressive, publicity-sensitive decisions around the Mount Carmel investigation.
UPS Driver Spotting The Arsenal
- UPS driver Larry Gilbreth noticed increasing weapons shipments to Mount Carmel and once a box of 50 grenade casings spilled open, alarming him.
- He redirected deliveries and reported it to the sheriff after parcels included black powder and ammo for automatic rifles.
Undercover House Surveillance Operation
- Eight undercover ATF agents rented a house across the road, posing as students and filming Mount Carmel constantly from inside.
- The house became the operation's sniper and surveillance hub known as the Undercover House.