Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, March 22, 1993 TAG: 9303220056
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WACO, TEXAS LENGTH: Medium
7 MORE BRANCH DAVIDIANS LEAVE ARMED COMPOUND
At least seven more Branch Davidian cult members left the group's armed compound Sunday, a quickening tempo of releases that the FBI said is a positive sign."The quicker it picks up, the better the situation is, and we're getting more and more out," said FBI agent Richard Swensen.
The first of the seven - two women - left the compound shortly after midnight. Two more women followed them out late Sunday morning and a man and two women left in the afternoon, authorities said.
Also, at about midday a school bus was seen moving into the compound area, and a short time later a bus left the area with one passenger. But federal authorities wouldn't immediately say if that was yet another cult member leaving the compound.
Branch Davidian leader David Koresh and his followers have been holed up inside the compound since a Feb. 28 shootout between cult members and agents with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
At about 11 a.m., Rita Riddle, 35, and Gladys Ottman, 67, were whisked away in a red car. One woman acknowledged a row of news reporters with a slight smile as the car sped by. Both refused to talk to reporters at the McLennan County Jail.
About 2:30 p.m., James Lawten, 70; Sheila Martin, 46; and Ofelia Santoyo, 62, left the compound, said FBI agent Sharon Smith. They were also taken to jail.
Earlier, about 12:30 a.m., Victorine Hollingsworth, 59, and Annetta Richards, 64, left the compound, Swensen said. Hollingsworth was taken to Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center for an examination because of a heart condition.
As with other adults released from the compound, the women were expected to be detained as material witnesses.
FBI officials have said for several days there were 20 to 30 people who were close to leaving the compound. On Friday night, Brad Branch, 34, and Kevin Whitecliff, 31, left as negotiators carried on a lengthy conversation with Koresh. They were the first people to leave in a week.
The siege began with the Feb. 28 gunfight that left four agents dead and 16 wounded at the compound 10 miles east of Waco.
ATF agents were trying to arrest Koresh on federal firearms violations. A federal law enforcement source who spoke on condition of anonymity has said at least 10 cultists were killed.