Independent Pathologist Supports Branch Davidian Autopsy Findings
A pathologist hired by family members of Branch Davidians performed autopsies Saturday on cult leader David Koresh and two others and said that he concurs with the county’s autopsy results.
Dr. Cyril Wecht of Pittsburgh, Pa., said he examined the remains of Koresh, second-in-command Steve Schneider and Judy Schneider-Koresh.
It had not been publicly announced prior to Wecht’s visit that Schneider-Koresh’s body had been identified. She is the 19th person pulled from the rubble of the cult compound to be publicly named.
“In a case of such great controversy and a case that is fraught with a lot of allegations and counter-charges, (family members) feel that they would like to have opinions from someone whom they have selected,” Wecht said.
Wecht said only that he concurred with the previous autopsy results.
Dr. Nizam Peerwani, the county’s lead medical examiner, said that Koresh, 33, died of a gunshot wound to the forehead and suffered extensive charring.
McLennan County Peace Justice James Collier said Saturday that he could not yet release a cause of death for Schneider-Koresh, 41.
As many as 86 cult members died April 19 when a fire ended a 51-day standoff between Branch Davidians and federal agents.
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