Who is Kathy Schroeder? Everything Updated About The Ex-Waco Resident Now

Sunny Anderson
Mar 23, 2023
Mar 23, 2023

Kathy Schroeder, a former resident of Mount Carmel in Waco, Texas, recounts her experience following the 1993 siege between Branch Davidians and the federal government in the Netflix docuseries Waco: American Apocalypse. Through her perspective, viewers gain an understanding of why she followed Koresh's teachings and why she chose to leave the compound prior to its destruction. But what became of Kathy after the events in Waco?

#1. Who is Kathy Schroeder?

Who is Kathy Schroeder in Waco: American Apocalypse Source: Distractify

Kathy grew up in a religious home, but it wasn't until she left the Air Force and returned to her home state of Florida that she felt her true calling. There, she reunited with her high school sweetheart, Michael "Mike" Schroeder, who was drawn to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. That led them to pack up and move to Texas in 1989 to join the Branch Davidians, driven by their desire to "live for God" at Mt. Carmel Center near Waco.
Despite David Koresh declaring himself the Messiah and abolishing marriages in the sect, Kathy, Mike and their three children chose to stay and pursue their goal of being closer to God. According to her accounts, they were content despite having to live apart from each other, as they felt they had a purpose in life. Kathy even went as far as to sleep with David.

Who is Kathy Schroeder in Waco: American Apocalypse Source: People

It’s actually imperative to note Kathy has vehemently defended David in regard to his alleged sexual relations with extremely underage girls as well — as in girls much, much younger than 18. “People think that a man having sex with a bunch of underaged girls is crime,” she candidly said in the Netflix production. “And in conventional wisdom, this could probably be very well true. However, these weren’t underaged girls because you come of age at 12. All these girls were adults in our belief system.” In other words, her loyalty to him and their mission has always been unwavering.
The truth is this was why Kathy was reportedly even a part of David’s The Mighty Men group, which was basically his little army of active protectors within the massive Mt. Carmel Center compound. In fact, per her narrative, she was confidently given a hand grenade during the early days of the siege, with orders to kill herself and the four other individuals in her room if something went south. Yet, since her kids had already been released into federal custody and she felt her youngest needed her too much to continue on, she left on March 12, 1993, 38 days before things came to a head.
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#2. What happened to Branch Davidian survivor Kathryn "Kathy" Schroeder after Waco?

Who is Kathy Schroeder in Waco: American Apocalypse Source: Distractify

In the docuseries, Kathy recounts how she relocated to Waco with her spouse Michael and her three kids from a previous marriage. She explains that she and Michael became followers of Koresh's teachings, believing him to be a divine prophet, and dedicated their lives to serving God.
Following Michael's death in the siege, Koresh released Kathy's children from the compound, and they were taken into police custody. Despite this, Kathy chose to remain at Mount Carmel. Eventually, the FBI negotiator convinced Kathy to leave the compound because she felt her youngest child needed her. After cooperating with the police, she was arrested and received a three-year prison sentence. However, she was granted a reduced sentence in exchange for providing testimony against other members of the Branch Davidians.

#3. Where is Kathy Schroeder now?

Who is Kathy Schroeder in Waco: American Apocalypse Source: Netflix Life

Kathy, the former Branch Davidian, currently resides in Tampa, Florida and remains in communication with her kids. In 1999, she had another baby with a different partner and continues to be dedicated to her faith. Prior to Koresh's control of the Branch Davidians, Kathy moved to Waco with her husband Michael and her three children from her previous marriage. Despite the fact that marriages were broken up within the community in order to allow the women to be wed to David, who was seen as the Messiah, they devotedly followed him.
During the FBI siege of Mount Carmel, the Branch Davidians’ compound outside of Waco TX, her husband was killed. Kathy was instructed to throw a grenade at the room and kill herself and the remaining people in the room if things continued to go south. Eventually, Kathy’s kids were let out of the compound into police custody. Kathy left the compound after she was talked through by an FBI negotiator and felt like her youngest son needed her. She was arrested and sentenced to three years in prison but was given a reduced sentence for testifying under oath about her experience in the Branch Davidians.

Who is Kathy Schroeder in Waco: American Apocalypse Source: The US sun

30 years later, Kathy came forward to tell her side of the story in Waco: American Apocalypse. She defended David’s actions. “People think that a man having sex with a bunch of underaged girls is a crime,” she said in the Netflix production. “And in conventional wisdom, this could probably be very well true. However, these weren’t underaged girls because you come of age at 12. All these girls were adults in our belief system.” She continued, “Every single one of us was married to David because David was our Christ giving us the truths from God. The whole time we were having sex it was a bible study.” She gave even more detail about it, “He did it to give me that one little bit of tenderness with my God.”
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