From: Gary Hunt at the Outpost of Freedom in Waco, Texas
Date: APRIL 8, 1993 PHONE: (817) 662-2442, ext 223I
had an interesting conversation down at the Salvation
Army Half Way House the other day. I had gone down to
drop some off reading material and asked if I could see
one of the Branch Davidians "living" there. I
was told that I could not because they were material
witnesses. I asked the lady, Janet, if she had been
deputized. She said no, that the Salvation Army was under
contract to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. It's gonna be
very hard to drop anything in the red bucket next
Christmas.
The Salvation Army prison had allowed press to contact
those inside by leaving a message, but they've changed
the rules now. All requests have to go through tae court
appointed attorneys. I guess if they, the attorneys are
hourly they're gonna make a bundle playing mailman.
Anyone ever wonder why "material witnesses"
need taxpayer funded attorneys?
By the way, those of you who have made contributions
have provided bibles to those inside the Salvation Army
prison. It seems that the BATF either lost theirs or
thinks that they are evidence or have decided to read
them to see if they can learn anything. Maybe if they
read them long enough we can get this darned thing over
with.
Now, a little explanation as to why I'm a day late
with this one. I had written this release on the 8th, but
it seems that something I had written about was changing
while I was writing about it. I guess you call that fast
changing news.
Don Bunds had been staying in my motel. Don left
shortly before Robert Gonzales on the 28th of February.
Seems that Don has been "hiding out" in a BATF
safe house since early March. They moved him there from
Kingsway Inn. I guess that they figured I wouldn't find
him if he were so close to me. Trouble is I didn't have
any questions to ask him, so I didn't bother.
Anyway, I met with Don's son, Mark, yesterday
afternoon. I know I wasn't followed when I went over
there (I think), so I suppose they are watching Mark's
house and saw me go there. Well, I was writing about Don
and walked outside for a bit of fresh Waco air when I saw
these black uniforms driving away. I walked around the
building and saw that the room which had been occupied
was now empty. Guess they didn't want me to know both of
the Bunds.
Anyway, who is Don Bunds? He seems to be a key witness
for the BATF. He had been a close member of the Davidians
since the mid-eighties. He was one of those that
supported Vernon Howell back when Vernon took over the
church with the support of most of the members. Part of
the hierarchy, so to speak. So, I was speculating as to
why the BATF was paying his room and board rather than
the Salvation Army.
The speculation? He either turned against the religion
that had become a part of his life, or he got caught or
threatened with a crime and was coerced into testifying
against Koresh. Reminds me a bit of what the federal
people wanted to do with Randy Weaver last August. Well,
I guess the speculation must continue for the time being.
Maybe when I find where Don got moved to I'll turn it
over to the press people with big expense accounts.
Go to next White Paper
Go to Previous White Paper
Return to Waco White Paper Index