Ruby Ridge Read online

  62, 64–65, 110–11, 124, 126–27, 133, 274,

  303–4, 357, 358, 371, 376–77

  guns owned by, 35, 40, 42, 45, 47, 62–63,

  111, 116, 124, 125, 153, 156, 196, 199,

  216, 252–53, 303, 314, 376

  imprisonment of, 256, 268, 287, 326, 368,

  369, 376

  indictment of, 120–21, 150

  jobs held by, 25, 27, 34, 44, 57, 60, 64, 92,

  125, 133

  lawsuit by, 3, 374, 376, 392

  marriage of, 8, 12, 24–25, 26, 27, 42, 60, 115,

  183, 313, 314

  media coverage of, 45, 96–97, 123, 147–49,

  277

  military service of, 13, 20, 22–23, 80, 96,

  117, 133, 145, 182, 209–10, 212

  racism of, 4, 26, 27, 36–37, 43, 46, 58–62,

  95, 97, 110, 111, 116, 228, 268, 269–70,

  288, 313–14, 363

  Ruby Ridge shoot-out and, 169, 170, 171,

  173, 174, 182

  in Ruby Ridge standoff, 5, 6, 8, 186, 192,

  198–200, 207–8, 215–17, 225–26, 230–54,

  260–62, 276–77, 279, 281, 355, 365,

  369–70, 387

  second arrest of, 150, 303

  second trial of, see Weaver-Harris trial

  shotguns sold by, 102–9, 118, 140, 153, 268,

  274, 278, 279, 288, 297–301, 365–66, 384

  after trial, 375–77, 381–83, 392–93

  trial date for, 125–26, 127, 128–29, 141,

  303–4

  violent nature of, 123–24, 129–30, 132–33,

  181–82, 192, 310–11, 312, 384–85

  visions of, 30, 35, 38

  warrant against, 128–29, 133–34, 135, 288

  weapons violations of, 118–21, 274, 278,

  279, 288, 297–301, 303–4, 356, 357, 359,

  360, 365–66, 369

  wounding of, 5, 199–201, 203, 208, 229,

  231, 236, 237, 261–62, 332, 335–39,

  343–44, 380–81

  Weaver, Samuel Hanson, 32, 34, 47, 48, 54, 60, 61, 62, 64, 91, 92, 93, 94, 99, 109, 110, 111, 117, 122, 125, 126, 128, 134, 136, 140–41, 147, 153, 154, 156, 157, 187, 260, 287–88, 313, 315

  death of, 171–74, 177–78, 182, 198, 199,

  206, 213–14, 218, 219–24, 228–29, 230,

  240, 241, 244, 249, 254, 261, 270, 275,

  277, 284, 290–96, 318, 350–53, 374,

  376–79, 385, 390, 392

  in Ruby Ridge shoot-out, 166, 167–74,

  177–78, 182, 241, 284, 319–20, 328–31,

  344–46

  Weaver, Sara, 27–28, 31, 32, 34, 48, 54, 60, 61, 62, 91, 92, 93–94, 99, 110, 111, 117, 122, 125, 126, 128, 134, 139, 154–55, 156, 206, 228–30, 241–43, 255, 287–88, 312, 313, 331, 384

  after Ruby Ridge, 254, 255–56, 259–62,

  321–28, 349, 352, 369, 375–76, 377,

  381–83, 392, 393

  in Ruby Ridge standoff, 5–7, 150, 171,

  199–203, 207, 214–15, 224–25, 238, 240,

  242–43, 244, 248, 249, 250, 251, 254, 256,

  262, 281, 343–44

  trial testimony of, 320, 326–28

  Weaver, Vicki Jordison, 2, 14–20, 23, 27–34, 36–47, 52, 91–94, 110–11, 116, 122, 123, 125–29, 134–35, 139, 146–47, 150, 156, 157, 165, 196, 201–3, 212, 213–14, 260, 281, 312–14

  as Christian fundamentalist, 4, 12, 16, 24,

  28–32, 34, 36–42, 44, 45–47, 58–61,

  66–67, 87, 95, 98–99, 100, 119–20,

  132–33, 141, 313–14

  correspondence of, 55–56, 64–65, 93,

  119–20, 127–29, 130, 134, 141–45,

  148–49, 151, 153–54, 155, 159–60, 195,

  246, 274, 304, 305, 311, 350

  death of, 3, 6, 202–3, 206–10, 215, 223–24,

  229–32, 236–39, 241, 243, 246, 249, 250,

  254, 261–62, 268, 270, 275, 277, 279, 284,

  288, 290, 308, 314, 317, 318, 327, 332–39,

  343–44, 349, 350–53, 368, 373–87,

  390–92

  government feared by, 4, 15, 17–18, 29–30,

  32–33, 43, 62, 64–65, 124, 126–27, 274,

  313

  as mother, 27–28, 32, 92–94, 135, 138, 144,

  155, 166, 178, 183, 207, 244, 246, 255,

  275, 312–13, 324, 376

  racism of, 4, 10, 13, 16, 26, 43, 58–62, 95,

  141, 313–14

  Randy Weaver’s marriage to, 8, 12, 24–25,

  26, 27, 42, 60, 115, 183, 313, 314

  Ruby Ridge shoot-out and, 168, 171, 173,

  174, 178, 182, 191–92

  in Ruby Ridge standoff, 8, 11–12, 186,

  198–200

  visions of, 30, 34, 38, 46, 54, 127

  Weaver, Wilma, 20, 219–20

  Weaver-Harris trial, 3, 263–370, 375

  ballistics evidence in, 344–46

  charges dismissed in, 348–49

  closing arguments in, 327, 349–53, 355

  conspiracy charge in, 276–78, 283, 290, 311,

  347, 350–51, 355, 356, 357, 364–65

  death penalty in, 263, 279–80, 340–41

  Degan’s death as issue in, 275, 276–85,

  290–96, 308, 319, 329, 331, 340–46,

  350–51, 360–61, 364, 367, 369, 371

  evidence presented in, 274, 275, 280, 281,

  284, 287, 297–98, 305–9, 311, 319–20,

  331–32, 338–39, 344–46, 347, 348, 350,

  354, 355, 357–58, 361, 364

  failure-to-appear charge in, 356, 360, 363,

  364, 365, 367, 371

  FBI cooperation in, 305–9, 338–39, 347,

  370, 385–86

  grand jury indictments in, 274–82, 305–6,

  355

  media coverage of, 269, 285, 286, 290, 359,

  361, 362, 367, 371, 377

  murder charge in, 262, 275, 276–82, 318,

  353, 356, 359, 360–61, 363, 364, 367

  opening statements in, 283–89, 355

  pre-trial release charge in, 356, 364, 367,

  369

  Randy Weaver’s beliefs in, 269–70, 276–79,

  297, 309, 314, 317, 350–51, 369–70, 378

  Ruby Ridge shoot-out as issue in, 278–85,

  290–96, 319–20, 328–31, 340–46, 361

  sentencing in, 369–70

  Samuel Weaver’s death as issue in, 270, 275,

  277, 284, 290–96, 318, 350–53

  verdicts in, 357, 366–68

  V. Weaver’s death as issue in, 268, 270, 275,

  277, 279, 284, 288, 290, 308, 314, 317,

  318, 327, 332–39, 343–44, 349, 350–53,

  368

  weapons violation charge in, 274, 278, 279,

  288, 297–301, 303–4, 356, 357, 359, 360,

  365–66, 369

  witnesses in, 278–79, 290–301, 303, 304,

  309–20, 327–46, 354, 357

  Weiss, Kenneth, 69–70

  Weland, Mike, 153, 314

  Westmoreland, William, 234

  Whittaker, Bruce, 116, 123, 131, 164

  Willey, Rodney, 75, 139–41, 312–13

  Williams, Mikel, 263

  Winslow, Robert, 113

  Wohali, Sam, 62–63, 64, 70, 94

  Woodbury, Denise, 389–90, 391, 392, 396

  Yagman, Stephen, 391, 392, 395, 397

  Yahshua Messiah, 4, 98, 119–20, 127, 128, 214, 215

  Yarbrough, Gary, 68–69, 246–47

  Yarbrough, Jeannie, 247

  Zionist Occupied Government (ZOG), 7, 67, 69, 126, 141, 170, 177, 198, 217, 220, 225, 228, 249, 253, 255

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  This book could not have been written without the help and encouragement of a great many people. First, I must thank my researchers: chiefly, Dean Miller for his reporting and his invaluable insights and for helping to write much of Chapter 22; and Bill Morlin, for
his remarkable knowledge of Idaho’s white separatists and for his law enforcement contacts. I am also grateful to the reporters, editors, and photographers at the Spokesman-Review, primarily Kevin Keating, J. Todd Foster, and Richard Wagoner; and to Dan Rubin of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Several people helped by reading early chapters, including Phil Gruis, Kevin Gilmore, Jim Lynch, Jim DeFede, and Deb Rose. My thanks go to Judith Regan, Nancy Peske, and everyone at ReganBooks and HarperCollins. I’d like to thank my daughter Brooklyn for her patience, and most of all, my wife Anne Windishar for her editing and her unwavering support.

  This book was reported over a three-year period while I covered the Weaver case for the Spokesman-Review—from the standoff to the trial to the aftermath. It is based on trial transcripts, government documents, wiretap transcripts, personal letters, and hundreds of interviews, from Sara Weaver to Lorenz Caduff to Dave Hunt. I would like to thank them all, especially Julie and Keith Brown and the rest of Vicki Weaver’s family—which I hope finds peace.

  About the Author

  JESS WALTER is the author of the novel Over Tumbled Graves and coauthor of christopher Darden’s bestselling account of the O.J. Simpson In Contempt. He has won national recognition for his reporting and writing, and the coverage of the Randy Weaver case helped the Spokane Spokesman-Review earn a puliter Prize nomination. Walter lives in Spokane with his family.

  Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins authors.

  Praise

  “The most comprehensive, even-handed and best-written account of Ruby Ridge…. Mr. Walter writes with fluency and grace, and he manages to make even minor characters spring to life…. While in no way absolving the government of its errors, Mr. Walter reveals that Mr. Weaver’s paranoia and stubbornness … helped to escalate the situation to its fatal end.”

  —Washington Times

  “A meticulously researched account of the Ruby Ridge incident.”

  —Bill Hewitt, People

  “Deeply critical of the government’s actions and the seemingly mindless series of bureaucratic decisions that led to the deadly siege … the power of Walter’s book [is in bringing] the Weavers to life.”

  —Bill Wallace, San Francisco Chronicle

  “Journalist Jess Walter has written the definitive book on the [Ruby Ridge] siege.”

  —New York Post

  “Tightly reported … an even-handed narrative that gathers speed as the Weavers’ fate becomes more tangled and tragic…. An excellent, minute-by-minute account.”

  —Jeff Baker, Portland Oregonian

  “Just to take a case as complicated and controversial as U.S. v. Weaver and explain it would have been enough. But Walter does more. [His] opening is so strong and his writing is so good…. Leaves us to draw our own conclusion about who was right and wrong on Ruby Ridge.”

  —Ft Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

  “A riveting, you-are-there story…. In this book [the author] lets descriptive, solid reporting carry the day…. Colorful and meticulous…. Perhaps the most gripping part of Walter’s work is the description of the siege itself.”

  —Grand Rapids Press

  “An excellent, well-written and important book that should be required reading in every civics class in the country. It is as close to the truth as we’re likely to get, and it’s frightening.”

  —Des Moines Register

  “Jess Walter achieves the near-impossible—a balanced account of a tragic event, told with grace, intelligence, and a profound understanding of human fallibility. A must-read story of our time.”

  —Peter Deutermann, Naval Commander, author of Official Privilege and Scorpion in the Sea

  “Makes abundantly clear that the ramifications of Ruby Ridge are immense. This book should interest everyone concerned about human fallibility and government excess.”

  —The River Journal

  “Jess Walter’s careful chronicle of what happened in and around that cabin in northern Idaho, and (more important) in the hearts and minds of white separatists and government agents that led to the confrontation, is remarkably complete. Walter reconstructs the past with a novelist’s attention to detail.”

  —Salt Lake City Tribune

  “Working from hundreds of pages of official documents and having culled the personal recollections of many of those actually involved, Walter has constructed a book that rivals any work of its kind…. As balanced a retelling of a headline-causing event as you’re apt to find anywhere.”

  —Spokane Spokesman-Review

  “Flowing, gripping, logically organized and rich in detail … straight-down-the-middle reporting … a story so tragic it’s redolent of Shakespeare … reads like a well-written mystery novel. You can rip right through it, hindered only by dismay at the realization federal agents in this bizarre case acted in a totalitarian manner that would make Mussolini look good.”

  —John Hanchette, Gannett Wire Service

  “That unto me, every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.”

  —Isaiah 45:23 (King James Version)

  ALSO BY JESS WALTER

  In Contempt

  (with Christopher Darden)

  Over Tumbled Graves

  Copyright

  A hardcover edition of this book was published as Every Knee Shall Bow by HarperCollins Publishers, in 1995, and a mass market edition was published by HarperPaperbacks in 1996.

  Unless otherwise indicated, all photos are courtesy of David and Jeane Jordison and are used by permission.

  RUBY RIDGE. Copyright © 1995, 2002 by Jess Walter.

  All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.

  EPub Edition © JULY 2012 ISBN: 9780061959851

  Version 06152012

  First trade paperback edition published 2002.

  Map by Vince Grippi

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Walter, Jess, 1969–

  [Every knee shall bow]

  Ruby Ridge : the truth and tragedy of Ruby Ridge and the Randy Weaver family / Jess Walter,

  p. cm.

  Originally published: Every knee shall bow. New York: ©1995.

  ISBN 0-06-000794-X (pbk.)

  1. Law enforcement—United States. 2. Political persecution—United States—Case studies. 3. Intervention (Federal government)—United States—Case studies. 4. Government, Resistance to—Idaho—Case studies. 5. Weaver, Randy, 1948—6. Weaver, Vicki, 1949-1992. 7. Right-wing extremists—Idaho—Biography. I. Title.

  HV8141. W35 2002

  979.6’98—dc21

  2001059040

  11 12 13 RRD 10 9 8 7 6 5 4

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