The Sad And Shocking Story Of How The FBI Murdered An Innocent Woman Holding Her Infant Daughter

Randy and his wife sought escape from a dark world full of government corruption and control. They settled on 20 acres in the northern parts of Idaho, in a cabin perched on a hilltop with fresh water and boulders. They were survivalists; determined to live without depending on any governing body. The Weavers made friends and enemies along the way in their new home in Boundary County, including his neighbor who reported him to the authorities for purportedly threatening to kill President Reagan. Thus, federal law enforcement officials have always kept an eye on the Weavers, but Randy always remained defiant. 

Randy and his wife sought escape from a dark world full of government corruption and control.

Today, anti-government individuals think of Randy Weaver as a hero, and they see his act of defiance as admirable. For others, when the words “Ruby Ridge” are uttered, a manic, conspiracy theorist comes to mind. Some think Randy was to blame for the death of his wife and son during an 11-day standoff. While Randy’s character was certainly alarming, to put all of the blame on him seems unfair. And until we acknowledge the bigger picture of these cruel, government catastrophes that have occurred in the past, we will always turn a blind eye to their wrongdoings in the future. 

The Ruby Ridge Standoff

In 1989, Randy Weaver sold two sawed-off shotguns to an undercover agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (also known as ATF). The shotguns Weaver sold to them were allegedly shorter than the federal limit. The government agents told Weaver they’d drop the firearms charges against him, but only if he agreed to become an informant to infiltrate the Aryan Nations, an extremist, Christian-based organization that claims European individuals are the real tribes of Israel. Weaver ultimately refused, leading to his arrest warrant. His court date was initially set for February 19, 1991, which was later changed to February 20. Somehow, the probation officer gave him the wrong date of March 20, 1991. Unsurprisingly, Weaver became a fugitive after failing to show up on the correct date. His wife, Vicki, wrote a letter to the Aryan Nations shortly after, warning them of the ATF’s plans to infiltrate. That same year, the Weaver family grew: Vicki gave birth to their fourth child, Elisheba. 

Attempts to arrest Randy in 1991 all resulted in failure, even with the involvement of the Special Operations Group (SOG). Then, on August 21, 1992, U.S. Marshals ambushed the Weavers’ property for Randy’s arrest. Gunfire commenced among those present in Randy’s forest: government enforcements, a family friend of the Weavers (Kevin Harris), and Randy’s 14-year-old son, Samuel. Deputy U.S. Marshal William Degen, Samuel, and the Weaver’s family dog were all killed. This unfortunate event marked the beginning of the 11-day standoff between the Weavers and federal agents.

The day after, a sniper from a helicopter shot and wounded Randy. A second shot was fired when Kevin Harris and Randy’s daughter Sara attempted to run back inside the house. The bullet passed through Vicki’s head as she stood near the door, holding her baby in her arms. The bullet also wounded Kevin Harris. Despite the deaths that occurred during the first two days, the standoff continued until the Weaver family surrendered on August 31. Harris and Randy were arrested but were later acquitted of all charges.

Not too long after this incident, federal agents took part in the infamous Waco Siege, where nearly 80 people were killed. The sniper that was present at the siege was Lon Horiuchi, the same man who wrongfully shot Vicki and killed her. Charges in 1997 against Horiuchi for the murder of Vicki Weaver were later dismissed.

The Aftermath

The surviving members of the Weaver family filed a wrongful death lawsuit after the standoff. Randy was awarded a $100,000 settlement and each of his three daughters received $1 million. Randy was seen driving a Cadillac around the same time as Horiuchi’s dismissal. He wrote books about Ruby Ridge and continued on with his nationalistic and anti-government beliefs. However, it seemed Randy was no longer religious. "Religion's all a bunch of crap,” he told a fan at a gun show. 

Each of his three daughters received $1 million.

In 2001, when someone asked what Randy remembers about Ruby Ridge, he said, "There was no wind. The snowflakes were so big you could hear them when they hit the ground. The kids had three or four campgrounds around the land. They'd go out and build fires at night. And Vicki canned. She and the kids would pick huckleberries. She got top dollar 'cause she picked clean. Or she'd trade a gallon of huckleberries for four quarts of peaches. We sold firewood – me, Vick, and the kids." Randy Weaver died at the age of 74 on May 11, 2022. 

Closing Thoughts

Randy Weaver may not have handled the situation very well by putting his children in danger. Some articles state that he used his kids to defend his cabin. Then again, the “official stories” released by the government must be questioned as well. They say they exist to protect the people — yet, time and time again, they always choose to protect their own. We must continue to question their narratives and motives anytime government fiascos occur.

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