The series reported that leader Vernon Howell, later known as David Koresh, had turned the group into a cult, engaged in polygamy, abused children living in the compound, and was amassing an arsenal of weapons. The Tribune-Herald had been reporting on a number of issues about the compound in the months before the series. The ATF later claimed that the raid was moved up a day, to February 28, 1993, in response to the series, which the ATF had tried to prevent from being published.
The series alleged that leader Vernon Howell, later known as David Koresh, had transformed the group into a cult, engaged in polygamy, abused children residing in the compound, and was accumulating an arsenal of weapons. The Tribune-Herald had been reporting on several issues concerning the compound in the months leading up to the series. The ATF later claimed that the raid was expedited by a day, to February 28, 1993, in response to the series, which the ATF had attempted to prevent from being published.