Randy Weaver biography

Synopsis

Early Life

Infamous person. Born Randall Claude Weaver on January 3, 1948 in Villisca, Iowa. Weaver, one of four children born to Clarence and Wilma Weaver, and their only boy, grew up in deeply religious household. At the age of 11 he formally accepted Jesus into his life. After graduating high school 1966, Weaver attended Iowa Central Community College, where he met his future wife, Vicki Jordison, who'd also grown up with strict religious views.

Weaver's time at college was cut short in 1968, when he dropped out of school and joined the U.S. Army. In military life Weaver excelled, becoming a Green Beret and serving three years in the armed forces. In late 1971, Weaver left the Army, returned to Iowa and married Vicki.

Together, the Weavers led a solid middle class life in Cedar Falls, Iowa. In March 1976 the couple had their first child, Sara. A little more than two years later they welcomed a son, Samuel.

Seeking Isolation

But as the years passed and their religious views deepened, so did their paranoia about the government and religious institutions. Randy started collecting firearms and, with his wife Vicki, made plans to move to a remote place that could serve as a more secluded home.

In early 1984 the Weavers, now with a third child, Rachel, in tow, realized their dream. On a piece of land that overlooked a run of water in Idaho called Ruby Creek, the Weavers moved into a cabin that Randy and Vicki built themselves. They were isolated, with no running water or electricity, yet it was exactly how the Weavers wanted it.

The setting, though, seemed to only further the Weavers' extreme views on government and race relations. In the late 1980s, Randy Weaver started catching the attention of Federal authorities, who saw him as a possible introduction to members of the Aryan Nations. In 1989, federal agents working under cover purchased two sawed-off shotguns from Weaver, resulting in his arrest. Agents then approached Weaver with the option of becoming an informant for the Aryan Nations, but Randy refused to cooperate. Instead, he was indicted on two felony counts of making and storing illegal weapons.

Death of U.S. Marshal Degan

Weaver was soon released, but then failed to appear in court for his January 1991 trial. Over the next 18 months, U.S. Marshals kept a careful watch on Weaver and his dealings. Finally, on August 21, 1992, Weaver's 14-year-old son, Samuel, and a close family friend, Kevin Harris, became engaged in a gun battle with Federal Marshals. Samuel was killed in the battle, as was U.S. Marshal William Degan.

Trial and Subsequent Acquittal

The following day, hundreds of federal, state and local law enforcement agents surrounded Weaver's home.