But when ATF considered raiding Elohim City two months before McVeigh struck, the then-FBI agent in charge in Oklahoma, Bob Ricks, stopped the plan.
"I do remember I told them I didn't want another Waco on our hands," Ricks said, comparing the danger of a raid on Elohim City to the ill-fated ATF action on David Koresh's compound in Waco, Texas, in 1993. "At the time, they hadn't told me everything they apparently knew."
Interview with Tonia Yeakey from the link in reply #44 about the murder of Terry Yeakey
CR)- But, he left off a couple of things. He left off some rope burns on the neck, and some handcuff marks on the hands.
(TY)- Yes. And on the ankles
(CR)- On the ankles?
(TY)- Yes, there were some rope burns on the ankles.
(CR)- Ok, so he's trussed up, thrown over a fence, and drug out in this field. Obviously drug. We know that. Why? Because you found out later, totally by accident, that there were some mud and grass in the wounds. Why don't you tell us about that, and tell us how superficial these cut marks were.
(TY)- Ohh. Well, actually, I'm going to correct you on something I found out by accident, twice. It came from 2 sources and then there was an additional 3rd one who told me his body had been drug from one location to another, and about there being no blood at the scene, and that person was a law enforcement officer.
(CR)- Ok, he was examined at the scene and
(TY)- Examined at the scene.
(CR)- Chief Gonzalez came out, by helicopter along with an FBI guy. Who was that?
(TY)- Bob Ricks.
(CR)- Bob Ricks, now the head of The Department of Public Safety here in Oklahoma, appointed by Governor Frank Keating.
(TY)- Right.
(CR)- Now, they show up and how long was it before all these FBI agents come in and took over the scene?
(TY)- From what I'm told, almost immediately. As soon as they got there, the El Reno and Canadian County Sheriffs were shooed off the scene. Practically escorted and I was told about 9 vehicles of Federal agents came in.
(CR)- Wait a minute, the deputies didn't find a gun and they'd been there about an hour or more.
(TY)- Yes, they had and I was told there was almost 30 police officers out there combing the area for a gun and found none.