Ruby Ridge
Randy Weaver was discharged from the US Army on October 8th, 1971. After leaving the Army, Weaver married Vicki Jordison. The two moved to Villisca, Iowa where from 1976-1982 they had three children. While living in Iowa, the Weaver family began harboring Christian fundamentalist ideologies and sought a simpler, uncomplicated, off-grid life away from government overreach. So, in 1983, the couple bought a 20 acre parcel of land near Boundary County, Idaho. There, they built a modest cabin, grew their own food, hunted their property, and practiced their faith.
In 1987, Randy Weaver met Gus Magisano at the Aryan Nation World Aryan Congress. The two would meet again in 1989 at an Aryan Nations meeting hall. Weaver declared that rather than being a “white supremacist”, he identified more as a “white separatist.” Despite this unknown distinction, it is known that Weaver was merely seeking camaraderie.
Regardless of the circumstances, Magisano and Weaver hit it off, ultimately coming to an under-the-table business deal. Despite being notoriously defensive and skeptical in nature, Weaver agreed to provide Magisano with two sawed-off shotguns. The deal progressed to the point where Weaver agreed to provide Magisano four to five illegal weapons per week.
Unbeknownst to Weaver, Magisano’s real name was Kenneth Fadeley. Fadeley was an undercover ATF agent sent to investigate the Aryan Nations complex.
In December of the following year, Randy Weaver was indicted on felony weapons charges. By the time of the indictment, the Weavers had already moved to a cabin in Ruby Ridge, near the Selkirk mountains.
On January 18th, 1991, ATF agents posed as broken-down motorists to lure Randy Weaver to his arrest. Weaver was arraigned on federal weapons charges and notified that he was to appear in court on February 19th, 1991. A week after his arraignment, the court clerk informed the Weavers that the trial date was moved to February 20th. However, US Probation Officer Karl Richins mistakenly told the Weavers that the trial date had been rescheduled for March 20th.
Naturally, Randy Weaver did not appear in court in February.
A six-month period of negotiations ensued between US Marshals and Randy Weaver, with Marshals negotiating for a peaceful surrender and Weaver refusing, as he vehemently believed the federal government was conspiring against him.
Between October 1991 and August 1992, negotiations and dialogue between US Marshals and Weaver ceased. During this time, the Marshals were conducting extensive surveillance of the Weaver property, considering numerous courses of action to arrest him. Marshals assessed that given Randy Weavers background, the Weaver family ideology, and the circumstances of his arraignment, that any escalation of the situation would result in violence.
On August 21st, 1992, Randy and Vicki’s only son Sammy, along with the family dog, were out on the family property hunting small game when the dog discovered a surveillance team of six heavily armed US Marshals. One