David Berry Knapp

David Berry Knapp, or Krishna Deva ("K.D.", "KD"),[1] is the former mayor of Rajneeshpuram and follower of Rajneesh. Knapp was introduced to the Rajneesh teachings in 1976 and stayed at the Pune ashram between 1979 and 1981. Due to his background in the real estate industry, with knowledge of municipality law and related, he became involved what would developed into Rajneeshpuram. In late 1982 he became a city official and later was named mayor of the new city.[2] In 1985 he turned FBI informant[3] and provided what the Bureau described as "essential" to uncovering the criminal activities of the religious group.[2] Deva admitted to being involved with one of the poisoning events in The Dalles.[3]

David Berry Knapp
Mayor of Rajneeshpuram

In 1986, he was sentenced to two years in prison after admitting to filing a false petition with the Immigration and Naturalization Service and participating in a sham marriage.[4][5][2] Knapp entered the Federal Witness Protection Program,[6] and after serving his prison term, returned to California, and changed back to his pre-Sannyasin name.[7] Knapp refused to be interviewed for the documentary Wild Wild Country.[8]

References
  1. Carus, W. Seth; Research, Center for Counterproliferation; University, National Defense (2002). Bioterrorism and Biocrimes: The Illicit Use of Biological Agents Since 1900. The Minerva Group, Inc. ISBN 9781410100238.
  2. "'Wild Wild Country': Most Shocking Reveals From the Sex Cult's FBI Informant". April 2, 2018. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  3. Jonathan B. Tucker, ed. (2000). Toxic Terror: Assessing Terrorist Use of Chemical and Biological Weapons. MIT Press. p. 129. ISBN 978-0262700719.
  4. AP. "AROUND THE NATION; Ex-Leader of Commune Gets 2-Year Sentence". Retrieved 2018-06-13.
  5. Press, Associated (1986-11-24). "Ex-Rajneesh Mayor Sentenced". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2018-06-13.
  6. Judith Miller (2002). Germs: Biological Weapons and America's Secret War. Simon & Schuster. p. 26. ISBN 0684871599.
  7. "Where are they now?". Oregon Live. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  8. Bryn Elise Sandberg (June 1, 2018). "'Wild Wild Country' Filmmakers Reveal the One Person Who Refused to Be Interviewed". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
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