A HORRIFIC turn of events swept headlines when members of a cult poisoned themselves in a pact to board a UFO believed to pass Earth.
Decades later, the history of alien worshipping cult Heaven’s Gate continues to be dissected – and sleuths are curious to know more about leader Marshall Applewhite.
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Who was Heaven’s Gate leader Marshall Applewhite?
Marshall Applewhite was the leader of the notorious cult, Heaven’s Gate.
Among the cult’s following, Marshall was known as “Do.”
Following the discovery of the Hale-Bopp comet in July of 1995, Marshall told the Heaven’s Gate members that it was a signal from aliens.
He and his cult followers believed that if they abandoned their human bodies, it would lead to their transcendence from Earth through the “gate” presented by the aliens and the Hale-Bopp comet.
The followers gripped the idea that when they rejected their own biologies by committing suicide, the gate to another world would be provided in the form of a UFO from extra-terrestrial beings.
Towards the end of 1996, the cult had secured a house in Rancho Santa Fe, California and had an online business where they posted videos telling people it was their “last chance to evacuate Earth before it’s recycled.”
On March 22 of 1997, Marshall started to lead his followers to their deaths.
The members of Heaven’s Gate facilitated each other’s suicides by utilizing alcohol and applesauce laced with phenobarbital.
Who was Bonnie Nettles?
Although Marshall Applewhite was the leader of Heaven’s Gate, he was not given the title of founder.
Bonnie Nettles was considered the cult’s founder and creator.
Marshall and Bonnie met in 1972 and shared an interest in theosophy and other alternatives to Western spirituality.
In a report from ABC News, Bonnie was aware of Marshall hearing voices in his head and told him they were “spirits from above telling him he one day could be a divine teacher.”
Among the group members, Bonnie was referred to as “Ti.”
The pair also went by the names “Bo and Peep,” as well as “Guinea and Pig.”
Bonnie grew terminally ill with cancer and died on June 19, 1985.
Ti and Do told their followers her cancer was a sign of her transcendence to “the higher level.”
You’re not alone
SUICIDE is the 10th leading cause of death in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Leading Causes of Death Report from 2018.
There were “more than two and half times as many suicides” in the US than there were homicides, according to the report.
For people ages 10 and 34, suicide was the “second leading cause of death” and the fourth for individuals ages 35 to 54.
Suicide is a vital health concern in the U.S. It affects all genders, races and ages.
This is why The-Sun.com launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The campaign calls on readers to discuss their mental health issues with their family, friends and health professionals. We can all pitch in to help out others who may be suffering and help save lives.
If you are struggling to cope, you are not alone. There are many free and confidential programs in the US aimed to help those who are struggling with their mental health.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health problems, these organizations are here to provide support:
What happened to the Heaven’s Gate members?
While donning collectively matching Nike sneakers and all-black clothing with patches that read “Heaven’s Gate Away Team,” the Heaven’s Gate followers committed mass suicide.
A former member of the cult, Rio DiAngelo, alerted local authorities of Marshall and his followers’ plans to kill themselves.
Arriving at the scene, police officials found 39 dead bodies.
Authorities documented that Marshall was one of the last members to die.
In March 2022, Rio DiAngelo, who was identified as the anonymous caller, sat down with ABC to reflect on the tragic event during an episode of 20/20.
“I was always looking for answers, looking for purpose in my life,” he told the media outlet. “I loved these people … it meant everything to me.”
The episode is scheduled to air live on March 11, 2022, at 9:00pm EST and be available to stream the following day on Hulu.
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George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism