Heaven's Gate

Heaven's Gate was founded in 1974 by Marshall Herff Applewhite and Bonnie Lu Nettles, who called themselves "Ti" and "Do" respectively. The pair developed a unique theology combining Christian eschatology with UFO beliefs, teaching that Earth was about to be "recycled" and that faithful followers could escape by shedding their human bodies to join an extraterrestrial "Level Above Human."

The group's cosmology taught that humans were containers for souls that could evolve to the "Next Level" through renunciation of all human attachments, including sexuality, family ties, and individual identity. Members adopted gender-neutral clothing, short hairstyles, and new names, while some male members, including Applewhite, underwent voluntary castration to eliminate sexual desires deemed incompatible with spiritual evolution.

After years of nomadic existence and recruiting through public meetings, the group settled in a mansion near San Diego in the 1990s. Members maintained the property and operated a web design business called "Higher Source" while awaiting the signal for their departure. They believed the appearance of Hale-Bopp comet in 1997 was accompanied by a hidden spacecraft that would transport their souls to the Next Level.

On March 26, 1997, police discovered 39 bodies in the Rancho Santa Fe mansion, including Applewhite's. Members had died by drinking phenobarbital mixed with applesauce and vodka, then placed plastic bags over their heads. Each wore identical black clothing and Nike sneakers, with purple shrouds covering their faces. The suicide was carefully orchestrated in three waves, with some members helping others die before taking their own lives.