Death Summary: Marshall Applewhite commited suicide with 38 other members of the Heaven's Gate cult by mixing liquid with rat poison and cyanide.

It's believed that the cult members took their lives in three separate shifts, 15 the first day on March 24, 15 the next and nine on the third. Applewhite was the last one to die.

Applewhite's cult believed that a space ship carrying Jesus was following the comet Hale-Bopp, and that the only way the ship would take them to the galaxy “Heaven” was to commit suicide.

Upon investigation it was found that each cult member was wearing brand new Nike sneakers, eight of the males had been castrated, and each member had three quarters and a five-dollar bill. The money is believed to be the "cosmic" toll for their departure.

Who was Marshall Applewhite: Marshall Herff Applewhite Jr. was a former college teacher turned cult leader and self proclaimed reincarnation of Jesus Christ.

In his earlier days Applewhite wrote about outer space, aliens, and other galaxies. He would then share his insane ramblings during his lectures. According to his former students, Applewhite believed that life existed in other galaxies.

Applewhite started his first cult in 1975. He successfully convinced 20 people, from the Portland area, that an alien abduction was imminent. Obviously, when nothing happened... they all left the cult.

With his new cult experience, Applewhite went on to form Heaven’s Gate.

Categories: Media.