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Today in History: 39 Bodies Found in Heaven's Gate Cult Suicide

3/26/2026

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Summary

Story summary

On March 26, 1997, police in Rancho Santa Fe, California, found the bodies of 39 Heaven's Gate members who had died in a mass suicide. The group, led by Marshall Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles, believed they would ascend to a higher existence. This tragic event highlighted the dangers of cults and extreme beliefs.

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Story summary

On March 26, 1997, police in Rancho Santa Fe, California, found the bodies of 39 Heaven's Gate members who had died in a mass suicide. The group, led by Marshall Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles, believed they would ascend to a higher existence. This tragic event highlighted the dangers of cults and extreme beliefs.