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The birth of Marshall Applewhite, the founder and creator of Heavens Gate, In Spur Texas. He is the son of a Presbyterian minister.
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He worked as a Choral Director as he had attended several universities and even served in the army before this
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He was hired to be a music teacher at the University of St. Thomas, a Roman Catholic college in Houston, Texas. Also involved as a singer in the Houston Grand Opera.
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Applewhite received a master's degree in music from University of Colorado in Boulder.
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Dismissed by Thomas college over scandal involving a student relationship.
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Even though he was previously married and had two children, he continues to struggle with his sexual identity, having homosexual affairs.
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His father died and he meets Bonnie Lu Nettles, a nurse and astrologer involved in Theosophy and reincarnation.
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She leaves her husband and four children to be with Applewhite. They open a New Age bookstore in Houston. It fails. they spend six weeks "soul-searching" in the Texas Hill country. Open a restaurant in New Mexico, called Sunshine Company. It fails; they begin to travel, supporting themselves with odd jobs. Car breaks down in front of yoga center in Portland. While camping on the Rogue River, near Gold Beach, Ore they become convinced they are the "Two Witnesses" mentioned in book of Revelation.
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He got arrested for stealing a rental car and using stolen credit cards. Charges against Nettles are dropped and she returns to Houston. Applewhite spends six months in jail. While in jail, he writes Statement I, their first recruiting piece. They predict their assassination and resurrection. Promise to take followers away in a spaceship after their resurrection.
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"Guinea (Nettles) and Pig (Applewhite) to reflect they are part of an experiment by the Next Level. UFO cult recruitment begins. Hold classroom at campground near Gold Beach, Oregon. They get their first converts and take the names Bo and Peep. Students are dispersed to hold other meetings. Cult membership begins to grow to about 200. Meeting in Waldport, Oregon, is attended by the press and results in bad publicity. Leaders quickly depart for meetings in Denver, Chicago. "
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Cult is in disarray. Leaders re-emerge. Nettles announces at Manhattan College, Kansas that no new members will be accepted. The "Harvest" is over.
July - Group moves to Medicine Bow National Forest in Wyoming for the summer. Many members drift away after Bo and Peep (founders) set guidelines banning drug use. Group is taken into seclusion, will not go public again until 1992. During this period Applewhite is called "Do," and Nettles is "Ti." In October group numbers less than 70 members. -
Bonnie Lu Nettles dies of cancer. Cult dwindles to just a few dozen members. After watching the movie, "Cocoon," they believe they will soon be picked up by aliens.
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Group reemerges for 3.5 months, producing video, Beyond Human, and broadcasting it on satellite TV. It does not attract any new followers but does bring back some who had left the group.
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Applewhite places one-third page ad in USA Today titled, "'UFO Cult' Resurfaces With Final Offer."
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Members of group are sent out in teams to recruit new members by holding public meetings.
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Group again goes into seclusion; turns to internet as means of getting its message before the public. They start a business called "Computer Nomads."
Sept. - Post first "exit statement" on internet; intended to address the religious world, "primarily Christians."
Oct. - Post second "exit statement" on internet; intended to clarify first "exit statement." -
In the summer the group moves to San Diego County. In oct. - "Brother Logan"(member) rents a 1.6 million dollar mansion in Rancho Santa Fe. Cult members move in and operate a computer web site business known as "Higher Source."
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In January they post "Exit Statements 1 and 2" on the internet. Again talk of going on a trip and begin to curtail business. They send letters to clients about Hale-Bopp comet being their "sign" to leave earth.
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March 23 - Hale-Bopp's closest approach to earth. Fifteen of the group commit suicide, taking phenobarbital with applesauce and a shot of vodka. At least some of them also place plastic bags over their heads to assist the process.
March 24 - Fifteen more commit suicide by same means as first group.
March 25 - Remaining nine commit suicide, the last two disposing of the other's plastic bags.
March 26 - Bodies are discovered by cult member who was not present during the deaths.