1997 - Heaven's Gate Mass Suicide

Heaven’s Gate was a UFO religious cult founded in the 1970s by Marshall Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles. The group’s beliefs were a mix of Christian millennialism, New Age ideas, and science fiction. The group believed that the human body was merely a temporary “vehicle” and that followers needed to leave their earthly bodies to reach a higher level of existence.

They claimed that extraterrestrial beings were watching over humanity, and that salvation could be attained by transcending the physical form. They taught that Marshall Applewhite (also known as "Do") was a modern-day Christ figure who would lead them to salvation. They believed a spaceship hidden behind the Hale-Bopp comet would take their souls to the "Next Level" if they left their physical bodies. Bonnie Nettles, the co-founder, died of cancer in 1985. After her death, Applewhite continued to lead the group with the conviction that they would soon "exit" Earth.

Members had been preparing for their "departure" for months. They recorded farewell messages and purchased identical black Nike Decade sneakers and matching black uniforms with patches reading “Heaven’s Gate Away Team.” They withdrew from public life, selling their possessions and cutting ties with family. The mass suicide occurred over three days, between March 22–26, 1997.

The 39 members (21 women, 18 men, aged 26 to 72) ingested a fatal mixture of phenobarbital (a sedative) and alcohol, followed by placing plastic bags over their heads to induce asphyxiation.

They died in shifts, with some helping others before taking their own lives. Each body was carefully arranged on their bunk beds with a purple cloth covering their heads. Applewhite was one of the last to die, assisted by two remaining members who then took their own lives. The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department discovered the scene on March 26, 1997, after an anonymous tip (later found to be from a former cult member). All 39 bodies were found lying in neat rows inside the mansion they had rented. A video left behind featured members cheerfully explaining their decision, convinced they were about to "graduate" to the Next Level.