We've got a new look inside
the mysterious world of one of
America's most extreme cults.
Heaven's Gate ended in the
tragic deaths of 39 people.
Now, for the first time there's new
video and audio and former members
who've never spoken before are sharing
their stories with ABC's Diane Sawyer.
Sheriff's Department with a search
warrant demanding entry on top
of the table. There's one body.
We're going to begin tonight with
a strange suicide at the third.
Very strange. March 26, 1997.
America release and one of the
most bizarre stories in the history
of cults and religions are grand
total to 3939 thirty nine people.
Why were these people
wearing homemade spaceship
uniforms brand new Nike sneakers?
What in the hell happened here?
Who are these people?
Three to be more energized?
39 to beam up.
Thank you. She goes 39 to beam up.
You know, and that.
I think that just said it all,
I felt so sorry for her.
Temporary of heaven's Gates
are the next Kingdom begins.
Yes it is. It's a cult.
I mean, it's the cult of cults.
It's the cult of truth.
Errors we've been poring over
the decades of old documents
videotapes hundreds of hours of
audiotapes we've not heard before.
Tapes found in archives
and storage bins. Witnesses
start to come out of the shadows to talk
with us about our central question.
How did wonderful people so much
like our friends, our family,
end up ensnared in a cult?
All of them convinced that this
one man knows how to perfect
them and take them through
the gates of heaven on a UFO.
Marshall purple white dough
is basically their God,
a God who wants them to erase gender,
sexuality, private thoughts.
Heavens Gate was so extreme,
a total attack on individuality,
humanity, sexuality.
They created one of the toughest
indoctrination programs I've
encountered in 30 some years
of doing this. Literally
everything that you do throughout the day,
every day, day after day,
is prescribed down to the minute.
How you brush your teeth,
how you use the toilet.
How you wash your body.
They had rules about dressing.
They had rules about talking.
They had rules about sex. It
was rules upon rules upon rules.
And who were these followers before
they walked through his door dreamers?
High achievers,
a valedictorian and presidential scholar.
She's lonely and follows them to the end.
The brother of a famous heroine on Star Trek.
The son of a prominent Connecticut
family who just wanted to be
part of a commune in nature.
He ends up giving them his
trust fund and his life.
So many people vanishing into a
cult while their parents, children,
lovers are desperate to find
them and my parents were in the heavens.
Gate cult, my wife was divine.
What happened to my brother?
Is he still living?
I had no idea this was the love of my life.
The gentleman said.
I'm from the coroner's office in San Diego,
so I knew immediately why he
called and. That all hope was lost.
This sense of betrayal.
And literally asking the question myself.
Sorry, it's that moment.
I think what a waste.
All of those 39 people.
What a waste.
What a waste of talent and beauty.
'cause they were good.
They had good hearts.
These people were not malicious.
Wow, you can watch the cult next door,
the mystery and madness of
Heaven's Gate tonight at 8:00
o'clock right here on WFAA,
followed by WFAA News at 10.