Episode 258: The Heaven's Gate Cult

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses suicide. Decide if or when you wish to listen.  YOU ARE NOT ALONE https://988lifeline.org/ On March 26th, 1997, police entered a quiet mansion in an affluent suburb of San Diego after receiving an anonymous tip requesting a welfare check. When a lone deputy stepped through the side door of the 9,200 square foot home, he was hit with what he would later describe as a "pungent odor.”  A cursory search revealed 39 bodies laid out in identical rows—their faces were covered, but officers could see they were dressed uniformly, black tracksuits, brand nike sneakers, and arm patches that read “AWAY TEAM.” The media called it a mass suicide. But when the souls who once inhabited those bodies drank apple sauce and vodka laced with barbiturates, they did not believe they were dying… they believed they were boarding a spacecraft hidden behind the Hale–Bopp comet as it passed by earth.  Today on LGH, we’re diving into the dark history and the very real present of a cult called Heaven's Gate. Because what most people don’t realize… is that Heaven’s Gate never actually ended. TIME STAMPS 00:00:00 HOOK & INTRO 00:18:30 FACTOR AD 00:36:18 BIOLOGICA AD 02:12:18 SECRET PASSWORD AND DONOR SHOUTOUTS! THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED!! Find out more about this week’s advertisers below! FACTOR- Head to https://factormeals.com/letsgethaunted50off and use code letsgethaunted50off to get 50% off and free daily greens per box with new subscription only, while supplies last until 09/27/2026. BIOLOGICA- Head to https://Biologica.com/HAUNTED to take the Quick Hormonal Life Stage Quiz and get up to 32% off your first subscription order. READ & LISTEN TO NAT’S BOOK! Amazon Kindle https://a.co/78hzQn9 Spotify Audiobook http://bit.ly/44DuQ90 *CHECK OUT ALY’S SOLO PODCAST!*:  https://instagram.com/frightsizepod Other Important Stuff: Join the Patreon today! https://patreon.com/letsgethaunted    LGH Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/letsgethaunted Buy Our Merch: https://www.letsgethaunted.com    Check out the photo dump for this week’s episode: https://www.instagram.com/letsgethaunted   Send us fan mail: PO BOX 1658 Camarillo, CA 93011 Send us your listener stories: www.letsethaunted.com *SPECIAL THANKS TO RYAN FOR HELP WITH EDITING~ SLAY* —— SOURCES [1] https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/march-26/heavens-gate-cult-members-found-dead [2] https://www.rollingstone.com/feature/heavens-gate-20-years-later-10-things-you-didnt-know-114563/ [3] https://www.newspapers.com/article/32138115/the_los_angeles_times/ [4] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEUcdefk5_E [5] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqSZhwu1Rwo [6] https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/comments/1b5xetm/the_heavens_gate_cult_website_is_still_up_after/ [7] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luzcGnOOit0 [8] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrdQNh6bNco&rco=1 [9] https://www.youtube.com/@heavensgatearchive2658 [10] https://www.cnn.com/US/9703/28/mass.suicide/links.html [11] https://heavensgate.com/ [12] https://www.webdesignmuseum.org/gallery/higher-source-1997 [13] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBWASshQ0qA&t=225s heaven’s gate cult, heavens gate, heaven's gate documentary, marshall applewhite, bonnie nettles, do cult leaders believe their own lies, alien cult, ufo cult, hale bopp comet, hale bopp, 1997 cult, mass suicide cult, cult psychology, religious cults, doomsday cult, cult documentary, conspiracy podcast, haunted podcast, weird history podcast, occult podcast, true crime cults, alien religion, new age cults, manipulation tactics, brainwashing, cult survivors, san diego cult, heaven’s gate members, extraterrestrial belief system, spiritual manipulation, internet cults, early internet culture, heaven’s gate website, bizarre websites, cult aesthetics, y2k paranoia, sci fi religion, end times prophecy, metaphysical cults, podcast about cults, disturbing cult stories, paranormal podcast, conspiracy theories, ufos and cults, spiritual delusion, famous cult leaders, unexplained mysteries, let’s get haunted, LGH podcast, haunted internet lore, creepy true stories, fringe beliefs, esoteric cults, psychological horror in real life, american cult history, hidden history, mysterious deaths, cult behavior analysis, why people join cults, manipulation and devotion, apocalyptic movements, heaven’s gate nike shoes, heaven’s gate castration, heaven’s gate spaceship theory, alien salvation, weird religious movements, creepy cult facts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices