Disclaimer: Article contains mentions of death and suicide. Readers are advised to exercise caution.
Mass Suicide in Jonestown: A Look Back at the Cult That Ended with the Deaths of 900 People | TODAY
Hulu’s new documentary Cult Massacre: One Day in Jonestown explores the terrifying murders that took place in the small town of Jonestown in 1978. Reports say that cult leader Jim Jones founded Jonestown, Guyana, in 1974 and ordered his followers to relocate there. However, some of Jones’ followers murdered a congressman and his staffers during a visit to the town. The cult leader then reportedly ordered his followers to commit suicide to keep authorities from learning the truth. As a result, a total of 918 people died in the Jonestown massacre.
According to the FBI, Congressman Leo Ryan visited Jonestown in November 1978 after hearing allegations of beatings, imprisonment, and more. However, when Ryan and his team arrived, many people wanted to leave with him. Ryan then assured them that some people would go with him. However, when they tried to board his plane, a group of gunmen opened fire on the plane, killing the congressman.
On the other hand, Jim Jones instructed his followers to commit suicide and forced them to ingest poison. According to ABC News, they used cyanide to commit mass murder-suicide. The publication also noted that Jonestown residents ingested cyanide by mixing it with a drink called Flavor Aid, while others were given the poison through injections. Meanwhile, reports indicate that Jim Jones died with a gunshot wound to the head.
