Disclaimer: Article contains references to death and suicide. Readers are advised to exercise caution.
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In November 1978, over 900 people died in a mass murder-suicide that took place in Jonestown. Reports indicate that cult leader Jim Jones instructed his followers to ingest poison after the death of Congressman Leo Ryan. Additionally, Jones died of a gunshot wound to the head. Although over 900 people died in Jonestown, 90 members managed to escape the cult massacre. The new Hulu documentary Cult Massacre: One Day in Jonestown examines the horrific mass murder-suicide.
According to People Magazine, two of Jim Jones' children — Jim Jones Jr. and Stephan Jones — survived the massacre. Meanwhile, Eugene Smith was the only survivor in his family, having lost his wife and child. Speaking to Newsweek, Smith said that he failed to save his family and that he considers it the "most tragic mistake of my life." He added, "I never remarried or had children. I'm not ashamed to say it, but I failed in my most basic responsibility, which was to protect Ollie and Martin."
Additionally, a survivor named Jynona Norwood lost 27 family members, including her 2-month-old nephew. According to CBS News, Norwood considered Jim Jones a "mass murderer." She added, "We've lost generations. We've lost babies. We've lost seniors." Meanwhile, some survivors forgave Jim Jones, not wanting to endure more pain and suffering.
