In March 1997 39 members of the Heavenās Gate group died by mass suicide. They were discovered on March 26, 1997, in a home in a suburb of San Diego, California. They left behind their website with information about their ideas and videos that explained their chosen path. They consumed a concoction of phenobarbital, vodka, and applesauce, after which they placed bags over their heads that caused them to die by asphyxiation. They were discovered lying on their backs and covered by purple shrouds. They wore black trousers and sneakers and had packed suitcases by their sides, as if ready for a trip. Their mass suicide, their beliefs, and their use of the newly popular World Wide Web were widely reported and discussed.
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