Jonestown, Peoples Temple cult mass suicide 1978.
Description: The Jonestown Massacre occurred on November 18, 1978, when more than 900 members of the Peoples Temple, led by Jim Jones, died in a mass murder-suicide in Guyana.
The tragedy followed the assassination of Congressman Leo Ryan, who had traveled there to investigate abuse allegations.
It remains one of the deadliest single losses of American civilian life before 9/11 and a defining event in cult history. Temple died by drinking a concoction of fruit-flavored drink mix laced with cyanide, sedatives (Valium), and potassium chloride. While commonly known as "Kool-Aid," evidence suggests the mixture actually used a cheaper competitor brand called Flavor-Aid.
The tragedy followed the assassination of Congressman Leo Ryan, who had traveled there to investigate abuse allegations.
It remains one of the deadliest single losses of American civilian life before 9/11 and a defining event in cult history. Temple died by drinking a concoction of fruit-flavored drink mix laced with cyanide, sedatives (Valium), and potassium chloride. While commonly known as "Kool-Aid," evidence suggests the mixture actually used a cheaper competitor brand called Flavor-Aid.
