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Who Was Marshall Applewhite?
Marshall Applewhite was the leader of the Heaven’s Gate religious cult, which gained widespread attention for its tragic mass suicide in 1997. Applewhite, a self-proclaimed prophet, merged elements of science fiction and religious scripture in his teachings. Alongside his close partner, Bonnie Lu Nettles, Applewhite believed they were the two witnesses mentioned in the Book of Revelation, destined for a significant mission. His leadership ultimately led 39 followers to take their lives in an attempt to board an extraterrestrial spacecraft, believing it would transport them to a higher plane of existence.
Early Life
Marshall Herff Applewhite was born on May 17, 1931, in Spur, Texas. Before embarking on his controversial spiritual journey, Applewhite led a seemingly conventional life. He graduated from Austin College in 1952 and married the same year. Following his marriage, Applewhite served two years in the Army Signal Corps. He was known for his musical and dramatic abilities, excelling in opera singing and public speaking, often impressing audiences with his baritone voice and articulate delivery. In the early 1960s, he moved to New York City in pursuit of an acting career, though he struggled to gain recognition. Applewhite later returned to academia, becoming an assistant professor at the University of Alabama and serving as choirmaster for several groups. Eventually, he took a position heading the music department at a university in Houston.
Turn to Religion
During his time in Houston, Applewhite’s personal life began to unravel. He and his wife divorced in 1968 after having two children, and there are reports suggesting that Applewhite grappled with his sexual identity during this period. In 1970, he left his academic career, reportedly experiencing a nervous breakdown.
In 1972, Applewhite encountered Bonnie Lu Nettles, a nurse with a profound knowledge of the Bible and an interest in unconventional spiritual practices. Together, they believed they were the two witnesses described in the Book of Revelation and were destined for a divine mission. Applewhite and Nettles traveled across the United States, immersing themselves in their growing spiritual beliefs. Their journey, however, led them into legal troubles. In 1974, the couple was arrested for credit card fraud, although the charges were later dropped. Applewhite also faced charges for the theft of a rental car, leading to a six-month prison sentence. During his incarceration, Applewhite refined the core beliefs that would define the Heaven’s Gate movement.
Applewhite and Nettles became convinced that they were emissaries from a higher, extraterrestrial realm they referred to as the “Level Above Human.” They taught that the human body was merely a vessel, and to reach the “Next Level,” individuals needed to transcend their earthly desires and human attachments. They believed that a UFO would soon come to carry them away, completing their mission and allowing them to ascend to this higher, celestial plane.
The Rise of Heaven’s Gate
In their quest to share their spiritual teachings, Marshall Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles began traveling once more, holding informational sessions. Applewhite took the lead in speaking to the public, relying on Nettles’ spiritual guidance and strength. Their charismatic leadership sparked the interest of many, and by 1975, they had attracted approximately 20 followers after a meeting in Oregon, which caught the attention of the national media. Their story was later chronicled in the 1976 book U.F.O. Missionaries Extraordinary.
As their following grew, so did the scrutiny. Uncomfortable with the attention, Applewhite and Nettles sent their followers on missionary assignments across the country, while they themselves retreated from the public eye. At its height, the group had around 200 members. Over time, Applewhite and Nettles became increasingly selective, choosing to keep only the most loyal and obedient followers. The group lived in seclusion, camping out in various locations while carrying out tasks meant to suppress their natural human desires.
Heaven’s Gate adopted strict rules for behavior. Members adhered to unique diets, and practices such as drinking, smoking, and sex were forbidden. Notably, some male members, including Applewhite, underwent castration. Lying and breaking the rules were considered serious offenses. Uniformity was a key principle; members wore baggy clothing and had short hair, suppressing outward signs of gender and sexuality.
In the 1980s, the group transitioned from outdoor living to rented homes in several areas, including Dallas. Some members even started working outside the group, assuming fake identities. The group’s unity was tested in 1985, when Nettles passed away from cancer. Applewhite, deeply affected by her death, struggled to regain his focus.
The Final Chapter: Group Suicide
By the late 1980s, Applewhite refocused on his mission, preaching that the Earth was nearing its end. In the early 1990s, the group produced a series of videos titled Beyond Human—The Last Call, which were broadcast via satellite, and placed ads in newspapers, including USA Today in 1993, with the headline, “‘UFO Cult’ Resurfaces with Final Offer.” The discovery of the Hale-Bopp comet in 1995 deeply resonated with Applewhite, who believed the comet signaled the arrival of a spaceship that would take his followers to the “Next Level.” By 1996, the group had established a successful computer business and lived in an upscale neighborhood in Rancho Santa Fe, California. They continued to produce videos, urging others to join them before Earth was “recycled.”
As the Hale-Bopp comet drew closer in 1997, Applewhite and his followers believed their time had come. On March 21, they shared a final meal at a restaurant, ordering the same meal: turkey pot pie, cheesecake with blueberries, and iced tea. A day or two later, as the comet reached its closest point to Earth, Applewhite and his followers took their own lives by ingesting a mixture of vodka and barbiturates.
On March 26, the bodies were discovered, dressed in identical clothing and covered with purple shrouds. The media’s coverage of the mass suicide shocked the world, with footage of a video Applewhite made before the event, explaining their beliefs and encouraging others to follow. Despite the videos and exit statements recorded by members, the tragedy left families in mourning and the public struggling to comprehend the group’s drastic and unfathomable actions.