You Know the “Official” Version of what happened at Jonestown on November 18, 1978…
Jim Jones, a religious leader in California, opened up a church in Northern California called “The People's Temple”. He drew in poor people, social activists, Blacks, Hispanics, the young and old. Their message was one of racial harmony and justice.
Eventually Jim Jones got tied up in San Francisco politics, and moved his church into the heart of San Francisco, where he grew his church membership even more.
Jim Jones, a religious leader in California, opened up a church in Northern California called “The People's Temple”. He drew in poor people, social activists, Blacks, Hispanics, the young and old. Their message was one of racial harmony and justice.
Eventually Jim Jones got tied up in San Francisco politics, and moved his church into the heart of San Francisco, where he grew his church membership even more.
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The People's Temple members were subjects of local scandal in the news. Jim Jones claimed these exposés were attacks on their newly-found religion, and used them as an excuse to move most of his members into the jungles of remote Guyana to further establish his socialist utopia.
Disturbing reports continued to surround Jones, and soon came to the attention of US Congressional members, like Leo Ryan, who himself represented the San Francisco district.
Stories of beatings, kidnapping, sexual abuse and mysterious deaths leaked out to the press. Leo Ryan decided to go to Guyana and investigate the situation for himself. The delegation that went to Guyana consisted of Representative Ryan, family members of those in the cult, reporters, and Ryan’s staff assistant Jackie Speier.
Disturbing reports continued to surround Jones, and soon came to the attention of US Congressional members, like Leo Ryan, who himself represented the San Francisco district.
Stories of beatings, kidnapping, sexual abuse and mysterious deaths leaked out to the press. Leo Ryan decided to go to Guyana and investigate the situation for himself. The delegation that went to Guyana consisted of Representative Ryan, family members of those in the cult, reporters, and Ryan’s staff assistant Jackie Speier.
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Ryan was able to talk with several church members to get a pulse for what was going on. Twenty of them wanted to leave. Ryan promised them a ticket home. While he was at the compound, someone stabbed him. He then left for the airport, knowing he was in a dangerous situation.
So began The nightmare...
So began The nightmare...
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Isolated on the tiny airstrip at Port Kaituma in Guyana, and as he was about to get on the private airplane, Ryan and several reporters were shot and killed…Jackie Speier survived.
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Then came the almost unbelievable "White Night”...a mass suicide pact of the Jonestown camp. A community made up of mostly Blacks and women, drank cyanide from paper cups of Kool-Aid. Adults AND children fell to the ground and died. Jones died as well, with a shot to the head. It was an “apparent” suicide.
For days, the body count mounted, from 400 to nearly 1,000. The bodies were flown to the United States and later cremated or buried in mass graves.
For days, the body count mounted, from 400 to nearly 1,000. The bodies were flown to the United States and later cremated or buried in mass graves.
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The headlines the day of the massacre read: "Cult Dies in South American Jungle: 400 Die in Mass Suicide, 700 Flee into Jungle." By all accounts in the press, as well as People's Temple statements, there were at least 1,100 people at Jonestown. There were 809 adult passports found there, and reports of 300 children (276 found among the dead, and 210 never identified).
The headline figures from the first day add to the same number: 1,100. The original body count done by the Guyanese was 408, and this figure was initially agreed to by the U.S. Army authorities on site.
However, over the next few days, the total of reported dead began to rise quickly. The Army made a series of misleading and openly false statements about the discrepancy. The new total, which was the official final count, was given almost a week later by American authorities as 913. A total of 16 survivors were reported to have returned to the U.S. Where were the others?
The headline figures from the first day add to the same number: 1,100. The original body count done by the Guyanese was 408, and this figure was initially agreed to by the U.S. Army authorities on site.
However, over the next few days, the total of reported dead began to rise quickly. The Army made a series of misleading and openly false statements about the discrepancy. The new total, which was the official final count, was given almost a week later by American authorities as 913. A total of 16 survivors were reported to have returned to the U.S. Where were the others?
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At their first press conference, the Americans claimed that the Guyanese "could not count." These local people had carried out the gruesome job of counting the bodies, and later assisted American troops in the process of poking holes in the flesh so that they wouldn’t explode from the gasses of decay.
Then the Americans proposed another theory…they had missed seeing a pile of bodies at the back of the pavilion. Finally, we were given the “official” reason for the discrepancy -- bodies had fallen on top of other bodies, adults covering children.
They say it was a simple arithmetic error that led to the first mid-counts. 🧐
The 408 bodies discovered at the first count would have to be able to cover 505 bodies for a total of 913. Sound fishy? Yeah sounds fishy to me too.
Then the Americans proposed another theory…they had missed seeing a pile of bodies at the back of the pavilion. Finally, we were given the “official” reason for the discrepancy -- bodies had fallen on top of other bodies, adults covering children.
They say it was a simple arithmetic error that led to the first mid-counts. 🧐
The 408 bodies discovered at the first count would have to be able to cover 505 bodies for a total of 913. Sound fishy? Yeah sounds fishy to me too.
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Let’s look at some of the facts that dispute the narrative being pushed by the media:
1. Those who first worked on the bodies would have been unlikely to miss bodies lying beneath each other since each body had to be punctured.
2. Eighty-two of the bodies first found were those of children, reducing the number that could have been hidden below others. A search of nearly 150 photographs, aerial and close-up, fails to show even one body lying under another, much less 500.
3. It seemed the first reports were true, 400 had died, and 700 had fled to the jungle. The American authorities claimed to have searched for people who had escaped, but found no evidence of any in the surrounding area.
At least 100 Guyanese troops were among the first to arrive, and they were ordered to search the jungle for survivors.
In the area, at the same time, British Black Watch troops were on "training exercises," with nearly 600 of their best-trained commandos. Soon, American Green Berets were on site as well. The presence of these soldiers…specially trained in covert killing operations…may explain the increasing numbers of bodies that appeared. But…
1. Those who first worked on the bodies would have been unlikely to miss bodies lying beneath each other since each body had to be punctured.
2. Eighty-two of the bodies first found were those of children, reducing the number that could have been hidden below others. A search of nearly 150 photographs, aerial and close-up, fails to show even one body lying under another, much less 500.
3. It seemed the first reports were true, 400 had died, and 700 had fled to the jungle. The American authorities claimed to have searched for people who had escaped, but found no evidence of any in the surrounding area.
At least 100 Guyanese troops were among the first to arrive, and they were ordered to search the jungle for survivors.
In the area, at the same time, British Black Watch troops were on "training exercises," with nearly 600 of their best-trained commandos. Soon, American Green Berets were on site as well. The presence of these soldiers…specially trained in covert killing operations…may explain the increasing numbers of bodies that appeared. But…
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5. Most of the photographs show the bodies in neat rows, face down. Close shots indicate drag marks, as though the bodies were positioned by someone after death. Is it possible that the 700 who fled were rounded up by these troops, brought back to Jonestown and added to the body count?
6. Dr. Mootoo, the top Guyanese pathologist, was at Jonestown within hours after the massacre. Refusing the assistance of U.S. pathologists, he accompanied the teams that counted the dead, examined the bodies, and worked to identify the deceased. While the American press screamed about the "Kool-Aid Suicides," Dr. Mootoo was reaching a much different opinion...
6. Dr. Mootoo, the top Guyanese pathologist, was at Jonestown within hours after the massacre. Refusing the assistance of U.S. pathologists, he accompanied the teams that counted the dead, examined the bodies, and worked to identify the deceased. While the American press screamed about the "Kool-Aid Suicides," Dr. Mootoo was reaching a much different opinion...
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There are certain signs that show the types of poisons that lead to death. Cyanide blocks the messages from the brain to the muscles by changing body chemistry in the central nervous system.
Even the "involuntary" functions like breathing and heartbeat get mixed neural signals. It is a painful death, breath coming in spurts. The other muscles spasm, limbs twist and contort. The facial muscles draw back into a deadly grin, called "cyanide rictus."
All these telling signs were absent in the Jonestown dead. Limbs were limp and relaxed, and the few visible faces showed no sign of distortion.
Even the "involuntary" functions like breathing and heartbeat get mixed neural signals. It is a painful death, breath coming in spurts. The other muscles spasm, limbs twist and contort. The facial muscles draw back into a deadly grin, called "cyanide rictus."
All these telling signs were absent in the Jonestown dead. Limbs were limp and relaxed, and the few visible faces showed no sign of distortion.
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Instead, Dr. Mootoo found fresh needle marks at the back of the left shoulder blades of 80-90% of the victims. Others had been shot or strangled. One survivor reported that those who resisted were forced by armed guards.
Dr. Mootoo gave testimony to the Guyanese grand jury investigating Jonestown. The conclusion: all but three of the people were murdered by "persons unknown." Only two had committed suicide they said. Several pictures show the gun-shot wounds on the bodies as well.
Dr. Mootoo gave testimony to the Guyanese grand jury investigating Jonestown. The conclusion: all but three of the people were murdered by "persons unknown." Only two had committed suicide they said. Several pictures show the gun-shot wounds on the bodies as well.
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A U.S. Army spokesman said, "No autopsies are needed. The cause of death is not an issue here." 🧐🧐
The forensic doctors who later did autopsies at Dover, Delaware, were never made aware of Dr. Mootoo's findings.
The forensic doctors who later did autopsies at Dover, Delaware, were never made aware of Dr. Mootoo's findings.
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Here are other indications that the Guyanese government participated with American authorities in a cover-up of the real story, despite their own findings:
1. Guyanese Police Chief Lloyd Barker, who interfered with investigations, helped "recover" 2.5 million for the Guyanese government, and was often the first to officially announce the cover stories relating to suicide, body counts and survivors.
2. Among the first to the scene were the wife of Guyanese Prime Minister Forbes Burnham, and his Deputy Prime Minister, Ptolemy Reid. They returned from the massacre site with nearly $1 million in cash, gold and jewelry taken from the buildings and from the dead. Inexplicably, one of Burnham's political party secretaries had visited the site of the massacre only hours before it occurred.
3. When Shirley Field Ridley, Guyanese Minister of Information, announced the change in the body count to the shocked Guyananese parliament, she refused to answer further questions. Other representatives began to point a finger of shame at Ridley and the Burnham government, and the local press dubbed the scandal "Templegate." All accused them of taking a ghoulish payoff.
1. Guyanese Police Chief Lloyd Barker, who interfered with investigations, helped "recover" 2.5 million for the Guyanese government, and was often the first to officially announce the cover stories relating to suicide, body counts and survivors.
2. Among the first to the scene were the wife of Guyanese Prime Minister Forbes Burnham, and his Deputy Prime Minister, Ptolemy Reid. They returned from the massacre site with nearly $1 million in cash, gold and jewelry taken from the buildings and from the dead. Inexplicably, one of Burnham's political party secretaries had visited the site of the massacre only hours before it occurred.
3. When Shirley Field Ridley, Guyanese Minister of Information, announced the change in the body count to the shocked Guyananese parliament, she refused to answer further questions. Other representatives began to point a finger of shame at Ridley and the Burnham government, and the local press dubbed the scandal "Templegate." All accused them of taking a ghoulish payoff.
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4. The gun that reportedly shot Jim Jones was lying nearly 200 feet from his body, not a likely suicide weapon.
5. At the scene, bodies were stripped of identification, including the medical wrist tags visible in many early photos.
6. Perhaps more significant…the Americans brought in 16 C-131 cargo planes, but claimed they could only carry caskets in each one. These aircraft can carry tanks, trucks, troops and ammunition all in one load. That didn’t make sense. Operations during Vietnam demonstrated that the military is capable of moving hundreds of bodies in a short period. Instead, they took nearly a week to bring back the Jonestown dead, bringing in the majority at the end of the period. The corpses, rotting in the heat, made autopsy impossible. At one point, the remains of 183 people arrived in 82 caskets.
7. Although the Guyanese had identified 174 bodies at the site, only 17 (later 46) were tentatively identified at the massive military mortuary in Dover, Delaware.
8. Dead bodies were isolated in Delaware, hundreds of miles from their families who might have visited the bodies at a similar mortuary in Oakland that was used in Vietnam. It doesn’t make sense considering Oakland is only 10 miles across the bay from San Francisco, where many family members lived, and was the previous location for The People’s Temple. Many of the bodies were cremated. Press was excluded, and even family members had difficulty getting access to the remains.
5. At the scene, bodies were stripped of identification, including the medical wrist tags visible in many early photos.
6. Perhaps more significant…the Americans brought in 16 C-131 cargo planes, but claimed they could only carry caskets in each one. These aircraft can carry tanks, trucks, troops and ammunition all in one load. That didn’t make sense. Operations during Vietnam demonstrated that the military is capable of moving hundreds of bodies in a short period. Instead, they took nearly a week to bring back the Jonestown dead, bringing in the majority at the end of the period. The corpses, rotting in the heat, made autopsy impossible. At one point, the remains of 183 people arrived in 82 caskets.
7. Although the Guyanese had identified 174 bodies at the site, only 17 (later 46) were tentatively identified at the massive military mortuary in Dover, Delaware.
8. Dead bodies were isolated in Delaware, hundreds of miles from their families who might have visited the bodies at a similar mortuary in Oakland that was used in Vietnam. It doesn’t make sense considering Oakland is only 10 miles across the bay from San Francisco, where many family members lived, and was the previous location for The People’s Temple. Many of the bodies were cremated. Press was excluded, and even family members had difficulty getting access to the remains.
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10. Officials in New Jersey began to complain that state coroners were excluded, and that the military coroners appointed to the cases, were illegally performing cremations.
11. One of the top forensic body identification experts was denied repeated requests to assist.
12. Mootoo's conclusions. Several civilian pathology experts said they "shuddered at the ineptness" of the military, and that their autopsy method was "doing it backwards." But in official statements, the U.S. attempted to discredit the Guyanese grand jury findings, saying they had uncovered "few facts."
13. Guyanese troops, and police who had arrived with American Embassy official-Richard Dwyer- failed to defend Congressman Leo Ryan and the others who came to Guyana with him. As we discussed earlier, Leo Ryan was shot down in cold blood at the Port Kaituma airstrip (even though the troops were nearby with machine guns at the ready).
11. One of the top forensic body identification experts was denied repeated requests to assist.
12. Mootoo's conclusions. Several civilian pathology experts said they "shuddered at the ineptness" of the military, and that their autopsy method was "doing it backwards." But in official statements, the U.S. attempted to discredit the Guyanese grand jury findings, saying they had uncovered "few facts."
13. Guyanese troops, and police who had arrived with American Embassy official-Richard Dwyer- failed to defend Congressman Leo Ryan and the others who came to Guyana with him. As we discussed earlier, Leo Ryan was shot down in cold blood at the Port Kaituma airstrip (even though the troops were nearby with machine guns at the ready).
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14. Although Temple member Larry Layton was charged with the murders of Congressman Ryan…Temple defector Patricia Parks, and 3 reporters said he was not in a position to shoot them. Blocked from boarding Ryan's twin engine, Larry entered another plane nearby. Once inside, he pulled out a gun and wounded two Temple followers, before being disarmed. The others were killed by armed men who descended from a tractor trailer at the scene, after opening fire.
15. Witnesses described these “killers” as "zombies," walking mechanically, without emotion, and "looking through you, not at you" as they murdered.
16. Only certain people were killed. It was as if he was planned. Certain wounded people, like Ryan's aide Jackie Speiers, were not harmed further. but the killers made sure that Ryan and the newsmen were dead.
17. In some cases they shot people, already wounded, directly in the head. These gunmen were never identified, and may have been under Layton's command.
15. Witnesses described these “killers” as "zombies," walking mechanically, without emotion, and "looking through you, not at you" as they murdered.
16. Only certain people were killed. It was as if he was planned. Certain wounded people, like Ryan's aide Jackie Speiers, were not harmed further. but the killers made sure that Ryan and the newsmen were dead.
17. In some cases they shot people, already wounded, directly in the head. These gunmen were never identified, and may have been under Layton's command.
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