Suicide Continued

Mass Suicide
continued

	At a news conference Friday, the San Diego County Medical Examiner released the names of the victims in the Rancho Santa Fe suicide. An interesting piece of information to come out is the fact that some of the men had been castrated. Also speaking at the conference were the two deputies who arrived at the scene first. According to Deputy Robert Brunk and Deputy Laura Gacek, the smell made it obvious before they went in what they were about to encounter. Both were treated at a local hospital after being overcome by the smell, but are physically well now.
The Medical Examiner's Office continues to perform the autopsies. The results so far show only a few of the victims actually had lethal doses of Phenobarbital. Apparently the others died as a result of being suffocated. Authorities believe cult members used plastic bags over their heads to speed up the effects of the drugs.

	San Diego Police had to be called to the Medical Examiners Office Saturday when some family members showed up unexpectedly. Officers had to escort the families out in an effort to avoid the large number of media outside.

Autopsies of the thirty-nine victims from the Heavens Gate suicide continued at the San Diego County Medical Examiners Office Saturday.

	At what the San Diego County Sheriff's Department called their last news conference regarding the Rancho Santa Fe suicide, the names of two victims whose families have not been located were released Monday. Forty-four year old Richard Alphonzo Foster's family and forty- one year old Lindley Ayerhart Pease's family have not been contacted.
Autopsies of the victims were completed over the weekend and about a dozen bodies have already been released to their families.
	The San Diego County Sheriff's Department made an interesting discovery Tuesday afternoon. Apparently two storage garages in Escondido were full of Heavens Gate belongings including several guns and ammunition.
As of Tuesday the road leading up to the Rancho Santa Fe house is still closed at Colina Norte.

Page 3 Special Rancho Santa Fe Suicide Section

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