Heaven's Gate leader Marshall Applewhite suffered from heart disease, which may have sped up his death after he took a deadly mix of drugs and alcohol, the medical examiner said Friday.
Autopsy results confirm the charismatic cult leader and 38 followers killed themselves using a mix of drugs, alcohol and plastic bags. Only Applewhite, who was 65, has a contributory cause: "constrictive coronary arteriosclerosis."It was not clear whether Applewhite knew that his arteries were clogged - a common problem in older people that can lead to heart attacks.
Unless Applewhite was checked by a doctor, the only indication of the disease would have been chest pains, San Diego County Medical Examiner Brian Blackbourne said.
Former cult members have said Applewhite told them he was dying of liver cancer, although his autopsy showed no sign of that disease.
Blackbourne said Applewhite's clogged arteries could have sped up his death because it may have limited the amount of oxygen to his heart.