Two former Heaven's Gate cult members sent "exit statements," packed bags, arranged purple shrouds and wore dark outfits and running shoes before trying to kill themselves. One survived.
Deputy sheriffs found the body of Wayne Cooke of Las Vegas and an unconscious Chuck Humphrey of Denver after receiving a call from CBS correspondent Lesley Stahl, who had spoken with Cooke's daughter, police said.Humphrey, 56, was taken to a hospital, where he was in critical condition Wednesday.
Like the 39 cult members found in a Rancho Santa Fe mansion on March 26, Cooke and Humphrey left messages saying they expected to be taken to "another level beyond human" aboard a spaceship trailing Comet Hale-Bopp.
The two men wore clothes similar to those worn in the mass suicide. Police said each had a $5 bill and three quarters in his pockets - just like the other cult members who reportedly carried the bills after one was accused by police of vagrancy.
Humphrey had phenobarbital in his system, suggesting he and Cooke may have used the same concoction of alcohol and barbiturates as the other members, police said. Both also used plastic bags to hasten the end.
They had mailed suicide videos to various news organizations and friends.