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1990
On his namesake talk show, Geraldo Rivera hosts Patricia Ryan, the daughter of deceased congressman Leo Ryan. This clip starts with a look at the “Peoples Temple”, an allegedly religious movement known for a mass death event at their remote location in Guyana, 1978. Footage is shown of the location as it was later found by the government of Guyana. We then hear from daughter Patricia Ryan about what it was like to grow up the midst of these events, losing her father.
These events occured in 1978.
Congressman Leo Ryan led a fact finding mission to ‘Jonestown’ amid reports of involuntary confinement and even murder of the followers there. On his initiative a large group went to Guyana, including concerned family members of the Jonestown followers. Upon his departure Congressman Ryan was gunned down by fanatical “People’s Temple” followers, along with four others, hours before the mass death event killed over 900 people at Jonestown itself.
Larry Layton, likely the first to open fire inside of Congressman Ryan’s departing cessna, was convicted in 1987 of aiding and abetting the murder of the Congressman as well as other crimes. He served 18 years in prison and was released from custody in 2002.
In total five people were murdered at Port Kaituma under Jim Jones direction, including Congressman Leo Ryan, as their plane was preparing for departure.
Four others committed suicide at a People’s Temple facility in Georgetown, the capital of Guyana.
Hours later 909 cult members died at the Jonestown facility after consuming a grape flavor-aid beverage laced with poisons. Many were likely injected against their will.
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