Results: Lionel Luckhoo's Connection to the Jonestown Massacre (Part 3 of 3)

Reverend Jim Jones (pictured), founder of The People's Temple church in the US relocated his followers, and established an agricultural commune in the Guyanese wilderness. Sir Lionel Luckhoo represented him in several child custody cases. In one, two former members obtained a custody order for release of their son, John, from the cult. Jones refused, claiming he was the boy's biological father. Have you heard of Jim Jones?

After complaints had been registered by family members in the US that people were being abused and held at the commune against their will, in November of 1978, a delegation led by US Congressman Leo Ryan arrived to investigate the settlement. Jones treated them civilly, but the visit to Jonestown was cut short when a member of the settlement tried to stab Representative Ryan. As the members of the delegation and some defecting members of the commune were boarding a charter plane to return to the US, Jones ordered an ambush. Ryan, three journalists (Ryan pictured on the left with the 3 newsmen), and a cult defector were killed by their People's Temple escorts. Ten other people were shot and left for dead. Do you find this shocking? (Remember, this was 45 years ago.)

After the ambush, Jones ordered everyone in the commune to commit suicide (some at gunpoint) by getting injected with poison syringes, drinking drug and cyanide-laced punch made from Flavor Aid, by being stabbed, or by being shot. Only a few members survived by hiding or running off into the wilderness. Tragically, over 900 people died (300 of whom were children, including John, the subject of the custody case) in the mass murder-suicide. Did you realize the catchphrase, "Drinking the Kool-Aid" (which refers to remaining committed to something or someone questionable) evolved from the Jonestown Massacre?

Sir Lionel Luckhoo moved to the US in the 1980's to be near an adult child. Speaking at a prayer gathering in Ohio, he shared that Jim Jones had wanted him to be at Jonestown the day of the mass suicide to represent him during the Congressman's visit, but something inside him (Luckhoo credited the Holy Spirit) told him not to go. He added, "If I had gone, I wouldn't be here talking to you today". Would Luckhoo have died that day?