In the immediate aftermath of the suicides, several members remained. The Seattle Times reported in 1997 that a few, including a man named Chuck Humphrey (called Rkkody), conducted an informational session for the media. (Newsweek reported that Humphrey also had trouble handling his "vehicle's" sexual urges and floated in and out of the class.) They were not there to recruit members or advocate suicide. Janja Lalich, an expert on cults, said after the session, "[Humphrey]'s romanticizing and glorifying these deaths, and then he's making a couple bucks on the side."
According to The New York Times, six weeks later, Humphrey and another former member, Wayne Cook, attempted suicide, wearing the same Nikes and purple shrouds as the original suicides — among those Cook's wife. Humphrey survived, but only barely. Cook did not. CBS News reported that, nine months later, Humphrey killed himself. He was carrying a $5 bill and quarters, "bus fare" like the dead 39 had.
In addition, the North County Times reported that Robert Leon Nichols killed himself in a way approximating the mass suicide, leaving a note reading, "I'm going on the spaceship with Hale-Bopp to be with those who have gone before me." Nichols had never belonged to any version of the cult.
According to DiAngelo in an interview with LA Weekly, their suicides didn't "make sense ... Unless you know what they knew. And what I know ... That Do was the second coming of Jesus Christ."
If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
