 Religious scholar Catherine Wessinger posits that the suicides began on March 22 . Most members took barbiturates and alcohol and then placed bags over their heads . They wore Nike shoes and black uniforms with patches that read " Heaven 's Gate Away Team " . A bag that contained a few dollars and a form of identification was placed beside most bodies . The deaths occurred over three days ; Applewhite was one of the last four to die . Three assistants helped him commit suicide , then killed themselves . An anonymous tip led the sheriff 's department to search the mansion ; they found 39 bodies there on March 26 . It is the largest group suicide that has occurred in the U.S. Applewhite 's body was found seated on the bed of the mansion 's master bedroom . Medical examiners determined that his fears of cancer had been unfounded , but that he suffered from coronary atherosclerosis . 
 Religious scholar Catherine Wessinger <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>posits</mark></a> that the suicides began on March 22 . Most members took barbiturates and alcohol and then placed bags over their heads . They wore Nike shoes and black uniforms with patches <a href='null_relcl' title='2'><mark>that</mark></a>read " Heaven <a href='null_genetive' title='3'><mark>'s</mark></a>Gate Away Team " . A bag <a href='null_relcl' title='4'><mark>that</mark></a>contained a few dollars and a form of identification was placed beside most bodies . The deaths occurred over three days ; Applewhite was one of the last four to die . Three assistants helped him commit suicide , then killed themselves . An anonymous tip led the sheriff <a href='null_genetive' title='5'><mark>'s</mark></a>department to search the mansion ; they found 39 bodies there on March 26 . It <a href='drop_aux' title='6'><mark>is</mark></a>the largest group suicide <a href='null_relcl' title='7'><mark>that</mark></a><a href='been_done' title='8'><mark>has</mark></a> occurred in the U.S. Applewhite <a href='null_genetive' title='9'><mark>'s</mark></a>body was found seated on the bed of the mansion <a href='null_genetive' title='10'><mark>'s</mark></a>master bedroom . Medical examiners determined that his fears of cancer had been unfounded , but that he suffered from coronary atherosclerosis . 
Religious scholar Catherine Wessinger posit dat da suicides began on March 22 . Most members took barbiturates and alcohol and then placed bags over their heads . They wore Nike shoes and black uniforms wit patches read " Heaven  Gate Away Team " . A bag contained a few dollars and a form of identification was placed beside most bodies . Tdadeaths occurred over three dayz ; Applewhite was one of the last four to die . Three assistants helped him commit suicide , then killed themselves . An anonymous tip led thdaheriff  department to search thedansion ; they found 39 bodies there on March 26 . It the dagest group suicide done occurred in the Uda Applewhite  body was found seated on the bed of the mansion  master bedroom . Medical examiners determined that his fears of cancer had been unfounded , but that he suffered from coronary atherosclerosis .