Heaven's Gate property dispute continues
[January 19, 1999]
In March 1997, 39 members of the Heaven's Gate cult committed mass suicide
at a rented mansion near San Diego, shedding their earthly "containers" to ride
a spaceship they said was trailing the tail of the Hale Bopp comet.
Mark and Sarah King of Phoenix, who left the cult 20 years ago but remained in contact
with them, claim they now have full proprietary rights to the property left by the
deceased members. The Kings attest that the cultists, concerned that their possessions not
fall into the wrong hands, left a key and pass code with instructions for the Kings, to a
storage unit containing their earthly possessions. The contents of that container includes
computers, white plastic patio chairs, religious writings such as a cult manual and
"How and When Heaven's Gate May be Entered," arm patches with the group's logo,
guns and ammunition, videotapes, 13 bunk beds and headboards, a box of framed artwork
featuring space aliens, and a 70-inch television.
Because the deceased cultists left no will, the county contends the property rightfully
reverts to the public administrator handling the estate. The county wants to auction the
contents of the storage unit to pay the deceased cult members' families, who filed
$130,000 in claims against the estate to cover burial costs and outstanding debts. County
Public Administrator Don Billings estimated the estate net worth at approximately $50,000,
but auctioning the estate items would create a higher likelihood that more funding will be
generated in order to help recover surviving families' costs.
However, the Kings filed a petition in April 1998 under a nonprofit name, the Telah
Foundation, to block auction proceedings. They later obtained trademarks and copyrights
for the artworks, videotapes and religious writings.
Attorneys for the Kings and the San Diego County public administrator argued their cases
earlier this month at a three-day non-jury civil trial before Superior Court Judge Lisa
Guy-Schall. The judge concluded that a hearing to consolidate the estates of the deceased
cult members must be held before reaching a final decision. The hearing has been set for
February 19, 1999 and a ruling will be issued on February 28, 1999.
Source: Friday, January 15, 1999, Contra Costa Newspapers ASSOCIATED PRESS
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