Struggle ensues over property of deceased Heaven's Gate members
[May 25, 1998]

Belongings of the 39 deceased members of the Heaven's Gate cult are ready for auction by San Diego County, but the auction is being delayed by claims from the Telah Foundation that it has rights to the property. A hearing is set for June 25th to decide whether the county or Telah - a group with former business ties to the cult - owns the furniture, computers, and artwork in question. If the county is able to auction the goods, it will use proceeds to pay for cult debts. Cult members died in March 1997 by taking barbiturates and vodka, convinced by their leader that they would be picked up by a spaceship flying in the wake of the Hale-Bopp comet.