Warning: Graphic images (multiple)
Jonestown Massacre anniversary —
Bodies lie around the compound of the People's Temple in Jonestown, Guyana, on November 18, 1978. More than 900 members of the cult, led by the Rev. Jim Jones, died from cyanide poisoning; it was the largest mass-suicide in modern history. See the story of Jonestown in the "Crimes and Cults" episode of "<a href="https://www.cnn.com/shows/the-seventies">The Seventies</a>," July 9 at 9 p.m ET/PT.
Jonestown massacre anniversary —
Bodies lie around the compound of the People's Temple in Jonestown, Guyana, on November 18, 1978. More than 900 members of the cult, led by the Rev. Jim Jones, died from cyanide poisoning; it was the largest mass-suicide in modern history. See the story of Jonestown in the "Crimes and Cults" episode of "The Seventies," July 9 at 9 p.m ET/PT.
David Hume Kennerly/Getty Images
A portrait shows Jim Jones, the founder of the People's Temple, and his wife, Marceline Jones, seated in front of their adopted children and next to his sister-in-law, right, with her three chilldren. Jones relocated the People's Temple from San Francisco to Guyana.
Jonestown Massacre anniversary —
A portrait shows Jim Jones, the founder of the People's Temple, and his wife, Marceline Jones, seated in front of their adopted children and next to his sister-in-law, right, with her three chilldren. Jones relocated the People's Temple from San Francisco to Guyana.
Don Hogan Charles/New York Times Co./Getty Images
Children of People's Temple members are tended to in the nursery of the sect in 1978, in Georgetown. (It was renamed Jonestown after the sect's leader).
Jonestown Massacre anniversary —
Children of People's Temple members are tended to in the nursery of the sect in 1978, in Georgetown. (It was renamed Jonestown after the sect's leader).
AFP/Getty Images
Members mend old clothes in a house in Jonestown.
Jonestown Massacre anniversary —
Members mend old clothes in a house in Jonestown.
AFP/Getty Images
The airplane that carried U.S. Rep. Leo Ryan of California sits on a runway November 18, 1978 in Port Kaituma, Guyana after Ryan was shot and killed by members the cult. Ryan was boarding the plane after paying an investigative visit to the cult's compound. The visit and subsequent assassination precipitated the mass suicide.
Jonestown Massacre anniversary —
The airplane that carried U.S. Rep. Leo Ryan of California sits on a runway November 18, 1978 in Port Kaituma, Guyana after Ryan was shot and killed by members the cult. Ryan was boarding the plane after paying an investigative visit to the cult's compound. The visit and subsequent assassination precipitated the mass suicide.
David Hume Kennerly/Getty Images
People's Temple follower Larry Layton, center, stands with police following his arrest in connection with the shooting at the remote Guyana airstrip. Layton was convicted in 1986 by a federal jury in San Francisco of conspiring in Ryan's murder and aiding and abetting in the attempted murder of Richard Dwyer, a U.S. diplomat wounded in the attack.
Jonestown Massacre anniversary —
People's Temple follower Larry Layton, center, stands with police following his arrest in connection with the shooting at the remote Guyana airstrip. Layton was convicted in 1986 by a federal jury in San Francisco of conspiring in Ryan's murder and aiding and abetting in the attempted murder of Richard Dwyer, a U.S. diplomat wounded in the attack.
David Hume Kennerly/Getty Images
Bodies lie in a room near a tub of cyanide-laced punch.
Jonestown Massacre anniversary —
Bodies lie in a room near a tub of cyanide-laced punch.
David Hume Kennerly/Getty Images
The compound of the People's Temple cult.
Jonestown Massacre anniversary —
The compound of the People's Temple cult.
David Hume Kennerly/Getty Images
Children also were forced to drink the poison.
Jonestown Massacre anniversary —
Children also were forced to drink the poison.
Frank Johnston/The Washington Post/Getty Images
Closeups of bottles of cyanide.
Jonestown Massacre anniversary —
Closeups of bottles of cyanide.
Matthew Naythons/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Investigators examine the People's Temple compound.
Jonestown Massacre anniversary —
Investigators examine the People's Temple compound.
David Hume Kennerly/Getty Images
Inside the People's Temple in Jonestown. More than 900 Americans died in a murder-and-suicide ritual at the People's Temple agricultural mission.
Jonestown Massacre anniversary —
Inside the People's Temple in Jonestown. More than 900 Americans died in a murder-and-suicide ritual at the People's Temple agricultural mission.
The Washington Post/Getty Images
U.S. military personnel remove bags containing bodies of members of the cult on November 23, 1978.
Jonestown Massacre anniversary —
U.S. military personnel remove bags containing bodies of members of the cult on November 23, 1978.
AFP/Getty Images
An unidentified man straps a stack of aluminum coffins for shipment to the United States.
Jonestown Massacre anniversary —
An unidentified man straps a stack of aluminum coffins for shipment to the United States.
Neal Boenzi/New York Times Co./Getty Images
Men load coffins from Jonestown, into a transport truck in Dover, Delaware, on April 26, 1979.
Jonestown Massacre anniversary —
Men load coffins from Jonestown, into a transport truck in Dover, Delaware, on April 26, 1979.
Keith Meyers/New York Times Co./Getty Images