Cults That Kill

A true crime author explores what happens when cults cross the line in this anthology of false prophets, true believers, and tragic consequences.

Thousands of religious, political and self-improvement cults are active around the world, and an estimated two to five million Americans have been involved in a cult at some point in their lives. While not all cults are destructive, these stories demonstrate how unwavering faith in an infallible leader can lead lay the groundwork for criminal acts a heinous as murder or mass suicide.


True crime author Joan Biddlecombe Agsar uncovers what really happened inside some of modern history's most notorious cults, including:

• The Manson Family

Hippie devotees turn violent to manifest God's race war

• The Peoples Temple

Hundreds of utopia seekers meet their end in the Guyanese jungle by ingesting a cyanide-laced drink

• The Vampire Clan

Teenagers consume blood and bludgeon an unsuspecting Florida couple to death

• Heaven's Gate

Nike-adorned disciples commit suicide to transport onto a spaceship approaching

• Earth Silvia Meraz Moreno's Santa Muerte

Cult Members collect sacrificial blood by slicing open victims' veins while their hearts are still beating