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Solar Temple Cult: The manhunt for Jouret ends

Murder. Suicide. Assassination. Sex. Money laundering. International investigations. These elements comprise the perfect storyline for any big-budget Hollywood blockbuster. But the story of the Order of the Solar Temple is no movie. It's real life. And for 74 people who died in Quebec, Switzerland and France between 1994 and 1997, the consequences of their membership in the cult were fatal.

The worldwide search for one of the leaders of the Solar Temple ends with the discovery of Luc Jouret's body. Jouret is among the cult members discovered in the burned down chalet in Granges-Sur-Salvan, Switzerland. But in this clip, questions still linger as to why Jouret and 52 other cult members died in Switzerland and Quebec.

Police find another letter written by the cult's leaders before the fires, saying those members who betrayed the cause would pay for their sins. It is this passage that leads police to believe that some of the victims did not die willingly. Uncertain whether Jouret was murdered or if it was suicide, Swiss police search for a motive for the massacre.
. The Swiss chief pathologist had to identify Jouret through dental records as his body was too badly burned.
. In audiotapes he sold to his followers, Jouret preached that death was a new beginning, not an end.
. With the discovery of Jouret's body, the three leaders of the Solar Temple — Jouret, Di Mambro and Pilet — were all confirmed dead.
Medium: Television
Program: Prime Time News
Broadcast Date: Oct. 13, 1994
Host: Peter Mansbridge
Reporter: Jed Kahane
Duration: 2:08
Photo: Audio and video footage: Solar Temple

Last updated: January 30, 2012

Page consulted on April 2, 2013

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