← And That's Why We Drink
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- [00:01]
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Hey, it's Christine from and that's why we Drink. And if you are enjoying our show and looking for your next listen, I've got just the thing. It's a brand new podcast from crime house called Conspiracy Theories, Cults and Crimes. Each week, Vanessa Richardson will uncover the true stories behind the world's most shocking crimes, deadly ideologies and secret plots. From mass suicides and political assassinations to secret government experiments and UFO cults historically. If you love mystery, madness and diving deep into the world's most unbelievable true stories, you won't want to miss this show. We have a clip here from the first episode about the Heaven's Gate cult which is out now. If you like what you hear, don't forget to follow conspiracy Theories, Cults and crimes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen.
- [00:46]
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Sometimes the most shocking stories have the most ordinary beginnings. That was certainly the case for Heaven's Gate and its leader, Marshall applewhite. Born in 1932 in the small city of Spur, Texas, Marshall had a typical all American upbringing and religion was a very important part of his childhood. His father was a well known Presbyterian minister in the area and he encouraged Marshall to live a life of virtue, one that his family and God would be proud of. Marshall was eager to please. Growing up, he attended church regularly and wanted to become a minister just like his father. But while Marshall was a staunch Christian, he was also interested in looking elsewhere for the answers to life's biggest questions. So when it was time for him to go to college in the late 1940s or early 50s, Marshall decided to study philosophy at Austin College in Sherman, Texas, and he made a splash on campus right away. Classmates remembered Marshall as an extrovert with a magnetic personality. Along with joining the association of Prospective Presbyterian Ministers, Marshall was a talented singer who led the school's a cappella group. It seemed like whatever Marshall set his mind to, he would achieve it. And when it came time to graduate in 1952, the 20 year old decided to follow in his father's footsteps. That year he enrolled at Virginia's Union Theological Seminary. But even though he enjoyed diving deeper into Presbyterian theology, he still felt like something was missing. So after two years, he decided to change course. He dropped out and studied music and voice instead. Marshall had an undeniable gift. For a while, he even dreamed of a career in opera or acting. But life had other plans. Ever since high school, Marshall had been dating a woman named Anne Pierce. She was a fellow Texan who shared Marshall's religious beliefs. And despite Being long distance while Marshall was at seminary school, they both stayed loyal. In 1952, around the same time, Marshall dropped out and studied music. He and Anne got married. Before long, they'd settled down in suburban Houston and had two children. At this point, Marshall knew he'd never be a big star, but he could use his voice to support his family. So soon he became the choral director at Houston's St. Mark's Episcopal Church, as well as a music professor at The University of St. Thomas, also in Houston. He was good at what he did. But deep down, Marshall was restless and unhappy because there was one thing he'd never told anyone. He was bisexual. From a young age, Marshall had been taught to hide who he was or face the wrath of people like his father. For decades, he'd succeeded, but it had put a wall between him and those around him. By the mid-60s, Marshall felt alienated from his wife and kids and resentful of his quiet suburban life. Eventually, he couldn't repress those feelings any longer, and it would cost him everything. Sometime in 1965, when Marshall was 33 years old, he allegedly began an affair with a male student at the University of Saint Th. The details are murky, but eventually Ann found out. She was furious and immediately separated from Marshall. Three years later, in 1968, the couple officially divorced and Ann got custody of their two children. Not long after that, in 1970, the university learned about Marshall's rumored relationship with the student and he was fired. Feeling lost and alone, Marshall spent two years drifting around the country, searching for his purpose. Because of the Presbyterian Church's stance on sexuality, Marshall no longer felt welcome there. It was a huge blow to his sense of self. For his whole life, Marshall had found meaning and community through his congregation, and he still yearned for that feeling of belonging. But now he'd have to find it outside of conventional religion. Soon he found a new sense of spirituality in the form of more eccentric subjects, including astrology, science fiction, ancient mysticism and UFOs. While exploring these ideas, Marshall supported himself by dabbling in small ventures. At some point, he even ran a sandwich shop in New Mexico. But nothing seemed to stick. So in 1972, Marshall. 40 year old Marshall returned to Houston. He was looking for a fresh start, for someone to build his life with. Because despite his newfound interests, he was still very much alone. He had no partner and no relationship with his two children, 15 year old Mark and 13 year old Lane. It seemed like Marshall would never feel whole again. And then he met Bonnie Lee Nettles. On the surface Bonnie was just as ordinary as Marshall. Born In Houston in 1927, she was the second of three children in a working class Baptist family. She married young, built a life as a nurse and raised four children in the suburbs. But as the years went by, she felt increasingly out of place in the tidy routines of family life. Like Marshall, Bonnie felt like an outsider. Her daughter described her as someone who never really fit into society. She was a dreamer who liked to stare at the night sky and pretend a UFO would take her away. So it wasn't a surprise that Bonnie turned to New Age spirituality for answers. She explored astrology, theosophy and fringe ideas about life and the universe. Her nights were filled with study groups and seances which often left her straight laced husband bewildered. For perspective, she once told him that she was getting life advice from a dead monk named brother Francis. By 1972 it was clear that 44 year old Bonnie and her husband weren't a good fit. It was a difficult moment for Bonnie. Her marriage was failing and her future failed, felt uncertain. All she knew was that a fortune teller had predicted a tall fair skinned man would one day change her life. That person came in the form of Marshall Applewhite.
- [07:43]
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Thank you so much for listening. To catch the rest of this episode and so much more, search for conspiracy theories, cults and crimes wherever you get your podcasts. We will also drop a link in the show notes. Bye Bye.
- [08:10]
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