Jonestown Figure. Born Carolyn Moore, she met her first husband Larry Layton while a student at the University of California Davis, where she was studying to become a teacher, and the couple married in 1967. A year later in 1968, they both became devoted followers of Rev. Jim Jones and his People's Temple and she rose to become part of his inner circle and one of his closest supporters. In 1969 Jones forced her and Larry to divorce and she became his mistress. In 1975 she gave birth to Jones' son, Jim Jon, and afterwards Jones had her marry temple public relations officer Mike Prokes. In 1977 she followed Jones to Guyana and the People's Temple settlement of Jonestown. Soon rumors developed about conditions in the settlement and that people were being held there against their will. In response, US Congressman Leo Ryan announced that he would lead a fact finding mission to investigate Jonestown. Arriving in Guyana on November 14, 1978 with members of the media and concerned relatives, the group entered the settlement on November 17 and did find members wanting to leave. The next day, Ryan's party and several of the defectors were preparing to leave at the Port Kaituma airstrip when they were attacked by temple gunman. Congressman Ryan and four others would be killed in the attack. Later that same day, Jim Jones, Carolyn Layton, and over 900 People's Temple followers committed suicide at Jonestown. Both her son and younger sister, Annie Moore, also died in the suicides.
Jonestown Figure. Born Carolyn Moore, she met her first husband Larry Layton while a student at the University of California Davis, where she was studying to become a teacher, and the couple married in 1967. A year later in 1968, they both became devoted followers of Rev. Jim Jones and his People's Temple and she rose to become part of his inner circle and one of his closest supporters. In 1969 Jones forced her and Larry to divorce and she became his mistress. In 1975 she gave birth to Jones' son, Jim Jon, and afterwards Jones had her marry temple public relations officer Mike Prokes. In 1977 she followed Jones to Guyana and the People's Temple settlement of Jonestown. Soon rumors developed about conditions in the settlement and that people were being held there against their will. In response, US Congressman Leo Ryan announced that he would lead a fact finding mission to investigate Jonestown. Arriving in Guyana on November 14, 1978 with members of the media and concerned relatives, the group entered the settlement on November 17 and did find members wanting to leave. The next day, Ryan's party and several of the defectors were preparing to leave at the Port Kaituma airstrip when they were attacked by temple gunman. Congressman Ryan and four others would be killed in the attack. Later that same day, Jim Jones, Carolyn Layton, and over 900 People's Temple followers committed suicide at Jonestown. Both her son and younger sister, Annie Moore, also died in the suicides.
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