Jonestown Figure. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and raised in California, Katsaris was first introduced to Rev. Jim Jones and his People's Temple in 1973. Becoming a strong supporter of People's Temple, she dropped out of college a year later to devote more time to the church. She soon rose up to become part of Jones' inner circle, eventually becoming the Temple's treasurer and one of Jones' mistresses. In 1977, he 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 Point Kaituma airstrip when they were attacked by temple gunman. Congressman Ryan and four others would be killed in the attack. Among those who were seriously wounded was her brother Anthony, who was one of the concerned relatives who joined the trip. Jim Jones, Maria Katsaris, and over 900 People's Temple followers committed suicide at the settlement later that same day. Shortly before the suicides occurred, she ordered Jonestown public relations officer Mike Prokes and brothers Tim and Mike Carter to flee the settlement and deliver a large amount of Temple money to the Soviet embassy in Guyana, however the three were arrested before completing their task.
Jonestown Figure. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and raised in California, Katsaris was first introduced to Rev. Jim Jones and his People's Temple in 1973. Becoming a strong supporter of People's Temple, she dropped out of college a year later to devote more time to the church. She soon rose up to become part of Jones' inner circle, eventually becoming the Temple's treasurer and one of Jones' mistresses. In 1977, he 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 Point Kaituma airstrip when they were attacked by temple gunman. Congressman Ryan and four others would be killed in the attack. Among those who were seriously wounded was her brother Anthony, who was one of the concerned relatives who joined the trip. Jim Jones, Maria Katsaris, and over 900 People's Temple followers committed suicide at the settlement later that same day. Shortly before the suicides occurred, she ordered Jonestown public relations officer Mike Prokes and brothers Tim and Mike Carter to flee the settlement and deliver a large amount of Temple money to the Soviet embassy in Guyana, however the three were arrested before completing their task.
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