Transcripts For MSNBC Dateline 20240924

Jackie speier they had identified people they wanted to kill. We were on top of a powder keg. Craig melvin its almost impossible to fathom even now more than 900 americans dead in the jungle at jonestown. It was something out of a horror movie. Don harris youre telling me this man said, drink this poison. Yeah. Don harris and they drank it . Thats right. Craig melvin we take you inside the mission that exposed the dangerous truth. Dont you touch my kids Jackie Speier im thinking, oh, my god. Its true. Everything we feared is true. Craig melvin the only Video Camera there to capture It All belonged to Nbc News. He said, i can never put this camera down. Craig melvin rare pictures and powerful details from those who survived. They were shooting Point Blank. My whole shirt was just dripping with red blood. Jackie speier all of a sudden, i was hit. I thought, oh, my god. This is it. Craig melvin a riveting look at the story that still haunts the world. The enormity of It All. And the insanity of it. It still comes up. And you just cant push it down. [theme music] hello. And welcome to dateline. Jim jones led nearly 1,000 americans to a remote area in South America promising a religious paradise. What followed was more like hell on earth, the horror almost too tragic to believe. Just what happened in that jungle . Youre about to hear from a handful of eyewitnesses who lived to tell the tale. Heres Josh Mankiewicz with jonestown an American Tragedy. [suspenseful music] Josh Mankiewicz it is a moment frozen in time a group of journalists posed on a Jungle Airstrip in South America. One day later, three of these men and the us congressman they were traveling with would be murdered by members of an american cult. A few miles away, hundreds of members of that cult would also perish in an orgy of Mass Murder and suicide. Good evening. In one of the strangest cases of Mass Suicide and murder ever recorded, the government of guyana said today Josh Mankiewicz This Is The Story behind the story of an American Tragedy called jonestown as it was recorded and reported by the journalists of Nbc News. We do have a particular interest in it. Two Nbc News men were shot to death there. Josh mankiewicz Our Story Begins In San Francisco in the Mid 70s Where A Charismatic Preacher named Jim Jones was making a name for himself and attracting a particular flock. He considered himself a socialist. And San Francisco is a very liberal community. Josh mankiewicz Tim Reiterman was a young Wire Service Reporter at the time. He was perceived as an activist preacher, somebody who practiced what he preached, somebody who brought in poor people and helped poor people. Josh Mankiewicz Jones had migrated to california from the midwest in the 60s, preaching a gospel of racial harmony and communal living. In San Francisco, his Peoples Temple ran elderly homes, offered drug counseling, and fed the poor. Jones was a darling of democrats. Politicians like Mayor George Moscone and Governor Jerry brown courted him. But the reverend Jim Jones was also controversial. He claimed to be christ reincarnated, a socialist god who could heal the sick, make the blind see, and the lame walk again. Tim reiterman jones had established a reputation as a faith healer, as someone who could remove cancers from peoples bodies. And much of this was, of course, fakery. But it did bring people through the door. Josh mankiewicz while Researching A Story About Jones for the San Francisco examiner, reiterman says he met with former followers who told Him Hair Raising stories about jones that differed from the public image, stories of disciplinary beatings and public humiliations. On one occasion, it was described he had a woman in the Inner Circle disrobe in front of everybody so that they could make fun of her body. This was also discipline, Teaching Somebody a lesson. Yeah, basically do away with your ego, identify with the group, the group alone. Josh Mankiewicz Jones had to have known if reporters were closing in, Trouble Wasnt far behind. So in the summer of 77, shortly before Press Reports Critical of the Peoples Temple were to be published, Jim Jones left town. He resurfaced thousands of miles away at a Jungle Compound the temple had established in guyana, a small country on the northeastern edge of South America. Why guyana of all places . Well, for one reason, guyana is an english speaking country. And its small enough and poor enough that the temples financial resources would buy a welcome. Josh mankiewicz over the next few months, jones brought roughly 1,000 of his followers there. [cheering] what a swing. What liberation bring. Josh mankiewicz in promotional films, jones portrayed his Jonestown Settlement Jim Jones with noodles, Chow Mein noodles. Couldnt go through all the koolaid. Josh mankiewicz as a tropical paradise. Jim jones american bananas are nothing like these. Mm, mm, mm, mm, mm. Josh mankiewicz and the new settlers urged family and friends to join them there. Itll be nice when things get worked around that you can come down and share our freedom, complete freedom here in the promised land. Armadillos are almost blind. Josh mankiewicz the Guyana Move abruptly divided many families. Joness followers gave up property and paychecks to the temple. And according to former members, jones demanded that those moving to jonestown surrender their passports. Families brought their concerns to Bay Area Congressman Leo Ryan. Complaints from constituents prompted him to form a Fact Finding Mission to find out whether the people who were living in jonestown, including the children, were free to leave or not. And Congressman Ryan went down there to see what was really true. Tim reiterman exactly. And you went with him. Tim reiterman exactly. I essentially invited myself along. Josh mankiewicz it was shortly before the 1978 midterm elections that Nbc News assigned correspondent Don Harris and a Camera Crew to accompany ryan to guyana. What first impressed me in meeting the Nbc Crew was that they were all experienced. Some had covered wars. Josh mankiewicz with little time to prepare, Harris Dove into the jonestown story. He interviewed temples supporters, critics, and high Profile Defectors like grace stoen. But you have to understand my ignorance is so great at this point. Im doing research at the same time were doing the taping, which is a tough way to operate. But there just wasnt enough time to do the homework. Well, i just wanna tell you one thing. You will never meet up with another man like Jim Jones. Don harris oh, thats for sure. Im telling you the truth. Josh mankiewicz with grim foreshadowing, debbie Layton Blakey, a defector, told harris that jones sometimes ordered his followers in guyana to drink from a vat that supposedly contained poison. Everyone stood in a line, went up and drank this red you know, it was kind of a tasted like whats this that thing, the drink little children drink, but you have to put a lot of sugar in it first . Don Harris Koolaid . Koolaid without sugar. Thats what it was. I dont know. But you know, it had a horrible taste initially. And you kind of think, well, maybe there is something in that. He said, it will take 45 minutes. And he assigned several people to faint or to pretend they were dead. Don harris how many people would you say were there then . 11 well, between 1,100 and 1,200 people. Don harris youre telling me this man took 1,100 people and gathered them together. Well, he does every day, yeah, and said Don Harris and said, drink this poison. Yeah. Don harris and they drank it . Thats right. Don harris you drank it. Yeah. Josh mankiewicz just before leaving for guyana, Cameraman Bob Brown called his Wife Connie and said this about his latest assignment. And he says, you know, if these people these people are very strange. But if half of what theyre saying is true, this is a terrible story. Its incredible. Craig melvin Coming Up, the first look inside jonestown. Ron javers when we met him the first day there, he struck me as just evil personified. Im thinking, oh, my god. Its true. Everything we feared is true. Craig melvin when dateline continues. What can you do with sensitive skin . cetaphil moisturizing Lotion Hydrates for a full 48 hours. Because a lot can happen in 48 hours. Cetaphil. We do skin. You do you. Hi. I use Febreze Fade defy plug. And i use this. Febreze has a microchip to control Scent Release so it smells firstday fresh for 50 days. 50 days . And its Refill Reminder Light means ill never miss a day of freshness. 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Dont wait call, click or visit an xfinity store today. Josh mankiewicz when Nbcs News Crew packed for the trip to guyana in november 1978, this is what they carried 70 pounds of Camera Gear at the time, that was State Of The Art and boxes full of clunky 20 Minute Video tapes. Sound Tech Steve sung did much of the heavy lifting. I had to carry the tape deck. It weighs about, oh, 35, 40 pounds, maybe 35 pounds. And theres no remote control. It just Video Feed directly into the machine. So you gotta be connected to the cameraman at all times. All time. Josh mankiewicz eight journalists would enter jonestown with Congressman Ryan, half of them from Nbc News. Cameraman Bob Brown had worked for all three networks, covering riots, shootouts, and war. Connie brown henderson ill tell you what bob told my brother before we went to vietnam. Josh mankiewicz browns Wife Connie. Nick said to him, how can you go into a War Zone without a gun . And bob said, well, first off, i figure if its that bad, therell be guns lying around. But if i dont have a gun, i can assure you im gonna get the picture of the [bleep] damned Son Of A Bitch who shoots me. Josh mankiewicz like brown, correspondent Don Harris had covered riots at Home And War in vietnam. The m16s are old and battered. Man [laughs] but they say they have enough ammunition. I always said, its gonna be ok. You know . Ill be fine. Josh Mankiewicz Shirley Oliver heard a lot of that during her 20 Year Marriage to don. I tried not to worry too much. He was in vietnam for five weeks on the front line. And they called him mr. Lucky [laughs] because he always came back. Josh mankiewicz leading the Nbc Team was veteran Field Producer Bob flick. He was a big, tall, strong, bull of a man. Josh mankiewicz San Francisco Chronicle Reporter Ron Javers. Wore a tshirt that said God Rides A Harley and had a big white golf cap. And we bonded, you know, right away. Josh mankiewicz along with javers and reiterman were washington Post Reporter Charles Krause and San Francisco Examiner Photographer Greg robinson. He says, i got it. It looks like im going to South America. Im gonna do an assignment there. Josh Mankiewicz Gregs Sister andrea robinson. I said, are you serious . Thats incr thats incredible. We were both so excited. Josh mankiewicz it took 26 hours for the ryan entourage to travel from San Francisco to georgetown, guyana. But once there, Jim Jones refused to let them visit his compound. I still hope we can work out something between mr. Jones and i. Josh mankiewicz for three days, they waited while the congressman negotiated with temple lawyers. Nbc correspondent Don Harris interviewed concerned relatives like jim cobb. Don harris what are you doing down here . Well, im here essentially to try to see my relatives. I have a mother, three sisters, and a brother that i i havent seen my sisters and brothers in about four years now. Josh Mankiewicz 28yearold Jackie Speier was Congressman Ryans legislative aide. Shed helped arrange the Jonestown Trip and knew enough to be afraid. I was concerned about making that trip. Josh Mankiewicz Temple defectors shed interviewed had told her jonestown was a virtual prison camp, a place where members were brainwashed, armed, and willing to kill for Jim Jones. I was in the process of purchasing a condo, my first home in arlington, virginia. And i literally made the Contract Contingent on my surviving the trip. Almost like you had some omen . Almost like i had a premonition about it. Josh mankiewicz it was friday, november 17, 1978 when Jim Jones finally agreed to see the Ryan Group. So far so good. Josh mankiewicz after landing in Port Kaituma, a small village a few miles from jonestown, the Ryan Group was taken the rest of the way in the back of a temple Dump Truck. It was after dark by the time the reporters finally arrived in jonestown, too dark to see anything except what Jim Jones wanted them to see. We see people all lined up in the big pavilion. They welcome us to come in. [indistinct singing] Steve Sung they start with the Music Singing like welcoming party for us. So at that point, its kinda what you thought. Its everybodys happy. You can see the video tape. The people are happy, and they will welcome us come in. Charles krause they had some very good musicians down there who did some really good music. Josh mankiewicz washington Post Reporter Charles Krause. [woman singing indistinctly] Charles Krause but i also noticed that there were people who were, like, comatose, who were, you know, clapping but without any kind of nothing related to the music. Thats a pretty clear sign that everything maybe isnt as it seems. Thats right. Josh mankiewicz presiding over all of it was Jim Jones. Ron javers when we met him the first day there in jonestown, he struck me as just evil personified. And we were almost sure that he was on drugs. And at one point, he had asked his Wife Marceline to give me a pill. And she was overheard saying, no, no pills. Josh mankiewicz in the spirit of the moment, Congressman Ryan took to the stage and complimented his hosts. I can tell you right now that from the few conversations ive had with some of the folks here already this evening that whatever the comments are, there are some people here who believe this is the best thing that ever happened to them in their whole life. [cheering and applause] Josh Mankiewicz and everybody cheers. And the sense you get is, well, everythings fine. Well, it was almost a manic cheering, almost to the point that it made you a little uncomfortable. Josh mankiewicz it was during that raucous applause that someone passed a note to Nbc Correspondent Don Harris. The note signed by two people read simply, please help us get out of jonestown. Don brings this note over to us and says, you might wanna see this. And Leo Ryan looks at it and then hands it to me. And im thinking, oh, my god. Its true. Everything we feared is true. Josh mankiewicz Don Harriss son Jeff Humphrey was 17 when his father went to guyana. He believes he knows exactly how his father responded to that note. Jeff humphrey well, this is my dads Nbc News notebook. It says its jonestown on the front of it. He was trying to write this note to somebody without anybody else knowing about it. And it says, find me tomorrow. Whether you find me or not, ill help. That secret plea for help is just the beginning. Tensions reach a Breaking Point as reporter Don Harris confronts Jim Jones. And the fragile order of jonestown starts to unravel. Coming up dont bring those kids back here Jackie Speier word started to get out that people were leaving. Craig Melvin Division in the compound. Danger was just ahead. Suddenly, the knife was around my neck. Craig melvin when dateline continues. Air wick. How far would you go to set the ambience of your space . Try the Air Wick way with Air Wick essential mist. Infused with natural Essential Oils to fill your moment with immersive fragrance for up to 45 days. Now thats a breath of fresh Air Wick. Ohhoho, look at that jet stream. [ whistles ] weather. Oh, boy. Yep, theyre calling it an atmospheric river. It is coming down. [ cellphone buzzes, chimes ] oh, Flood Warning in louisiana. Are they obsessed . Oh, yeah. The stuff they do on the green screen, unbelievable. They said 10 chance of rain. Seems more like 40 to me. No. It has nothing to do with the dew point. Progressive cant save you from becoming your parents, but we can save you money when you bundle Home And Auto with us. What are those, Cumulus Clouds . Could this be menopause . Clearblue Menopause Stage Indicator uses an app that combines your age, cycle data, and Fsh Hormone levels over time in a personalized report to share with your doctor to get the clarity you need. Josh mankiewicz after the show was over that first night, jones insisted the reporters return to Port Kaituma, where hed arranged for them to sleep in a local bar. So we ended up sleeping on the floor. Josh mankiewicz there would be little rest. While the Nbc Crew had a nightcap at the bar, Tim Reiterman and the other Print Reporters were approached by a local constable who wanted to talk about jonestown. He said that on multiple occasions, there were people who were evacuated from jonestown or flown out of Port Kaituma after receiving injuries. And he felt that some of them had been beaten. And he described a pit. What do you mean a pit . A Deep Hole In The Ground that people couldnt climb out of. Youd be placed in it for punishment. Josh mankiewicz the next morning, the Print Reporters told Don Harris about the pit. And harris showed them the note hed gotten the night before. And he kinda rolled down his Combat Boot that he had on. And in there was a white Tablet Note about that big and said, please help us get out of jonestown. Man rolling. Josh mankiewicz by the time the newsmen passed through the temple gates later that morning, they were no longer a collection of rivals. They were a team. I think i said, lets just each of us Fan Out and each reporter get as much stuff as you can get. And then well get together again, and well share It All. Everybody said, absolutely. Josh mankiewicz but temple monitors shadowed their every step, making it impossible for reporters to speak privately with jonestown residents like Maria Katsaris. Reporter are you happy here . Yes, im very happy here. Reporter you know that your father and your brother are convinced that youre not . Well, im very happy here. I dont know what else i can do to convince them. Josh mankiewicz her brother anthony, who flew in with the Ryan Group, wasnt so sure. Its hard for me to know what to think. For me, to be satisfied, id have to see it somewhere else. Reporter were just a news team. We dont care one way or the other. Are you happy here . Oh, i should say i am. Ive never been any happier in my life. Josh mankiewicz her son, jim cobb, was skeptical. Reporter are you satisfied that they are not under duress at this moment, that are that they can talk to you . That they can well, yeah, i know they cant. They hey, they Cant Talk with me right now, sure. Yeah. Josh mankiewicz back at the main pavilion, however, other residents were stepping forward to tell Jackie Speier that they wanted out of jonestown. Jackie speier and your name is brenda parks. Brenda parks. And what is your pleasure what is your Wish Today . To go back go back home. Word started to get out that people were leaving. And then more people wanted to leave. Josh mankiewicz Congressman Ryan said he was willing to take anyone who wanted to leave. And though Jim Jones pleaded with the defectors to stay, their minds were made up. Running short on time, harris and the Nbc Crew set up to tape their interview with Jim Jones. Don harris last night, someone came and passed me this note. And thats who were talking about. He wants to leave his son here. If jonestown is such a bad place, why does he wanna leave his son here . Hes the one that im just talking about. Yeah, this is trouble. This is the man that wants to leave his son here. Don harris doesnt it concern you, though, that this man, for whatever reason, one of the people in your group people play games, friend. They lie. They lie. What can i do about liars . Are you people going leave us. I just beg you, please leave us. And then all of a sudden, the skies just turned dark. And it just dumped this torrential rain. And it was almost like some sort of evil omen. Josh mankiewicz a sign from above. Struck everybody that way. It was just so, so eerie. Josh mankiewicz when the rain let up, the mood turned ugly as families divided over whether to stay or go. You bring those kids back here hold on a second. You bring them back one second, one second. Dont you touch my kids Josh Mankiewicz as Congressman Ryan stayed behind to take care of some last minute logistics, a Dump Truck loaded with reporters and defectors pulled away for the trip to the airstrip. Ron javers and then a shout went up from the people behind us. And you could hear this, [imitates yelling] what are they doing . You know . And Leo Ryan came out of the Pavilion Heading towards us. His shirt was all bloody. Josh mankiewicz the congressman had been attacked by a Temple Member Whod held a knife to ryans throat. The congressman was unharmed. But in the struggle over the knife, his attacker was cut. Ryan was clearly shaken as he climbed into the truck for the trip to the airstrip. We get our airstrip. We unload it, get ready because the Plane Hasnt there yet. So the press people decide to have a Press Conference with congressman. Suddenly the knife was around my neck, and i was in danger. Josh mankiewicz after his interview with the congressman, Don Harris seemed to sense trouble coming. Watch his eyes. Steve sung and then Don Harris come and push against me, said, hey, get a what is that get away. There must be trouble. Ok, you get guys get ready. Josh mankiewicz in this video, we see what Don Harris saw. Three men who harris knew to be close to Jim Jones suddenly approach as if looking for someone. After conferring briefly, sung says the man waved away bystanders and walked toward a Red Tractor that had just pulled up. Don harris knew something was going on. Yes, Don Harris know exactly theres something going on. Craig melvin Coming Up [gunshots] gunshots at the airstrip. We dive on the ground. They were shooting Point Blank. My whole shirt was just dripping with red blood. [gunshots] i was playing dead. And all of a sudden, i was hit. Craig melvin when dateline continues. When you have moderate to severe eczema, its okay to show off. With dupixent, show off your clearer skin and less itch. Because you have plenty of reasons to show off your skin. With dupixent, the 1 prescribed biologic by dermatologists and allergists, you can stay ahead of your eczema. It helps block a key source of inflammation inside the body that can cause eczema to help heal your skin from within. Many adults saw 90 clearer skin, some even achieved longlasting clearer skin and fast Itch Relief after first dose. Serious allergic reactions can occur that can be severe. Tell your doctor about new or worsening Eye Problems such as Eye Pain or vision changes including blurred vision, Joint Aches and pain, or a parasitic infection. 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You can quit. For free help, call 1800quitnow. Hi, im Richard Lui with a news update. Police in alabama are searching for multiple shooters after four people were killed and 17 injured in the shooting in birmingham. Authorities describe it as a possible murder for hire plot. Four staffers for gubernatorial Candidate Mark Robinson have stepped down, according to the campaign. After reporting that on earth inflammatory remarks allegedly made by the republican years ago on an adult website. And now back to dateline. Rn Leo Ryan promised to help anyone who wanted to leave, he was attacked by a true believer. Shaken but unharmed, ryan and his team fled to a small airstrip where they hoped to escape. But the worst was yet to come. Back to Josh Mankiewicz with jonestown an American Tragedy. Josh mankiewicz the reporters had their story. In less than 24 hours, theyd interviewed Jim Jones, witnessed more than a dozen defections and an Assassination Attempt on a us congressman. I think i may have put on the tape just that i told you so. Nevermind. [laughs] Josh Mankiewicz as nbc Cameraman Bob Brown rolled tape, two planes were being prepared for takeoff. And then suddenly, gunshots. [gunshots] only this snippet of that moment remains. We dive on the ground both of us because were real connected to Each Other Josh Mankiewicz with that cable. Steve sung with the cable. [laughs] we like marriage, cannot be separated. [gunshots] i saw Ryan Running under the plane. I followed suit. And i hid behind one of the wheels. [gunshots] pop. Pop, pop, pop. Pop, pop, pop. And i had never heard a gunshot before in my life. Steve sung Bob Brown was shooting at the truck with Fire Gunfire go off. And next thing, he got shot in the leg. He sit up and say, ouch i said, dont Get Up. He did. And thats why he draw attention. They blew his head off next shot. [gunshots] Josh Mankiewicz Bob Brown was dead. True to his word, brown it seemed did get a shot of the man who killed him. [gunshots] a few feet away, Steve Sung was still tethered to browns camera. They hit my shoulder, the big scar on my arm. And i was carry the heavy case. The Leather Strap saved me. That big Leather Strap . That saved my life. I felt myself get shot into left arm and wrist. [gunshots] Ron Javers when you get hit with a rifle bullet, it knocked me on my ass. Josh mankiewicz Neither Javers nor reiterman stayed down for long. Both sprinted for cover in the jungle. And while youre running, theyre still shooting. Im still hearing shots. My whole shirt was just dripping with red blood. Josh mankiewicz on the airstrip, the killing continued. [gunshots] i was playing dead. And all of a sudden, i was hit. And i thought, oh, my god. This is it. Im dying. Josh mankiewicz nearby, Congressman Ryan was down, severely wounded. [gunshots] they were shooting Point Blank at us there on the ground. Thats when you were hit. And thats when i was hit. But right and thats when the congressman was killed. I was told ryan was shot dozens of times. I was told he was shot 45 times. They had identified people they wanted to kill. Josh Mankiewicz Congressman Leo Ryan dead. Nearby, another target, Nbc Correspondent Don Harris, also murdered. Across the airstrip, a Temple Gunman Whod pretended to be a defector opened fire, wounding two passengers on the smaller plane. When his gun jammed, the other passengers disarmed him. The attack had lasted only a couple of minutes. And then silence. The Reporters Whod made it into the jungle slowly crept back toward the airstrip. Ron javers and there was the happiest sight i ever seen. There was Bob Flick with his big white hat and his God Rides A Harley white tshirt. Bob was going around kneeling down from one person to the next. I worked my way out to the plane. And Greg Robinson was near the gangway. He was dead. And Congressman Ryan, he was dead. Bob brown was a short distance away, and he was dead. And Don Harris was nearby too. And near the gangway, patricia parks, who was one of the defectors, died. Josh mankiewicz 5 dead, 10 wounded. Shortly after the shooting stopped, the guyanese pilots left in the only plane that could still fly, leaving the wounded to fend for themselves. I shouldve died on that airstrip. I should have. But it was not part of the plan. I mean, my whole right side of my leg was blown up except for the Femoral Artery. Had the Femoral Artery been severed, i wouldve died in 90 seconds. You had to be wondering whether you were gonna bleed to death. I think was it Tim Reiterman, he used a tshirt to tie to a what do you call the word . Tourniquet. Tourniquet, yeah, so stop the blood bleeding. Hes helped me save me that way. Bob flick came a number of times during the night and brought Me Guyanese rum to take. Which was the closest thing to medicine they had. Right. And i was forever grateful to him for doing that. Josh mankiewicz while the rest of the survivors waited for help in a Rum Shop near the airstrip, some of the Jonestown Defectors darkly speculated about what might be happening in jonestown at that very moment. Ron Javers Someone was saying and i remember this, you know theyre killing them, mon. Theyre killing all the babies. [excited chatter] Craig Melvin Coming Up, ominous reports trickle out of the compound. Andrea mitchell when you ran, where people already dying . Yeah. When i ran, yeah. Craig melvin and the journey back to jonestown. The world was about to learn the unimaginable truth. It was something out of a horror movie. Craig melvin when dateline continues. Air wick. How far would you go to set the ambience of your space . Try the Air Wick way with Air Wick essential mist. Infused with natural Essential Oils to fill your moment with immersive fragrance for up to 45 days. Now thats a breath of fresh Air Wick. Youll love this Centrum Silver is clinically proven to support memory in older adults. So you can keep saying. You mastered it you fixed it you nailed it you did it with Centrum Silver. Clinically proven to support memory in older adults. Josh mankiewicz won sunday morning,. November 19, roughly 16 hours after the airstrip shootings, two small planes arrived in Port Kaituma to evacuate the survivors back to georgetown for medical treatment. Just beyond the jungle horizon, a Killing Field was waiting to be discovered. But for Tim Reiterman, all that mattered in that moment was documenting the scene in front of him. I couldnt find my small compact camera, so i went through Greg Robinsons bag. I found one that had some Film Left in it. And i took i took a picture. Thats that photo you see of the plane with the bodies around it. Josh mankiewicz on the flight out of Port Kaituma, Ron Javers sat next to nbc producer Bob Flick. Ron Javers Bob was holding the blue Nbc Mini Cam to his chest. He wasnt saying anything. He looked like hell. He was, you know, just sweating. And i said, bob, you can put the camera down now. He just looked at me and said, i can never put this camera down. And he was just streaming tears. Josh mankiewicz within hours of the Airstrip Ambush, nbc sent fresh correspondents and crews to guyana. I had to pick up that video and put that video on television. Josh mankiewicz former Nbc Correspondent Fred Francis. How could this possibly happen . This is this is not a War Zone. This is in the middle of a jungle where there are mostly americans around you. Josh mankiewicz in georgetown the next morning, flick recounted the slaughter of the night before. There were many shots. And every time somebody would fall down wounded, they would walk over and shoot them in the head with a shotgun. Josh mankiewicz as Bob Flick boarded his flight home, the story that had left him so shaken exploded in a new unthinkable horror. Its a nightmare. Josh mankiewicz according to Temple Members who had escaped from jonestown overnight, Jim Jones had ordered his followers to swallow a fruit flavored drink laced with cyanide. Andrea mitchell when you ran, were people already dying . Yeah. When i ran, yeah. Josh mankiewicz remember, days earlier in San Francisco, Defector Debbie Layton Blakey had described something that now sounded like a rehearsal. Don harris youre telling me this man said, drink this poison. Yeah. Don harris and they drank it . Thats right. Josh mankiewicz according to Jonestown Escapee odell rhodes, anyone who resisted was forced to take the poison. There was a Little Girl named Julie Reynolds that was being forced to take it. She was about 13 i guess. And the woman who supervised her and one of the nurses were actually forcing her to take it because she kept spitting it out. And they were forcing her to take it. Josh mankiewicz Fred Francis knew he had to get to jonestown. Fred Francis Nobody would fly me to jonestown. And then i found the airplane with the Bullet Holes in it. And i negotiated a price of 10,000 with the pilot to fly me out there. And part of that fee was to the Ground Staff of that airport that nobody else should fly out of there after us. So youre protecting your exclusive. I spent 8,000 on a pilot and 2,000 to close the airport to any other pilots. Works for me. Josh mankiewicz once he landed at Port Kaituma, francis says he and his crew hitched a ride to jonestown on an american Army Helicopter. Fred francis when we started rotating in a helicopter, the Army Helicopter over jonestown, we could see this massive quilt. We had no idea what we were looking at. And as the helicopter made another pass and we got closer, the stench came up even with the Rotor Wash into the plane. And then we realized what we were looking at were hundreds of bodies down below us. Josh mankiewicz lying on top of one another. Fred francis it was something out of a horror movie. We couldnt tell whether they were men or women or children until we got on the ground. And thats when we had to use the perfume and the scarfs. Josh mankiewicz this is the way Fred Francis reported that story in 1978. When the poison was being passed out, men were around this Auditorium Area here with crossbows. They were acting as guards. If anyone tried to leave, these were used. I remember walking through jonestown and being stunned, being emotionally blasted. Josh mankiewicz it stays with you. Yeah. The kids. You know, adults adults are gonna do what they want. But children . They took 304 kids and killed them. Amazing. Craig melvin Coming Up, one more unbelievable discovery, the madness of It All captured on tape. Jim jones theyll torture some of our children here. We cannot have this. It still comes up, and you just cant push it down. Craig melvin when dateline continues. Huh. 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Infused with natural Essential Oils to fill your moment with immersive fragrance for up to 45 days. Now thats a breath of fresh Air Wick. luke homesdotcom is a new, elevated homeshopping experience. Beautiful design, tremendously rich content, and, my favorite touch, its the only site that always connects you to the listing agent. Feels like a Work Of Art marci lovely. What about the app . Luke Uhoh look what i did. Its ringing. Hello . Hello . marci they cant hear you. luke hello . marci because you glued a frame over the microphone. luke i think ive glued the frame over the microphone. Vo Ding dong homesdotcom. Weve done your home work. Welcome back. Cult leader Jim Jones ordered nearly 1,000 followers to kill themselves and their children with cyanide. Those who refused were threatened by crossbow. But how . How did he persuade so many to willingly embrace death . You are about to hear in his own words the preachers chilling final commands. Heres Josh Mankiewicz with the conclusion of jonestown an American Tragedy. Josh mankiewicz it was a gruesome Crime Scene hundreds of bodies stacked three and four deep in places, pungent in the stifling heat. The government of guyana told the united states late in the day that it wants the bodies of the victims returned to the united states for burial. Josh mankiewicz it would take weeks for american soldiers to recover all of those bodies and ship them home. In the end, 909 bodies were found at jonestown. Investigators determined Jim Jones and his nurse died of gunshot wounds, likely selfinflicted. All the rest it seemed either drank the poison or had it injected. And it wasnt a painless death. Josh mankiewicz former Nbc Correspondent Fred Francis. Some of those who escaped talked about how the people were withering in the in around the pavilion, how it took some of them many minutes to die. Josh mankiewicz add in the five dead from the Airstrip Ambush and four more from another location, and the total Death Tally was 918. It was while combing the compound for clues that investigators made another discovery. Jim jones had actually recorded jonestowns final death scene. Recorded shortly after the murders of Congressman Ryan and four others at the airstrip [gunshots] jones tells his followers that suicide is their only option now. According to jones, the guyanese Army Or Gdf would soon be arriving to destroy their paradise. According to eyewitnesses, the children were the first to die. Just before the tape ran out, jones can still be heard pleading for obedience, rationalizing madness. Among the dead, Maria Katsaris and jim cobbs mother, brother, and three sisters. Today, this Mass Grave in oakland is the final Resting Spot for more than 400 of jonestowns dead. For the survivors, jonestown became a life defining event. After nearly dying on that airstrip, Jackie Speier followed in congressman Leo Ryans footsteps. Jackie speier he was a great mentor. A great mentor. I learned a great deal from him. Yeah. And you have his seat now. And now im serving in his seat. It is it is bittersweet obviously. Josh Mankiewicz Speier served 15 years in congress before retiring in 2023. The reporters who survived the Airstrip Ambush all wrote books about it. After jonestown, Bob Flick left Tv News and had a second career with entertainment tonight. He died in 2015. Steve sung became a Video Editor and occasionally worked on stories for dateline. Steves retired now. Fred francis, Nbc News. Josh mankiewicz Fred Francis went on to have many big assignments in his 40 Year Career at Nbc News. But he says jonestown is the one story he just cant shake. This one always seems to poke at me every now and again. The enormity of It All, you know . And the insanity of it. The insanity of it. And that smell. Even though i couldnt resurrect it, its with me all the time. I mean, it was so powerful. Josh mankiewicz the dead remain ageless in the minds of those they left behind. Bob browns widow, Connie Brown henderson. Bob has now been dead longer than hes than he was alive. But he sure packed a lot into 36 years. Josh mankiewicz photographer Greg Robinson, who took many of the iconic jonestown pictures, was only 27 when he was murdered. See . Even this late later, it still comes up, and you just cant push it down. Its so bizarre. Josh mankiewicz his sister andrea still struggles with his loss and the thoughts of what mightve been. We both had plans to have our lives together. All those dreams were just shattered. Josh mankiewicz Don Harris left behind a trunk full of memories for his family. Among the most prized is this letter from one of the airstrip survivors. And he wrote this letter to my mom. Even at the very end, he my dad took the time to help me. As i lay crouched behind the wheel of the airplane, don told me, dont move. Dont make a sound. Just be still and pretend like youre dead. I cant understand why im alive. One more time. He said, i cant understand why im alive and such a fine man like your husband isnt. Josh mankiewicz its been more than four decades. But like much of what happened at jonestown, its a question with no answer. Thats all for this edition of dateline. Im Craig Melvin. Thank you for watching. ] Shane Moore [shouts] Craig Melvin a recording of a killing Carla Tryber oh, god. Kelly moore she shot him. Craig melvin captured by The Killer herself