From a young age, Jim Jones had his eyes set on becoming a preacher. At 24 he would accomplish that goal by opening the Peoples Temple church in Indianapolis. But, by the end of his life he lead over 900 people to their death in what is now known as the Jonestown Massacre. Before 9/11 the Jonestown Massacre was the largest loss of U.S. civilian lives from a non-natural disaster, and I caution anyone who decides to look up this case because the pictures alone will have you shaking.
Sources for this episode:
https://www.rollingstone.com/feature/jonestown-13-things-you-should-know-about-cult-massacre-121974/
https://www.businessinsider.com/drinking-the-kool-aid-meaning-jonestown-massacre-2018-11
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Peoples-Temple
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Jones