1970s NEWS
1) Press conference that appears to take place at the Human Freedom Center, an organization that helped Peoples Temple members cope with the loss of family, community, etc. At least six parents of assorted races sit at a table discussing a murder/kidnapping. An African-American man expresses concern to reporters. There is some talk of racism from a white woman. “A black man cannot be trusted.” They talk about a Jim Jones frequently.
2) History (Jeannie Mills (birth name Deanna Mertle) was an early defector from the Peoples Temple cult, author of the book Six Years with God (A&W Publishers: New York, 1979), and co-founder of the Concerned Relatives of Peoples Temple Members organization and the Human Freedom Center. She and her family joined the Peoples Temple in 1969 but they left the group in 1975 when her daughter was beaten at least 70 times with a paddle. Before defecting she was head of the Temple's publications office; husband Al was the official photographer. Jeannie Mills was murdered February 26, 1980, along with her husband Al and daughter Daphene, in their home in Berkeley. Despite their fear of retaliation after the mass murder and suicide of the Peoples Temple cult in 1978 (at one point they had sought police protection), police do not believe the murders were related to the Peoples Temple cult.)
Various shots of a residential area with homes. MS of a young boy getting into car. WS of the residence. MS of the press. WS of the Berkeley police car in front of home. CU of a male saying that the suspect in the case does not want to comment on anything at this time. MS of a young woman speaking about the Mills family. How they were ordinary people and if the Jonestown massacre had never entered there life they would have been staunch Americans. MS of a male speaking in a sense they had conquered there fear. That fear was there biggest enemy and they had overcome that. They had evolved a deep sense in what they had to do. An ethical right to speak out against cults no matter what the risk. MS of a reporter in front of the Hall of Justice. The cops haven’t ruled out the possible murder suicide or the hit squad theory. In a case like this with very few leads the physical evidence and lab reports are crucial. (sound only) Reporter talks about Daphene Mills pronounced dead and a crucial witness in the shooting. The police have no leads to go on. Talks about the case and temple members are afraid. MS of a male speaking about the case. (sound only) reports on finding the dead bodies at the cottage. MS of investigator speaking of someone being in the house at the time of the murders and didn’t hear anything until his grandmother screamed. (sound only) 16 year old Eddie Mills, who had been in the house at the time of the murders, was questioned and escorted out to a waiting police car. MS of a young man who spent some time with family members, he’s asked about if he heard death threats mentioned by the family. He responded with, “No.”
3) Begins with a voiceover about someone in the hospital with gunshot wounds and the reporter connects this to the People’s Temple and Jim Jones. Poor audio. Mills Marin.
A reporter interviews members of a family about a family that left the People’s Temple.
2) History (Jeannie Mills (birth name Deanna Mertle) was an early defector from the Peoples Temple cult, author of the book Six Years with God (A&W Publishers: New York, 1979), and co-founder of the Concerned Relatives of Peoples Temple Members organization and the Human Freedom Center. She and her family joined the Peoples Temple in 1969 but they left the group in 1975 when her daughter was beaten at least 70 times with a paddle. Before defecting she was head of the Temple's publications office; husband Al was the official photographer. Jeannie Mills was murdered February 26, 1980, along with her husband Al and daughter Daphene, in their home in Berkeley. Despite their fear of retaliation after the mass murder and suicide of the Peoples Temple cult in 1978 (at one point they had sought police protection), police do not believe the murders were related to the Peoples Temple cult.)
Various shots of a residential area with homes. MS of a young boy getting into car. WS of the residence. MS of the press. WS of the Berkeley police car in front of home. CU of a male saying that the suspect in the case does not want to comment on anything at this time. MS of a young woman speaking about the Mills family. How they were ordinary people and if the Jonestown massacre had never entered there life they would have been staunch Americans. MS of a male speaking in a sense they had conquered there fear. That fear was there biggest enemy and they had overcome that. They had evolved a deep sense in what they had to do. An ethical right to speak out against cults no matter what the risk. MS of a reporter in front of the Hall of Justice. The cops haven’t ruled out the possible murder suicide or the hit squad theory. In a case like this with very few leads the physical evidence and lab reports are crucial. (sound only) Reporter talks about Daphene Mills pronounced dead and a crucial witness in the shooting. The police have no leads to go on. Talks about the case and temple members are afraid. MS of a male speaking about the case. (sound only) reports on finding the dead bodies at the cottage. MS of investigator speaking of someone being in the house at the time of the murders and didn’t hear anything until his grandmother screamed. (sound only) 16 year old Eddie Mills, who had been in the house at the time of the murders, was questioned and escorted out to a waiting police car. MS of a young man who spent some time with family members, he’s asked about if he heard death threats mentioned by the family. He responded with, “No.”
3) Begins with a voiceover about someone in the hospital with gunshot wounds and the reporter connects this to the People’s Temple and Jim Jones. Poor audio. Mills Marin.
A reporter interviews members of a family about a family that left the People’s Temple.
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