Families fear mass suicide as deputies search remote areas for church
members
Story posted 2010.09.19 at 08:40 AM PDT

Los Angeles Times Mobile News

On foot and in helicopters, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
deputies searched Vasquez Rocks and other remote high desert areas for
13 people from a "cult-like" Palmdale church, including several
children, who went missing Saturday amid fears that they may have been
planning a suicide pact.

One woman told The Times that her sister-in-law has been with the group
and that they often take "trips to the mountains to pray."

Her sister-in-law, she said, told her she was going on a religious trip
this weekend and would return Sunday morning. Sheriff's officials said
that members of the group had taken at least one prayer trip before but
that this trip seemed unusual.

"They've done late-night prayer vigils before, but not in the context of
these elements," said Capt. Mike Parker said. "IDs, money, goodbye
notes, all that stuff left behind, put in a purse."

Early Sunday, authorities were scouring lighted areas and waiting for
daylight to tackle more remote terrain.

"At first light, you're going to see a helicopter," Parker said.
"They're searching what they can for now." The group was believed to be
traveling in three vehicles: a white 2004 Nissan Quest, a 1995 white
Mercury Villager and a newer-model, silver Toyota Tundra, according to
the California Highway Patrol, which issued an alert for them.

Parker said that documents left behind by group members do not
specifically mention suicide, though they do refer to "going to heaven"
and the "end of the world." He added that the missing people have no
history of violence or harming themselves.