December 7, 1978, Ukiah Daily Journal - UPI, page 1, Feds meet with key Jones’ aide,
December 7, 1978, Ukiah Daily Journal, page 1, Thursday from the desk, by Jim Garner,
December 8, 1978, Boston Globe - AP, Jury subpoenas 17 Jonestown survivors, [Text]
December 8, 1978, Ukiah Daily Journal, page 11, Peoples Temple's shadowy 'hit list',
December 8, 1978, Boston Globe - UPI, Jones aide asks immunity,
December 10, 1978, San Francisco Sunday Chronicle & Examiner, page 1, $3 million for hit list, says ex-Jones aide, Defectors: Temple leader bragged of Mafia contacts, by W.E. Barnes, Examiner Staff Writer, diigo,
December 11, 1978, Ukiah Daily Journal, page 1, Monday from the desk, by Jim Garner,
December 11, 1978, Wilmington Morning Star, page 10-A, Jonestown Leader Reportedly Planned To Assassinate Enemies, diigo,
December 11, 1978, Ukiah Daily Journal - UPI, page 1, Former Ukiah woman says in interview; Jones bragged of Mafia ties,
December 12, 1978, Ottawa Journal, page 14, Cult boss confidant subpoenaed, December 12, 1976, Casa Grande Dispatch [AZ] page 2, AP Stand-Alone Photo, Terri Buford,
December 12, 1979, The Montreal Gazette - Chicago Tribune, page 16, People's Temple ready to kill enemies, ex-Jones aide says, diigo,
December 12, 1978, Lakeland Ledger, Hit List,
December 13, 1978, The Paris News, page 4C, Standalone AP Laserphoto, Hit List,
December 15, 1978, Indiana Gazette [Indiana, PA] page 10, Dec. 15, 1978, Terri Buford,
December 15, 1978, Indiana Evening Gazette, page 1, Jones' Aide Former IUP Coed,
December 16, 1978, The Star-Phoenix, Jones Acts Like Madman, 6th of 7 Parts, from the book, The Suicide Cult, by Marshall Kilduff and Ton Javers,
December 18, 1978, Ocala Star-Banner, Cult's Money Turns Up Missing, by Daniel Lewis and Caroline Rand Herron,
December 20, 1978, Indiana Gazette - AP, page 10, Terri Buford Might Have Has a Lie Test,
December 20, 1978, AP Laserphoto, Terri Buford Cropped,
December 21, 1978, Ukiah Daily Journal, page 1, Buford ‘anxious’ to talk about temple’s crimes,
Dec. 21, 1978, Toledo Blaze, Cultist Feared Ryan Working with C.I.A.
December 21, 1978, Southeast Missourian, Jones' Aide Talks,
December 21, 1978, New York Times, page A22, Grand Jury Hears Aide to Jim Jones, Lawyer Says ‘Crimes’ Are Outlined, Freeze on Funds; Immunity Foregone; Cultist Tells of Meeting; by John M. Crewdson, Special to The New York Times, [Text] diigo,
December 22, 1978, The Paris News [TX] AP, page 17, Former cult official allegedly kept hit list,
December 22, 1978, Tuscaloosa News, Buford Talks To Reporters; Caller denies cult charge,
December 22, 1978, Leader-Post, US Senators On Hit List,
December 27, 1978, Observer-Reporter - AP, page A5, Top Confidante To Jim Jones Became Member By Accident,
December 27, 1978, Reading Eagle - AP, page 3, No More Joining For Ex-cultist,
December 27, 1978, The Philadelphia Inquirer, page 9, The Many Faces of Terri Buford, People’s Leader, Fugitive, Fanatic…Who Is She, by Bruce Keidan,
December 28, 1978, Ottawa Journal – AP, page 12, Cult leader’s son refuses to testify at grand jury hearing,
January 2, 1979, St. Petersburg Independent – Knight-Ridder, page 6A, Terri Buford; How She Grew From Shy Schoolgirl To Trusted Peoples Temple Official, by Bruce Keidan,
February 8, 1979, Indiana Evening Gazette, page 1, Terri Buford Now Keeping Low Profile, by Sharon Santus, Gazette Staff Writer, diigo,
December 18, 1978, Ocala Star-Banner, Cult's Money Turns Up Missing, by Daniel Lewis and Caroline Rand Herron,
December 20, 1978, Indiana Gazette - AP, page 10, Terri Buford Might Have Has a Lie Test,
December 20, 1978, AP Laserphoto, Terri Buford Cropped,
December 21, 1978, Ukiah Daily Journal, page 1, Buford ‘anxious’ to talk about temple’s crimes,
Dec. 21, 1978, Toledo Blaze, Cultist Feared Ryan Working with C.I.A.
December 21, 1978, Southeast Missourian, Jones' Aide Talks,
December 21, 1978, New York Times, page A22, Grand Jury Hears Aide to Jim Jones, Lawyer Says ‘Crimes’ Are Outlined, Freeze on Funds; Immunity Foregone; Cultist Tells of Meeting; by John M. Crewdson, Special to The New York Times, [Text] diigo,
December 22, 1978, The Paris News [TX] AP, page 17, Former cult official allegedly kept hit list,
December 22, 1978, Tuscaloosa News, Buford Talks To Reporters; Caller denies cult charge,
December 22, 1978, Leader-Post, US Senators On Hit List,
December 27, 1978, Observer-Reporter - AP, page A5, Top Confidante To Jim Jones Became Member By Accident,
December 27, 1978, Reading Eagle - AP, page 3, No More Joining For Ex-cultist,
December 27, 1978, The Philadelphia Inquirer, page 9, The Many Faces of Terri Buford, People’s Leader, Fugitive, Fanatic…Who Is She, by Bruce Keidan,
December 28, 1978, Ottawa Journal – AP, page 12, Cult leader’s son refuses to testify at grand jury hearing,
January 2, 1979, St. Petersburg Independent – Knight-Ridder, page 6A, Terri Buford; How She Grew From Shy Schoolgirl To Trusted Peoples Temple Official, by Bruce Keidan,
February 8, 1979, Indiana Evening Gazette, page 1, Terri Buford Now Keeping Low Profile, by Sharon Santus, Gazette Staff Writer, diigo,
January 18, 1979, Ukiah Daily Journal UPI, page 9, Buford speaks freely to GJ concerning temple finances,
February 8, 1979, Indiana Evening Gazette, page 1, Terri Buford Now Keeping Low Profile, by Sharon Santus, Gazette Staff Writer, diigo,
February 8, 1979, Indiana Evening Gazette, page 1, Terri Buford Now Keeping Low Profile, by Sharon Santus, Gazette Staff Writer, diigo,
March 16, 1979, Ukiah Daily Journal, page 1, Justice agents probing voter fraud cover-up, by Eric Krueger, [Blog]
May 12, 1980, Indiana Evening Gazette, page 9, Letter, Jonestown Massacre; Terri Buford Blasts CBS Documentary, by Terri Buford,
August 2, 1985, Indiana Gazette [PA] AP, page 1, Terri Buford Details Hit List,
October 31, 1994, Indiana Gazette [Indiana, PA] page 10, Terri Buford Might Have Had Lie Test,
December 7, 2011, The Republican [Mass] Jonestown Massacre survivor Teri Buford O'Shea of Northampton recalls years of pain in Guyana, by Fred Contrada,
December 7, 2011, masslive.com, Jonestown Massacre survivor Teri Buford O'Shea of Northampton recalls years of pain in Guyana, by Fred Contrada, diigo
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December 7, 1978, Ukiah Daily Journal - UPI, page 1, Feds meet with key Jones’ aide,
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December 7, 1978, Ukiah Daily Journal, page 1, Thursday from the desk, by Jim Garner,
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December 8, 1978, Ukiah Daily Journal, page 11, Peoples Temple's shadowy 'hit list',
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December 8, 1978, Boston Globe - AP, Jury subpoenas 17 Jonestown survivors, [Text]
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December 8, 1978, Boston Globe - UPI, Jones aide asks immunity,
Jones aide asks immunity aide asks United Press International SAN FRANCISCO -Federal agents met Wednesday with attorney Mark Lane and Terri Buford 24, ...
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May 12, 1980, Indiana Evening Gazette, page 9, Letter, Jonestown Massacre; Terri Buford Blasts CBS Documentary, by Terri Buford,
August 2, 1985, Indiana Gazette [PA] AP, page 1, Terri Buford Details Hit List,
October 31, 1994, Indiana Gazette [Indiana, PA] page 10, Terri Buford Might Have Had Lie Test,
December 7, 2011, The Republican [Mass] Jonestown Massacre survivor Teri Buford O'Shea of Northampton recalls years of pain in Guyana, by Fred Contrada,
December 7, 2011, masslive.com, Jonestown Massacre survivor Teri Buford O'Shea of Northampton recalls years of pain in Guyana, by Fred Contrada, diigo
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December 7, 1978, Ukiah Daily Journal - UPI, page 1, Feds meet with key Jones’ aide,
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December 7, 1978, Ukiah Daily Journal, page 1, Thursday from the desk, by Jim Garner,
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December 8, 1978, Ukiah Daily Journal, page 11, Peoples Temple's shadowy 'hit list',
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December 8, 1978, Boston Globe - AP, Jury subpoenas 17 Jonestown survivors, [Text]
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December 8, 1978, Boston Globe - UPI, Jones aide asks immunity,
Jones aide asks immunity aide asks United Press International SAN FRANCISCO -Federal agents met Wednesday with attorney Mark Lane and Terri Buford 24, ...
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December 10, 1978, San Francisco Sunday Chronicle & Examiner, page 1, $3 million for hit list, says ex-Jones aide, Defectors: Temple leader bragged of Mafia contacts, by W.E. Barnes, Examiner Staff Writer, diigo, $3 million for hit list, says ex-Jones aide MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Peoples Temple leader the Rev. Jim Jones planned that the $3 million cash found at the Guyana jungle mission would be used to pay for death contracts on his enemies, according to a top aide Terri Buford. In an interview, she also claimed there was a plan for followers at the San Francisco temple "to stay alive at all costs and carry out the assassinations in the event of Jones' death. "I was told the money found in the jungle was to be used for putting out contracts on people." In Berkeley, temple defectors Wanda Johnson and Al Mills confirmed that Jones used to brag about his Mafia connections. "He used to say that if anybody gave him trouble, he had that wonderful Mafia contact. We didn't know if Jones was serious or not," said Mills, a temple follower for six years who later helped to found the Human Freedom Center, a halfway house for former members. "There are still people alive who could be members of a hit squad," Buford said. She added, however, she is not aware of the existence of a "hit list." "Years ago . . . there was a physical hit list," she said. "I don't know if one was maintained over the years. But Jones would say of his enemies, 'These are people to be remembered.' And I took this to mean they were to be killed." Buford, who left the Guyana commune last Sept. 16 and later claimed she had defected, was probably Jones' closest aide, according to other members. Among other things, she is believed to have had over-all responsibility for temple finances. It was the first time she had talked to the press since the Guyana murders and mass suicides three weeks ago. She and temple attorney Mark Lane held a secret meeting in San Jose Wednesday with U.S. Attorney William Hunter, San Francisco FBI chief Roy McKinnon and other federal officials. Lane said yesterday he had asked for immunity from prosecution for Buford. But the attorney said Hunter indicated it would not be necessary. Buford put the total cash assets of the temple at $11 million, most of it in numbered bank accounts in Panama and Zurich, Switzerland. Estimates by other former temple higher-ups had placed the total at around $10 million. Before she left Guyana, Buford said she signed over all but $2 million to an elderly white woman who died in the Jonestown suicides. (Interviews with other temple leaders indicate Buford was one of three women whose names were on foreign accounts. Anyone to whom she "signed over" accounts, probably replaced her as one of three with withdrawal rights.) Before fleeing the San Francisco temple Nov. 27, she said she also signed documents transferring the remaining $2 million. She said she was able to leave Jonestown because she convinced Jones she could be of more use at the San Francisco temple, helping to prepare defenses against pending lawsuits. But other temple defectors were scornful of her story. "I think she's trying to cover herself," Berkeley former member Johnson said yesterday. "This is just phase one of her plan to carry out Jones' orders." Mills said, "Terri's very inventive. But she's just as hateful of traitors as Jim Jones was." And Tim Stoen, a former Jones aide and former assistant district attorney in Mendocino County and San Francisco said of her: "She's Jones' top avenger. No person in the church had a greater loyalty to him personally. That loyalty would have been enhanced, not destroyed, by his death." In Georgetown, Paula Adams, a Temple member whose job it was to keep in touch with Guyanese officials, said Buford "was a right-arm woman to Jim. No one knew his thinking better than Terri." Adams said she didn't believe Buford's claims about putting contracts out on people. "If so, why would the money be found there (in Jonestown)? It sounds like an after-the-fact explanation," said Adams. "I think she's got plenty to hide -- if anybody." Buford is said to be the person most familiar with the complex web of temple bank accounts in Switzerland, Panama and perhaps other countries, with the exception of Carolyn Layton, who died at Jonestown. Former associates of Buford, 26, have described trips led by her to deposit funds in various banks in Europe and South America under a plan set up by Stoen before his defection from the temple. Buford claimed some of the money stashed by the temple in foreign bank accounts had been carried out of the Untied States by Stoen himself. She said she had witnessed, about two or three years ago, Stoen concealing more than $500,000 to be deposited in a Panama bank by taping a large part of the money to his body. She said she had given the name of the Panama bank to the authorities in the San Jose meeting. Stoen yesterday ridiculed Buford's tale of the money. "I set up the first two accounts in Panama, then turned them over to Terri because Jones didn't trust my emotional state. "But I never smuggled any money out. That's absurd. There was nothing to gain by taking that risk. The money was transferred by bank transfer. It's perfectly legal to set up a church corporation in Panama." Buford also accused Stoen, whom Jones later accused of being a traitor in a bitter paternity dispute, of plotting with Jones to kill former Examiner religion writer Lester Kinsolving. Kinsolving wrote the first critical press stories about Jones' activities as an alleged faith healer in Mendocino County. Buford said the reporter's stories "drove Jones and Stoen wild," and she claimed the pair researched poisons which could be used to kill Kinsolving. She said documentation of the plot against Kinsolving is contained in an affidavit given by San Francisco temple member Sandy Bradshaw to attorney Charles Garry. Buford said she saw the affidavit at the Geary Boulevard Temple between Sept. 18 and Oct. 26. Stoen denied Buford's allegation about a murder plot. "Jones was angry about Kinsolving, but he never threatened to kill him as far as I know. It's absurd for her to suggest I knew anything about it." Attorney Garry was not available for comment. Berkeley defectors Mills and Johnson agreed, however, with Buford's story of a possible hit squad. |
December 11, 1978, Wilmington Morning Star - AP, page 10-A, Jonestown Leader Reportedly Planned To Assassinate Enemies,
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December 11, 1978, Ukiah Daily Journal - UPI, page 1, Former Ukiah woman says in interview; Jones bragged of Mafia ties,
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December 11, 1978, Ukiah Daily Journal, page 1, Monday from the desk, by Jim Garner,
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December 12, 1978, Ottawa Journal, page 14, Cult boss confidant subpoenaed,
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December 12, 1976, Casa Grande Dispatch [AZ] page 2, AP Stand-Alone Photo, Terri Buford,
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December 12, 1978, Lakeland Ledger, Hit List,
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December 12, 1979, The Montreal Gazette - Chicago Tribune, page 16, People's Temple ready to kill enemies, ex-Jones aide says, diigo,
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Terri Buford, a former aide to Peoples Temple leader the Rev. Jim Jones, says a chache of money found at the Jonestown, Guyana commune was meant to be spent ..
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December 13, 1978, The Paris News, page 4C, Standalone AP Laserphoto, Hit List,_____________________________________________________________________________
December 15, 1978, Indiana Gazette [Indiana, PA] page 10, Dec. 15, 1978, Terri Buford,
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December 15, 1978, Indiana Evening Gazette, page 1, Jones' Aide Former IUP Coed,
December 16, 1978, The Star-Phoenix, Jones Acts Like Madman, 6th of 7 Parts, from the book, The Suicide Cult, by Marshall Kilduff and Ton Javers,
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Dec 18, 1978, Ocala Star-Banner, Cult's Money Turns Up Missing, by Daniel Lewis and Caroline Rand Herron, Mark Lane hinted weeks ago he had learned the whereabouts of People's Temple funds ($8 million more or less) from Terri Buford, who defected from the cult before the massacre in Guyana claimed the lives of most of its members. Well, Mark Lane says a lot of things. Last week, the controversial lawyer and Terri Burford were reportedly seen in Switzerland. The money was gone. "The Swiss checked the accounts and they had been emptied," a Justice Department spokesman said. The admission conflicted with an earlier statement that the United States had acted to protect its interest in the money, which the Government says should be used to cover the cost of removing more than 900 bodies from Guyana. |
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December 20, 1978, Indiana Gazette - AP, page 10, Terri Buford Might Have Has a Lie Test,
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December 20, 1978, AP Laserphoto, Terri Buford Cropped,
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December 21, 1978, Ukiah Daily Journal - UPI, page 1, Buford ‘anxious’ to talk about temple’s crimes, diigo,
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Dec. 21, 1978, Toledo Blaze, Cultist Feared Ryan Working with C.I.A.
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Dec 21, 1978, Southeast Missourian, Jones' Aide Talks,PHILADELPHIA Terri Buford,— an aide to the founder of the Peoples Temple religious cull, says she's had it with all organizations. Ms. Buford, a former aide to ...
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December 21, 1978, Toledo Blade, Alleged Confidant Of Jones Testifies In Ryan-killing Quiz,
SAN FRANCISCO - Terri Buford, a Peoples Temple member who reportedly was a confidant of the Rev. Jim Jones, Wednesday testified before a federal grand ...
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SAN FRANCISCO - Terri Buford, a Peoples Temple member who reportedly was a confidant of the Rev. Jim Jones, Wednesday testified before a federal grand ...
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December 21, 1978, New York Times, page A22, Grand Jury Hears Aide to Jim Jones, Lawyer Says ‘Crimes’ Are Outlined, Freeze on Funds; Immunity Foregone; Cultist Tells of Meeting; by John M. Crewdson, Special to The New York Times, [Text] diigo,
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 20--Terri Buford, a former top aide and adviser to the Rev. Jim Jones, testified today before a Federal grand jury here that is looking into the murder of Representative Leo J. Ryan and the financial affairs of the People's Temple, which Mr. Jones founded and led.
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 20--Terri Buford, a former top aide and adviser to the Rev. Jim Jones, testified today before a Federal grand jury here that is looking into the murder of Representative Leo J. Ryan and the financial affairs of the People's Temple, which Mr. Jones founded and led.
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December 22, 1978, The Paris News [TX] AP, page 17, Former cult official allegedly kept hit list,
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Dec 22, 1978, Tuscaloosa News, Buford Talks To Reporters; Caller denies cult charge,
A man who said he was Stoen telephoned The Associated Press Thursday to deny charges made by Terri Buford a news conference earlier in the day Ms ...
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Dec 22, 1978, Leader-Post, US Senators On Hit List,
SAN FRANCISCO - Terri Buford. a former administrator of the Peoples Temple, said Thursday that Senators Barry Goldwater and John Stennis were on a "hit ...
SAN FRANCISCO - Terri Buford. a former administrator of the Peoples Temple, said Thursday that Senators Barry Goldwater and John Stennis were on a "hit ...
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December 27, 1978, Observer-Reporter - AP, page A5, Top Confidante To Jim Jones Became Member By Accident,______________________________________________________________________________
December 27, 1978, Reading Eagle - AP, page 3, No More Joining For Ex-cultist, diigo,
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December 27, 1978, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - AP, page 3, Curiosity Kept Jones Aide In Cult,
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December 27, 1978, The Philadelphia Inquirer, page 9, The Many Faces of Terri Buford, People’s Leader, Fugitive, Fanatic…Who Is She, by Bruce Keidan,
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December 28, 1978, Ottawa Journal – AP, page 12, Cult leader’s son refuses to testify at grand jury hearing,
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January 2, 1979, St. Petersburg Independent – Knight-Ridder, page 6A, Terri Buford; How She Grew From Shy Schoolgirl To Trusted Peoples Temple Official, by Bruce Keidan, diigo,
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January 2, 1979, St. Petersburg Independent – Knight-Ridder, page 6A, Terri Buford; How She Grew From Shy Schoolgirl To Trusted Peoples Temple Official, by Bruce Keidan,_____________________________________________________________________________
January 18, 1979, Ukiah Daily Journal UPI, page 9, Buford speaks freely to GJ concerning temple finances,
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February 8, 1979, Indiana Evening Gazette, page 1, Terri Buford Now Keeping Low Profile, by Sharon Santus, Gazette Staff Writer, diigo,
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March 16, 1979, Ukiah Daily Journal, page 1, Justice agents probing voter fraud cover-up, by Eric Krueger, [Blog]
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May 12, 1980, Indiana Evening Gazette, page 9, Letter, Jonestown Massacre; Terri Buford Blasts CBS Documentary, by Terri Buford,
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January 29, 1981, The Pharos-Tribune - UPI, The Peoples Temple's Shadowy 'Hit List,' by Richard M. Harnett,
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August 6, 1985, The Philadelphia Inquirer, page 9, The Many Faces of Terri Buford, by Bruce Keidan,
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December 7, 2011, masslive.com, Jonestown Massacre survivor Teri Buford O'Shea of Northampton recalls years of pain in Guyana, by Fred Contrada,
Teri Buford O'Shea of Northampton holds the cover of the book she has written about her experiences as a survivor of the Jonestown Massacre in Guyana.
NORTHAMPTON – Teri Buford O'Shea still dreams about the “White Nights.” In her dreams, she’s back in Guyana, back in Jonestown, reliving the terror. Jim Jones is on the loudspeaker telling the community they’re under attack.
“We will take our lives on this night in a revolutionary suicide!” Jones yells.
Mothers feed cyanide-laced Kool-Aid to their children, then drink it themselves. Gunfire sounds in the dark of the jungle. O’Shea drinks the Kool-Aid. Jones laughs maniacally.
“It’s only a rehearsal,” he tells everyone.
O’Shea’s prayers are answered. She will live at least a little longer.
O’Shea, who lives now in Northampton, wrote a poem about those terrifying “White Nights,” as the run-ups to the mass suicide were known.
It's one of 40 poems in her new book, "Jonestown Lullaby." They came out of her like painful births in the years since the 1978 massacre that claimed 918 lives and horrified the world, the massacre she barely escaped.
"It's like a journey through post traumatic stress disorder," is how she describes the book.
O’Shea, 59, trembles as she sits in a conference room at the Star Light Center in Florence and tells her story. Her shaking, she said, is not a result of her Jonestown experience but a medical condition she has had for years. Star Light provides programs and services for people with mental health issues. O’Shea is a provider. She works as a benefits specialist for CareerPoint in Holyoke, helping people with disabilities.
A Navy brat, O'Shea had a rough start in life, traveling with her parents from state to state and country to country. The transience might have been bearable if not for her mother's mental illness, which sometimes turned violent.
“I woke up once and found her hitting me with a dog chain,” she recalled.
O’Shea packed up and hit the road, hitchhiking across country from Pennsylvania to California. It was 1971 and she was 19.
"Living on the street was getting very old, very fast," she said.
One day in California, a van picked up O'Shea when she was hitchhiking and her life took a new turn, one that would prove even more painful than the horrors she had already experienced. The driver told her about a goat farm in Ukiah, where black and white people lived together in love and harmony. She could come live there, he said. So she joined the Peoples Temple.
“I thought it was going to be this wonderful thing,” O’Shea remembered, “but when I got to the gates of Jonestown, it was a different story.”
It wasn’t all bad at first. The temple ran school lunch programs and offered shelter to prostitutes running from their pimps. The leader was a preacher named Jim Jones, who had brought his congregation west from Indiana after prophesying that a nuclear holocaust would wipe out Chicago. Jones encouraged temple members to call him “Dad.” It just got worse from there.
“He’d say he was the reincarnation of Jesus and Gandhi,” O’Shea said. “Whatever you wanted him to be, he was the reincarnation of.”
View full size The Republican | Don Treeger
Teri Buford O'Shea, left, is show during a trip to Guyana in the mid-1970s. The photo is from her book chronicling her experiences as a survivor of the Jonestown Massacre.
Like most of the others, O’Shea worked outside of the temple, turning in her paycheck every week in return for $2 spending money.
By 1973, Jones had gotten more bizarre and paranoid. The temple bought some jungle land in Guyana, an English-speaking country in South America, and temple members went there to clear land, O’Shea among them.
“It was breathtakingly beautiful,” she said. “You’d wake up to the sound of monkeys and toucans at your window.”
The hundreds of children, black and white, thrived in the setting. But things soon got weird. Very weird. Jones would rattle on over the loudspeaker, day and night, and everyone had to listen.
“You couldn’t talk while Jim was talking,” O’Shea said.
There were no telephones, only a radio room where O’Shea worked. Jones had control of the radio, though, and you couldn’t use it without him knowing.
“It was virtually impossible to have any communication with the outside world,” she said.
Jones had a harem of women in his house. His wife, Marceline, lived in a separate cottage. O’Shea was sometimes one of Jones’ women.
The Peoples Temple still had sites in California, and O’Shea was among those who traveled back and forth. She was working the radio in San Francisco one day when Jones’ voice came over from Guyana. He wanted her to ship him guns in crates with false bottoms. O’Shea pretended they had a bad connection.
“They don’t need guns down there,” she told the women who were with her.
That turned out to be a big mistake. One of the women returned to Guyana and reported the betrayal to Jones. O’Shea was sent for. When she got to Jonestown, she was put under 24-hour watch.
“I was persona non grata, and it was terrible,” she said.
Her break came when the woman who reported on her defected. O’Shea did lots of lying, convincing Jones that the other woman was the traitor. It worked. When Jones sent his lawyer to the U.S. to get information on an upcoming magazine expose, O’Shea persuaded Jones to let her go along.
She was the last temple member to defect before the massacre.
On Nov. 17, 1978, U.S. Congressman Leo Ryan, at the urging of family members of Jones’s followers, flew to Guyana with some reporters to investigate Jonestown. Some in the temple asked to fly back with him. As they arrived at the airstrip to leave, a truck with armed guards from the temple drove up and opened fire. Ryan and three others were shot to death. The carnage was only beginning.
View full size Associated Press
Jim Jones, founder of the Peoples Temple sect, is shown in this November 1978 photo taken in Jonestown, Guyana, shortly before five members of Congressman Leo J. Ryan's party were slain. (AP Photo/San Francisco Examiner, File)
Back at the Temple compound, Jones called the ultimate “White Night.” Mothers were forced to feed their babies cyanide. Those who refused were held down and made to watch as the children were given syringes with the deadly poison. Jones killed the children first, 303 of them. The rest of the adults drank the Kool-Aid or were shot. In all, 918 people died in the massacre.
O'Shea had packed up as soon as she got back to San Francisco and left to start a new life in Washington, D.C., under the name “Kim Jackson.” Three weeks later, the massacre occurred.
“I freaked out,” she said.
O’Shea feared not only the judgment of society but the wrath of the remaining temple members in the United States. Her fears were justified. Her apartment was ransacked. The FBI found her soon after, and O'Shea began two long years of answering questions. Jones, it turned out, had taped the massacre, and investigators made her listen to the cries and screams to see if she could identify the voices.
"It was horrific," she said.
Some years later, O'Shea was fired on the spot from her job in the New York schools when it came to light that she was a Jonestown survivor. She got another job at a publishing house and kept her secret for nearly three decades as she raised her daughter, Vita (not Jones' child, she is careful to add).
In 1989, O'Shea and her daughter moved to Northampton. Three years ago, MSNBC contacted her for a documentary it was making on the Jonestown massacre. O'Shea decided it was time to let go of her secret.
"I said, ‘Why not?’ Surprisingly, people were very supportive and understanding. It was really refreshing to be welcomed with open arms."
She has subsequently reached out to other Peoples Temple survivors as well. A few years ago, they all met in San Diego. There were hugs all around, including one from a woman assigned the task of getting O'Shea killed. This Memorial Day, the survivors gathered for a service at the California cemetery where the victims' bodies were buried after they were flown back from South America.
“It took them 32 years to get a gravestone,” O’Shea said.
Even now, O'Shea suffers indignities when she talks about Jonestown. During one radio appearance, she overheard the hosts joking about asking her to drink Kool-Aid.
“They just don’t understand what it’s like to lose 900 of your friends and family that you’ve lived with for seven years,” she said.
“Jonestown Lullaby” is available at Amazon.com and at the Barnes & Noble website. Locally, it’s stocked by Broadside Books in Northampton.
Flipping through her book, O’Shea stops to talk about a poem titled, “I Do Not Love You.” It refers, she says, to the time that Jones had his followers hold a gun to her head and told O'Shea he would have her shot if she didn't say she loved him. She knew he could tell she was lying if she said yes, but feared they would shoot her if she said no. O'Shea finally decided on the truth.
I don’t care
If you pull the trigger
This is the one thing
You cannot have
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