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Hawaiian estate offered for Heaven's Gate suicide site
December 2, 1997
The mansion where 39 Heaven's Gate cultists committed suicide
Web posted at: 10:30 p.m. EST (0330 GMT)RANCHO SANTA FE, California (CNN) -- A prospective buyer offered to swap a Hawaiian estate for the mansion where 39 members of the Heaven's Gate cult committed suicide last spring.
The offer for an "even swap" of an Oahu estate for the 9,000-square-foot, seven-bedroom house where the UFO cultists killed themselves, is one of at least three under consideration this week, real estate agent Burt Sveine said.
The cult house, owned by Sam Koutchesfahani and rented to the followers of guru Marshall Applewhite, has been valued at $1.6 million.
The mansion was refurbished after cult members, believing a spaceship following the Hale-Bopp comet would deliver them to a better world, poisoned themselves last March in their bunks.
Sealed bids were accepted last month. Besides the Oahu home, there are offers from a Texan who specializes in problem properties and from a local buyer. Prospective buyers requested anonymity.
Sveine said he and Koutchesfahani will discuss the offers this week. Koutchesfahani may decide to keep the Mediterranean-style mansion if the bids aren't acceptable.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Heaven's Gate suicide site on the market - September 29, 1997
- Heaven's Gate tape will go on sale - May 12, 1997
- Heaven's Gate suicide survivor's condition improves - May 9, 1997
- Ex-cult member kills self; 1 other hospitalized - May 6, 1997
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