Voices

“This is a Jonestown.”

--Paul Pflingst, San Diego County district attorney

*

“He drove up, he noticed that the house appeared to be completely secured, all the blinds, windows, doors seemed to be closed. He did find one of the side doors opened, and he made entry. He walked up the stairs, and the first thing he [saw] was 10 bodies that appeared to be dead.”

--Sheriff’s Dept. Cmdr. Alan Fulmer, on the first officer’s arrival at the scene.

*

“He said something about that they were a religious group, that’s really all he said. I made some sort of joke that didn’t go too well, and decided he didn’t have a good sense of humor.”

--Shelby Strong, on her meeting one of the next-door neighbors.

*

“All-black attire is a sign of people who take their religion seriously.”

--Carl Raschke, a well-known University of Denver cult watcher and author of a book on the links among the occult, violence and terrorism.

*

“I doubt I can show it tomorrow.”

--Holly Manion, of Rancho Santa Fe Realty, on the house.