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STEPHAN JONES

Jim Jones

Stephan Jones was the only biological son of Jim Jones and Marceline. Jones, who believed in racial equality, had what he called a ‘rainbow family’.

Jones was the cult leader of the Peoples Temple who eventually had his followers move to Jonestown, an isolated land in Guyana, South America. Stephan was 17 when he moved to Jonestown in 1977, which he initially enjoyed due to the activities and being a part of the community.

Accusations were made about Jim Jones from ex-members, a magazine article was published and ex-members cried for help. Congressman Leo Ryan, journalists and family members went to visit Jonestown. All was going well, until the next day when Jim Jones became paranoid and believed that his community would come to an end. As Ryan, the journalists and defectors went to the airstrip to leave, Jones loyal followers had them killed.

On 18 November 1978, Jones persuaded his 900+ followers to end their lives, many were murdered. Stephan wasn’t at Jonestown at the time of the tragic event. He and his brother Jim Jones, Jr were in Georgetown, Guyanese playing in a basketball competition. That day Stephan had the day off and the team went to the movies. Jim Jones contacted his sons and ordered them back immediately which they refused.

After the tragic event, Stephan spent three months in a Guyana prison as there was an investigation taking place. Jonestown member Sharon Amos and her three children were also in Georgetown were killed. Stephan, of course was innocent, but had to deal with the fact that he lost his family and friends in the worst possible way.

Reflecting, Stephan doesn’t believe there was anything spiritual about his father and he believed his father was superficial and more of an actor. Growing up, he and his siblings saw less and less of their father the more popular the Peoples Temple became. Stephan knows that if he had been in Jonestown that day, he would have also would have to had to taken the drink.

Stephan is trying to do right by the victims by having them remembered as individuals. He spends hours identifying those photos and gives the shots to the California Historical Society. Today he lives in San Francisco and still enjoys playing sport.