Cops Hunt 'Cult,' Suspect Suicide Mission

California cops are hunting a breakaway religious group they call "cult-like" after five adults and at least eight kids went missing last night—leaving behind deeds, cellphones, final notes that referred to "going to heaven," and the strong indication they were on a mass suicide mission, reports the LA Times. "We do not think this is a hoax," says a sheriff's spokesman. "We don't know that this is a potential suicide, but we know that it's real and we're going to find them."

The intrigue centers around Reyna Marisol Chicas, a 32-year-old devoted mother of two whom neighbors describe as chronically unemployed. Chicas became increasingly devout following her divorce, spending several hours a day at a local church, and eventually heading up the group now missing outside of the church. "They've done late-night prayer vigils before, but not in the context of these elements," another sheriff's spokesman said. "IDs, money, goodbye notes, all that stuff left behind, put in a purse." (More suicide pact stories.)