CNN Presents : ` ` Escape from Death '' premiered on Nov. 13 , 2008 at 9 p.m . ET . In 1978 , African Americans were led to mass murder - suicide by Rev . Jim Jones . Jim Jones in a mass murder-suicide pact in a South American jungle . One - third of the dead at Jonestown were black ; only 33 people survived . CNN special correspondent Mike O'Brien reported on untold stories of survival .
CNN Presents : ` ` Escape from Death '' premiered on Nov. 13 , 2008 at 9 p.m . ET . In 1978 , African Americans were led to mass murder - suicide by Rev . Jim Jones . One - third of the dead at Jonestown were black ; only 33 people survived . CNN special correspondent Mike O'Brien reported on untold stories of survival .