Editing Néo-Phare (section)

== Suicide and alleged attempts ==
On 14 July 2002, one member of {{Lang|fr|Néo-Phare}}, 29-year-old {{vanchor|Jérémie Trossais}}, killed himself by throwing himself in front of a car.{{sfn|Palmer|2011|p=150}} What lead Trossais to kill himself is unknown; he did not leave a suicide note.{{sfn|Palmer|2011|p=151}} He had been viewed as a [[Judas]] figure within the group.{{sfn|Palmer|2011|p=166}} Psychiatrist [[Jean-Marie Abgrall]] argued that this led to his abuse within the movement, but sociologist [[Susan J. Palmer]] argued that, as Judas was viewed positively within the group's theology, this may not have been stigmatizing.{{sfn|Palmer|2011|p=166}} A member of Trossais's family said he had felt rejected by Mussy, who said he did not pray enough, and said that it was his fault the apocalypse had not happened on time.<ref name="Ternisien2002" /> Trossais's wife had also been paired with Mussy's brother as his "soulmate" and she became pregnant.<ref name="LeTélégramme2005">{{Cite news |date=2005-06-05 |title=Néo-Phare. De la prison ferme requise en appel |trans-title=Néo-Phare. Strong prison sentence requested on appeal |url=https://www.letelegramme.fr/elections/municipales/neo-phare-de-la-prison-ferme-requise-en-appel-5311836.php |url-access=subscription |access-date=2024-09-28 |work=[[Le Télégramme]] |language=fr-FR |issn=0751-5928}}</ref> Shortly after his death, Trossais's wife left the group to live with her family.{{sfn|Palmer|2011|p=171}}

In the following days, it was alleged that two other members, a couple, also attempted suicide, though they later denied this.{{sfn|Palmer|2011|p=150}}{{sfn|Palmer|2008|p=113}} The couple had been members of {{Lang|fr|Phare-Ouest}} for seven years and joined Mussy's schism.{{sfn|Palmer|2011|p=168}} On 15 July, the male member of the couple climbed up the tower of the [[Château de Clermont]]. He threw himself out of a window, but survived the fall, unharmed.{{sfn|Palmer|2011|p=156}} The following day, his wife did the same, climbing up the tower. According to news reports, she did this naked with a flower in her mouth.{{sfn|Palmer|2008|p=114}}{{sfn|Palmer|2011|p=156}} She was then brought to a clinic in the castle, and taken for psychiatric examination. The couple were then questioned by police.{{sfn|Palmer|2011|p=171}}
 
Mussy and his brother's version of events is that there had been a power struggle, saying that in July 2002, the couple attempted to take over {{Lang|fr|Néo-Phare}}.{{sfn|Palmer|2008|pp=111, 113–114}}{{sfn|Palmer|2011|p=170}} According to him they told Mussy that they had received a revelation that if he went to Nantes, he would meet his "soul sister". As Mussy's wife had recently left him and he felt lonely, he went.{{sfn|Palmer|2008|p=114}}{{sfn|Palmer|2011|p=170}} During his absence both members of the couple then declared themselves the leaders of the group.{{sfn|Palmer|2008|p=114}} When Mussy returned, there was a power struggle between Mussy and the couple.{{sfn|Palmer|2008|p=114}} Mussy interpreted this coup as reinforcing his claim of being the messiah and viewed the couple as "rebel angels", symbolic of the revolt against God.{{sfn|Palmer|2011|p=170}} Mussy claimed that on the day he had killed himself, Trossais had repeatedly called him on the phone and sounded distraught over the couple; Mussy told him to come over so they could discuss it, but Trossais refused.{{sfn|Palmer|2008|p=114}} According to Mussy, in a second call, Trossais also claimed to be Jesus, and said that he believed that if he died, God would manifest. Mussy did not take this seriously and believed it to be a metaphor, as he, also believing himself to be Jesus, had not tried to kill himself.{{sfn|Palmer|2008|p=114}}{{sfn|Palmer|2011|p=171}} The attempted suicide of the couple was claimed by Olivier Mussy as an attempt by the couple to display supernatural powers, as they had allegedly told him and his brother that they were "the two faces of God".{{sfn|Palmer|2008|p=114}}

Immediately after the suicide of Trossais, police questioned {{Lang|fr|Néo-Phare}} members. Charges were not immediately brought, as there was no proof of crimes such as financial misappropriation or involvement of minors in the organization.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2002-09-05 |title=Ouverture d'une enquête sur Néo-Phare |trans-title=Inquiry launched into Néo-Phare |url=https://www.leparisien.fr/faits-divers/ouverture-d-une-enquete-sur-neo-phare-05-09-2002-2003377406.php |access-date=2024-09-21 |work=[[Le Parisien]] |language=fr-FR |issn=0767-3558}}</ref> The group then moved back to Nantes, where they waited for the apocalypse. Mussy and the remaining five members shut themselves in a house, awaiting the "journey to [[Venus]]".<ref name="Lichfield2002" /><ref name="J.2005">{{Cite news |last=J. |first=J. |date=2005-07-13 |title=Trois ans avec sursis pour le gourou de Néo-Phare |trans-title=Three-year suspended sentence for the guru of Néo-Phare |url=https://www.20minutes.fr/nantes/57339-20050713-nantes-trois-ans-avec-sursis-pour-le-gourou-de-neo-phare |access-date=2024-09-21 |work=[[20 minutes (France)|20 minutes]] |language=fr-FR |issn=1632-1022 |agency=[[Agence France-Presse]]}}</ref>{{sfn|Coleman|2004|pp=88–89}} Here they were monitored by [[French intelligence services]].<ref name="Ternisien2002" /><ref name="Landais2002">{{Cite news |last=Landais |first=Rodolphe |date=2002-09-02 |title=Une secte sous surveillance |trans-title=A cult under surveillance |url=https://www.leparisien.fr/faits-divers/une-secte-sous-surveillance-02-09-2002-2003368926.php |access-date=2024-09-28 |work=[[Le Parisien]] |language=fr-FR |issn=0767-3558}}</ref> When they stayed inside the house for a long period, the police began to worry they were plotting mass suicide like the Order of the Solar Temple.<ref name="Ternisien2002" /><ref name="Lichfield2002" /><ref name="Landais2002" /> During this period they read about and discussed religious matters.<ref name="VoiceofAmerica2002" /> Former members claimed that they were waiting for [[UFOs]].<ref name="Chalandon2002">{{Cite news |last=Chalandon |first=Sorj |date=2002-09-10 |title=Saint-Florentin |url=https://www.liberation.fr/medias/2002/09/10/saint-florentin_414918/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=2024-09-28 |work=[[Libération]] |location=Paris |language=fr-FR |issn=0335-1793}}</ref><ref name="TheScotsman2002" /> The members stored food in preparation for the apocalypse.<ref name="Ternisien2002" /> Mussy claimed there would be three "difficult" days of the end of the world, but then it would be "joyful"; however, later he said that it would not be an end of "the" world, but the end of "a" world.<ref name="VoiceofAmerica2002" /><ref name="Chalandon2002" />

Mussy denied responsibility for the previous suicide and suicide attempts, and denied that his group would kill themselves, saying that death was not the way out and that {{Lang|fr|Néo-Phare}} was not a cult.<ref name="Ternisien2002" /><ref name="Lichfield2002" />{{sfn|Coleman|2004|pp=88–89}} No documents were ever found indicating the group advocated or encouraged suicide.{{sfn|Palmer|2011|p=151}} By September, there had begun a [[media frenzy]] around the case; news reports suggested that the group may have been intending to commit mass suicide.{{sfn|Palmer|2011|pp=150–151}} {{Lang|fr|Néo-Phare}} was frequently compared to the Solar Temple by the media, with ''[[Le Figaro]]'' declaring it the "new OTS" and journalists comparing Mussy to leaders [[Luc Jouret]] and [[Joseph Di Mambro]].{{sfn|Coleman|2004|pp=88–89}}{{sfn|Palmer|2011|p=163}} A former member discussed a comparison between the group's idea of voyaging to Venus and the Solar Temple's concept of voyage to [[Sirius]].{{sfn|Coleman|2004|pp=88–89}}{{sfn|Palmer|2011|p=164}} On 5 September, Mussy dismissed any comparisons made between the two groups.{{sfn|Coleman|2004|pp=88–89}} After the deaths, the investigation into the group was reopened.<ref name="LeTélégramme2005" /> At that time Mussy then stated the apocalypse date was not specific but would happen before [[Christmas]].<ref name="VoiceofAmerica2002" /><ref name="Lichfield2002" /> He said that if he was incorrect about doomsday he might return to his prior job working at France-Telecom.<ref name="VoiceofAmerica2002" />