Officials combed desert areas in their search for the group, which included eight children, aged as young as three, and was led by a suburban housewife Reyna Marisol Chicas, 32.

But hours after the fears of the mass suicide were publicised, the 13 people were found by a neighbourhood patrol on Sunday, praying outside a high school in Palmdale for an end to school violence and sexual immorality.
“No crime has been committed and there are no charges pending,” said Captain Mike Parker of Palmdale sheriff’s station, where the group was taken for “discussions about their future intentions”.

Fears had been raised earlier overnight when it emerged that the group, made up of El Salvadorian immigrants, left behind a bag with a relative which contained farewell notes in which members indicated the world was about to end and they were “going to heaven.”

An alert issued by the California Highway Patrol said: “It is believed, through further investigation, that their intentions are to commit mass suicide.”

Police Captain Mike Parker said: “The letters essentially stated that they were all going to heaven shortly to meet Jesus and their deceased relatives.”

The adults in the group included three sisters, and the children were six boys and two girls.

They left Palmdale in northern Los Angeles County in three vehicles and were believed to have headed to an area called the Antelope Valley.

The bag they left behind also contained mobile phones, cash and deeds to their homes.

Relatives accused Chicas of brainwashing the rest of the group. Her two-storey home, which has a three car garage, was empty when police arrived.

Neighbours said she was an unlikely cult leader and a “good mother” who would baby-sit for other families.

She had little education and liked going on camping trips to Yosemite National Park, they said.

Chicas separated from her husband four years ago and had become increasingly religious, going to a mainstream church several times a week.

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