Q681 Summary

Summary prepared by Fielding M. McGehee III. If you use this material, please credit The Jonestown Institute. Thank you.

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FBI Catalogue: Miscellaneous

FBI preliminary tape identification note: One Audio Magnetics 60/ "Channel 2 Special Report Part 2" in same envelope

Date cues on tape: August 1977, after publication of New West article

People named:

People unassociated with Peoples Temple

    Jim Clancy, reporter for Channel 2 news team in San Francisco

Temple adversaries; members of Concerned Relatives:

    Linda Dunn (aka Linda Swaney) (speaks)

Bible verses cited: None

Summary:

Following the publication of the New West exposé of Peoples Temple in August 1977, numerous television stations picked up the story and interviewed Temple members – principally former, disaffected members – about their experiences in the church. Channel 2 in San Francisco launched a series of investigative reports. This was the second. The series begins with Q 680 and concludes on Q 665. This recording was likely made off-air by unidentified Temple members.

The reporter depends upon three disaffected former members — including one who says she was brainwashed — as sources. Linda Dunn, the only identified apostate, talks about breaking into her parents’ house to secure information for the Temple. She also speaks of other people going through the garbage of potential and current members to learn their personal spending habits. Jones would then reveal the personal details in a service, as if he had divine knowledge. Dunn also speaks of mixing chicken guts and human blood to fake cancer cures.

FBI Summary:

Date of transcription: 3/29/79

In connection with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s investigation into the assassination of U.S. Congressman LEO J. RYAN at Port Kaituma, Guyana, South America, on November 18, 1978, a tape recording was obtained. This tape recording was located in Jonestown, Guyana, South America, and was turned over to U.S. Officials in Guyana and subsequently transported to the United States.

On March 2, 1979, Special Agent (name deleted) reviewed the tape numbered 1B62-5. This tape was found to contain the following:

News program about People’s Temple.

Differences with FBI Summary: None

Tape originally posted November 1998