Summary prepared by Fielding M. McGehee III. If you use this material, please credit The Jonestown Institute. Thank you.
To read the Tape Transcript, click here. To listen to MP3, click here.
To return to the Tape Index, click here.
FBI Catalogue: Radio transmissions
FBI preliminary tape identification note: One Tracs 60/ Maria Katsaris message to Dick McCoy 9/18/77
Date cues on tape: 18 September 1977 (notation on tape box confirmed in context)
People named:
Steven Katsaris, by reference
Jonestown residents:
Maria Katsaris (speaks)
Bible verses cited: None
Summary:
Recorded in San Francisco at the receiving end of this radio transmission from Guyana, this short tape is devoted to Maria Katsaris asking that her father, Steven Katsaris, not try to visit her or the Jonestown community. Ms. Katsaris accused her father of racism, support of the Greek colonels¹ dictatorship, and of molesting her as a child.
The tape was made during a period in which the Temple was trying to counter the public relations and media campaign launched against it by the Concerned Relatives, of whom Steven Katsaris was an important leader. Due to Maria Katsaris¹ leadership role in the Temple, this battle between soothing and exacerbating the estranged relationship became as crucial as it was personal.
FBI Summary:
Date of transcription: 7/6/79
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 June 26, 1979, Special Agent (name deleted) reviewed the tape numbered 1B68-23. This tape was found to contain the following:
Radio transmission from MARIA CATSARIS refusing to return to her father’s home. This appears to be a broadcast from Jonestown to Georgetown, Guyana.
(Handwritten note has date of “9/18/77”)
Differences with FBI Summary: None
Tape originally posted January 1999