Dr. Leslie Mootoo played a significant role in the investigation of the deaths in Jonestown, at the Port Kaituma airstrip, and at Lamaha Gardens in Georgetown, Guyana. As the chief pathologist and bacteriologist for the Government of Guyana, he was assigned the task of determining the causes of death in these three instances. The assassination of Congressman Leo Ryan and the assault on the reporters and defector presented a fairly straightforward crime scene, as did the murders of Sharon Amos’ children and her own suicide.
Dr. Mootoo faced enormous challenges at the Jonestown site, however. First, there was the sheer number of bodies to examine. They were in advanced stages of putrefaction, thanks to rain, sun, and topical heat. He had limited time to conduct any tests, since he was there only a single day (Tuesday, 21 November 1978). Nevertheless, his testimony about the crime scene at Jonestown has become a critical piece of historical evidence. That is why we are presenting an analysis of Dr. Mootoo’s claims, along with the earliest documents from his own accounts and other supporting items.
The Forensic Investigation of Jonestown Conducted by Dr. Leslie Mootoo: A Critical Analysis, by Rebecca Moore
Timeline of Dr. Mootoo’s statements, beginning 20 November 1978, prepared as background for that article on the pathologist.
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Testimony of Dr. Leslie Mootoo at the Guyana Inquest, 14 December 1978, Matthews Ridge, Guyana (This is an extract – page 1, plus pages 5-7 – from the full Guyana Inquest, RYMUR 89-4286-1840, located here.
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Interview between Dr. Leslie Mootoo and Robert Oglesby Jr., Legal Attaché from the U.S. Embassy in Caracas who was assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Georgetown to investigate the murder of Congressman Leo Ryan (RYMUR 89-4286-1894, pp. 145-146.)
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U.S. Embassy Cable to State Department, 14 December 2018, Report on Coroner’s Inquest in Matthews Ridge, presenting Dr. Mootoo’s testimony (RYMUR 89-4286-1232)
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