| Materials Gathered by FBI RYMUR Investigation: Is there more? by Donald Beck |
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Today the Guyanese jungle has reclaimed Jonestown. The
“forest canopy” of rain forest trees has not grown back, but other details –
buildings, signs, roads, roofs of corrugated metal, power poles, the machinery
– are gone. Some of it has decomposed. Some has been “liberated” by people over
the years. Whatever is left is hidden under almost 32 years of growth.
Photographs of Jonestown taken at the end of November
1978 show that the grounds had been bulldozed, removing almost all the
greenery, plantings, and walkways, leaving a uniform muddy look to a
once-verdant and colorful central area. The photos of the interiors of
buildings show how they’d been ransacked as well, everything in shambles. At
the time, the only people who’d officially gone through the compound had been
the Guyanese Defense forces, several PT members identifying bodies, American
soldiers removing the remains, and various police, embassy and FBI people
gathering materials to learn more about PT and what happened on November 18.
Rumors linger that more items were taken than were officially logged, and these
stories are borne out by “mementos” that surface from time to time on eBay.
Documents released by the FBI to this website under
the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) include accounts of the collection of
material objects and what was then done with them. These accounts raise as many
questions as they answer, since they seem to indicate that much more was
gathered than has been released.
The FBI’s files of its investigation into the
assassination of Leo Ryan and the deaths in Jonestown were known by their
codename RYMUR, or Ryan Murder. Below are some of those accounts
covering what was gathered, when and by whom and – for some of it – where it
went. People were interviewed. Tapes were listened to, duplicated and
transcribed. Papers were gathered, sorted, and read. Materials were shipped to
the States for copying and returned to Guyana. Eventually, materials gathered
in Georgetown were stored in a Consulate building, which burned down in 1980.
In light of that, what is left is whatever was gathered and stored stateside by
the FBI. But perhaps some things are still being held by the Guyanese Police.
Exactly what
materials did the FBI find / keep?
• RYMUR
materials were shipped from Guyana to the US for copying and returned to
Guyana. In
San Francisco the boxes of originals were examined to determine the relevant
materials to copy. Multiple copies were made. The “boxes” of RYMUR materials
were then returned to Guyana, where they were stored in the Consulate. Sadly,
these 26+ boxes and more are no longer available, reported lost in the 1980
fire. We might have found more materials, i.e. those not initially copied.
• Apparently
what remains are only RYMUR material copies kept in the States. FOIA
materials give some accounting: (1) notes about “sets of copies” being
distributed and (2) notes indicating FBI HQ received its copy of everything
collected. It is unknown what, if any, undocumented materials were kept.
• The
FBI has released 3 CDs of documents under FOIA. Much
of this material was unreadable. Part of it was subsequently recopied. The
FBI reading room index of FOIA materials has two listings under Jonestown: (1)
Jonestown – 48,738 pages (which comprise three
CDs released to this site and are available
here upon request) and (2) Summary – 365 pages (which can
be downloaded from the FBI’s
website).
• The FBI
has not released any kind of index of the RYMUR materials. There are two indices that
refer to the PT documents which the FBI recovered in Jonestown after November 18. These
indices are cursory at best, organized into such broad categories – “Legal,”
“Financial,” “Administrative Functions” – that they don’t even help the FBI
find details for their own investigation.
• Some
materials were put on computer. FOIA materials indicate time and personnel
were freed for this to be done, to gain better access to details. Where is all
this information? When will it be available?
What Materials are of most interest?
Releasing
any of these materials (still withheld or copied and never released or
kept but not copied) would
let us all see more of what was happening in the Temple in Guyana.
• Edith
Roller’s Journals. Where are the rest of Edith Roller’s journals? Of the
final year, July 78 and Sept-November 78 are missing. What was her account of
those last months?
• Department/Committee
meeting notes. By the summer of 1978, a departmental structure was in place
to run Jonestown. Departments held committee meetings, with weekly minutes of
reports and plans. Some have been found; the release of more would give deeper
insights of how Jonestown operated. At the very least, they would show that the
people were planning for much more activity, not for an ending.
• Photographs.
Any and all photographs – especially from before November 18, 1978. The FOIA
CDs have b/w photos that are hardly recognizable. These should be in color, to
a high resolution for clearer viewing. All pictures from the news crew, color
or b/w, should be in high resolution for clearer viewing. Photos taken by the
FBI should be released. Some photos are emerging now, but it is a random and
haphazard release.
* * * * *
Chronology of Gathering and
Assembling Materials
The following is a chronology of what materials were gathered and where
they went, as revealed in RYMUR documents. The source RYMUR reference numbers are listed by volume, page and
serial on which the document appears. The document and page numbers show where
the document appears in the FOIA release. The serial number is that assigned by
the FBI and always follows the code reference “RYMUR 89-4286-.” Note:
marked-out text is indicated with
On November 23, 1978, Richard Martin Vice Consul of USA, assigned
to Caracas on temporary duty in Guyana, went to Jonestown and “gathered tapes,
papers and other items he felt would be of interest.” On November 24, he “went
from house to house in Jonestown gathering additional tapes, papers and
personal identifications.” All items gathered transported by US helicopter to
Georgetown. All but 2 small packets of paper and one reel of tape were placed
in a room in the US Consulate. The two small packets of paper were turned over
to U.S. Ambassador John Burke. Tape placed in Ambassador’s safe. (vol 28, p
393-96, part of RYMUR 89-4286-1894)
On December 2, 1978, Richard Martin made a memorandum of the
record, with “a brief description of the types of property collected and the
locations where found.”
Passports (64) –
Office
Treasury Checks –
Office
Costume
Jewelry – Office
Letters
– Houses and Offices
Photographs
– Houses and Offices
Files
– Houses and Offices
Forms
– Houses and Offices
Memos
and Notes – Houses and Offices
Maps
and Diagrams – Houses and Offices
Commnications
Equipment – Office
Recording
Tapes – Houses, Office, Community Areas
(vol 30, p 128, part of RYMUR 89-4286-2016)
On December 2, 1978
On December 4 through December 12, 1978, SA
“…
Special Agents (SAs)
417 seven-inch reels (audio recording) 247 cassettes (audio recordings) 8 five-inch reels (audio recordings) 14 micro cassettes (audio recordings) 1 two-inch reel (audio recording) 2 eight-track cartridges (audio recording) 44 video cassettes 19 super-eight movie reels 4 super-eight sound cartridges 1 ten-inch super-eight reel 2 16mm print reels 1 plastic bag of miscellaneous audio tape (vol 28, p 405-406; RYMUR 89-4286-1894)
On
December 5, 1978, “SA
On December 5, 1978, from Guyana Police photographer, 18 rolls of 35mm b/w negatives identified as recovered from the body of a newsman killed at the Port Kaituma airstrip. Prints were made and negatives returned to Cecil A Roberts, Asst. Comm. in charge of Criminal Investigation Division, Police of Guyana December 11,1978. (vol 28, p 408, RYMUR 89-4286-1894)
On December 6, 1978, “Technical team transported to Port Kaituma and Jonestown by 2 US Army helicopters. At Port Kaituma, conducted a crime scene search and photographed bullet holes and physical damage done to the twin Otter Guyanese airplanes which at the time were being repaired. At Jonestown I took aerial photographs as well as overall scenes.” (vol 28, p 409, RYMUR 89-4286-1894)
On
December 7, 1978, “...SA
On December 11, 1978, Legat Robert Oglesby examined items identified as radio equipment: tuners, power
supplies, receiver, film strip reviewer, phone patch, reel-to reel-recorder,
short wave radio, etc. An itemized list of what they reviewed brought from
Jonestown to the American Consulate in Georgetown. (vol 30, pp. 119-121, part
of RYMUR 89-4286-2016; pp 118-122 lists items taken)
On December 12, 1978, 2
copies of index of Guyana evidence, “… 7 crates received in initial
shipment have been categorized by San Francisco and separated in to portfolios.
… Bureau is being furnished 2 complete copies, one copy for Bureau to
disseminate to Department of Justice. For information, Bureau evidence is being
shipped in 12 separate packages marked 1-6 and second copy is contained in
packages marked 7-12.” (vol 30, pp. 132-137, RYMUR 89-4286-2018)
On December 27, 1978, 11 wooden
boxes of materials taken
from Jonestown (probably the wooden foot lockers made for people who went to
Guyana as they were readily available) were assembled.
7 boxes contained: 1) Financial and property records 2) Activities in the USA 3) Contacts with Guyana citizens/ govt officials 4) List of PT members 5) Possible bondage/restrictions of members, including children 6) Foreign contacts 7) FBI records 8) Miscellaneous 9) Weapons 10) Codes 11) Miscellaneous court cases 12) Miscellaneous sampling of PT activities. 4 boxes contained: video tapes, audio tapes, super eight and 16 mm prints. (vol 30, p 122, RYMUR 89-4286-2016)
On December 27, 1978, “Seven cases of documents shipped from
Georgetown to San Francisco and four cases of tapes shipped from Georgetown to
Washington, DC.” (vol 30, pp. 266-67, RYMUR 89-4286-2050)
On January 19, 1979, “Fifteen cases of documents shipped from Georgetown to San Francisco.” (vol 30,
pp. 266-67, RYMUR 89-4286-2050)
On January 30, 1979, “Seven cases of tapes were shipped from Georgetown to Washington, DC.” (vol 30,
pp. 266-67, RYMUR 89-4286-2050)
On February 9, 1979, American Ambassador in Guyana requested
“prompt return of some of items previously sent to US.” Then referred to seven
crates of video tapes to be processed promptly and returned to American
Embassy, Georgetown “[t]o indicate to American Ambassador and Government of
Guyana our [FBI] spirit of cooperation in this very important case.” (vol 28,
pp. 213-214, RYMUR 89-4286-1885)
On February 22, 1979, San Francisco forwarded 5 parcels containing xerox copies of the PT evidence obtained from
Jonestown. Documents represent more than half of the xeroxing to be done
concerning the evidence in the first seven crates received in SF, Dec 29, 1978.
Parcels via United Airlines to JFK on February 23, 1979. Parcels placed in
“Hold for Pickup by SA , FBI BQMRA (Brooklyn Queens Metropolitan Resident
Agency). … Per telephone with BQMRA, SA
On February 23, 1979. Being forwarded are 2 sets of Alpha listings (Vol 1-4) on the referenced case. These current volumes contain all records submitted to date including additions, changes and deletion since the last printing. All previous listings maybe destroyed. (vol 28, p 413, RYMUR 89-4286-1897)
On
February 23, 1979, “Brooklyn-Queens forwarding five parcels containing copies of Peoples Temple
evidence received from Government of Guyana to the United States Embassy, this
date. Parcels shipped aboard Pan Am flight #227, accompanied by US Sky marshal,
On March 10, 1979, teletype read: “San Francisco has completed review of original shipment of seven crates from Guyana… San Francisco is currently conducting initial review of second shipment of Guyana Records,
consisting of fifteen crates.” (vol 29, p 104, RYMUR 89-4286-1935)
On March 23, 1979, “On February 23, 1979, San Francisco
forwarded 2 parcels containing xerox
copies of the Peoples Temple evidence obtained from Jonestown. Documents
represent conclusion of the xeroxing to be done concerning the evidence in the first 7 crates received San
Francisco, December.” (vol 30, p 155, RYMUR 89-4286-2026)
On March 23, 1979, refers to: “…index of xeroxed evidence
received from Guyana at San Francisco on 12/29/78.” “…7 crates received San
Francisco from Guyana 12/29/78, separated into portfolios. On 2/21/79, Legat
was furnished 5 parcels with index. Above 2 packages represent the remainder of
evidence received in the initial 7 crates…” “San Francisco is at this time
continuing to process second shipment of 15 crates and will furnish same on
completion. Bureau is being furnished under separate cover letter, 2 copies of
all evidence and 2 copies of index. (vol 30, p 164, RYMUR 89-4286-2028)
On April 3, 1979, a memo (DOJ, FBI communication message form)
“Computer submissions in captioned matter have not been received at FBIHQ from
the San Francisco Office. In view of anticipated future congressional inquiry
into the handling of this matter, it is imperative that the results of all
investigation be retrievable by computer assistance. San Francisco is therefore
requested to bring its serials current and forward same to FBIHQ for
computerization. (vol 30, p 313, RYMUR 89-4286-2075)
On
April 16, 1979, an AIRTEL
memo read: “There are approximately 7,000 documents in the RYMUR case which
must be reviewed and entered into the Investigative Support System (ISS). It is estimated that it will take ten
employees approximately ten weeks to bring this project into current status. To
accomplish this task SF contacted your office concerning possible help and was
advised that
* ISIS = FBI computer system, Investigative Support Information
System. Used to provide support for major investigations that require handling
of a large volume of complex information.
* * * * *
APPENDIX: Organization
of RYMUR Materials Released Under FOIA
The first release of FOIA was on 3 CDs containing a total of 175
volumes or sections (both names seem used interchangeably), a total of about 49,600 pdf pages -- the vast
majority of which are of “written pages,” front and back as necessary.
(A) The pdf sections were
organized and form the following groups:
1)
Section
1 to 41: Chronologically
collected/arranged, includes memorandums, letters, communiqués, notes about the
FBI’s work in investigating the death of Congressman Ryan, circumstances, and
the aftermath of removal of the bodies, return of those surviving members to
the US, the investigation and trial afterwards. Timeline from 11/18/78 to
9/13/88. (RYMUR-89-4286-X1 to X3
& 1 to 2750)
2)
Section
42: Lab evidence. Listed as
“bulky,” as it included scraps of paper, items and things included in large
envelopes, rather than stacks of paper. (RYMUR-89-4286-1286- Lab Evidence pt 1 to 3)
3)
Section
43 to 107: Included all the
pdfs of materials organized under the A
to Y Index listing. (RYMUR-89-4286-2018-
A to Y)
4)
Section
108 to 160: Included all the
pdfs of materials organized under the AA
to SS Index listing. (RYMUR-89-4286-2233-
AA to SS)
5)
Section
161 to 163: Includes all the
pdfs of Audio Tape Summaries. (RYMUR-89-4286-2465-
Summary 1-10)
6)
Section
164: Includes pdfs of photos
from Ryan’s trip. (RYMUR-89-4286-2592-
Lab File)
7)
Section
165 to 174: Includes pdfs of
news clippings pertaining to PT, Jonestown and after apparently gathered by FBI
offices throughout the US. (RYMUR-89-4286-881-
Vol 1 to 10)
8)
Section
175: Includes the seven
autopsy reports made at Dover. No other full autopsies were done. (There is no RYMUR-89 number listed.)
(B)
Interpreting statements about materials collected and handled:
• The “two alpha indexes” mentioned in memos probably refer to the A-Z Index under serial 2018 and AA-SS Index under serial 2233.
• Packages 1-6 are probably Index
A-Z [89-4286-2018- ]
• Packages 7-12 are probably Index
AA-SS [89-4286-2233- ]
• The packages shipped from SF seem to indicate “packages of xeroxed
materials.”
• Reading the distribution of the alpha indexes seems to indicate
distribution of evidence. As well, it mentions “SF has furnished remainder of evidence not previously furnished through
reference communication.” [vol 30, p 132, RYMUR 89-4286-2018].
(C)
About organizing the materials copied and tapes duplicated:
Index A - Z: (Source: Vol 30,
pp 132-137, RYMUR 89-4286-2018) March 23, 1979.
7 crates received12/29/8.
Bureau furnished with 2 complete copies of xeroxing.
Bureau evidence is being shipped in 12 separate packages, one complete
set marked 1-6 and second copy in packages 7-12
One copy to Secret Service locally.
Bureau requested to furnish one complete set with index to DOJ
Index AA - SS: (source:
Vol 33 pp 9 to 16; 89-4286-2233) July 7, 1979:
Shipped in One complete set in packages marked one throughout Second copy contained in packages One complete copy is being furnished to Secret Service, Calif State
Attorney General and USA locally.
Portions significant being furnished to IRS and HEW locally.
Bureau is requested to furnish one complete set with index to DOJ
Bureau to obtain permission from DOJ to disseminate to Calif
court-ordered receiver, portions KK, QQ, RR and advise SF.
Video Tapes & Film Index:
(source: Vol 31 pp 27 to 42; 89-4286-2096) April 4,1979
Q57 - 100 part of 267 videocassettes listed in Vol 31 p 29 - 42
Q101 - 122 16 & 18mm film Q103 is 8mm with sound.
Q123 - 125 unused/unexposed film
Q126 Super 8 color sound film of Ryan at Jonestown
Q1060 - 1285 part of the 267 video cassettes listed Vol 31 p 29-42
Q1286 16mm movie JJ in a TV show “Church In the Home”
Q1287 16mm film, The Social Body, duplicates of Q101 & 102
One copy for Bureau of inventory evidence - video material.
Two copies for Embassy GT of inventory evidence - video material.
SF shipped 6 crates of video material set forth in inventory to be
delivered to Embassy in Georgetown to deliver to GOG
Apparently materials were returned to Guyana’s government.
Audio Tapes Index: (assembled
from: vols 34 & 35 as both contain lists, handwritten as well as typed
lists from the handwritten ones)
Q1 - 19 (cassettes) Vol 28, pp193-195
Q20 - 30 (7” reels) Vol 28, pp193-195
Q31 - 32 (5” reels) Vol 28, pp193-195
Q33 ?? [where listed]
Q34 -37 (cassette) Vol 29, p 193
Q38 ?? [where listed]
Q39 (cassette) Vol 29, p 193
Q40 - 56 ?? [where listed]
Q57 - 126 video tape and film described in section above
Q127 - 143 (8-track & micro cassette) Vol 34 pp 104-113
Q144 - 151 (5” reels) Vol 34 pp 46-59
Q152 - 567 (7” reels) Vol 34 pp 46-59
Q568 - 815 (cassettes) Vol 34 p 104-113
Q816 - 859 (7” reels) Vol 34 pp 46-59
Q860 - 865 ?? [where listed]
Q866 (micro-cassette) Vol 35 pp
16-22
Q867 - 879 (cassette) Vol 35 pp 16-22
Q880 no audio info, no copies made (per vol 35 p 22)
Q881 - 912 (cassette) Vol 35 pp 16-22
Q913 no tape - number never used (per vol 35 p16)
Q914 - 923 (cassette) Vol 35 pp 16-22
Q924 no audio info, no copies made (per vol 35 p 21)
Q925 - 999 (cassette) Vol 35 pp 16-22
Q1000 - 1006 no tapes - numbers never used (per vol 35 p16)
Q1007 - 1029 (cassette) Vol 35 pp 16-22
Q1030 - 1050 no audio info, no copies made (per vol 35 p 21)
Q1051 - 1052 no tapes - numbers never used (per vol 35 p16)
Q1053 - 1059 14” reels, each copied to 2 10” reels for SF to process
Q1060 - 1287 video tape and film described in section above
Q1288 - 1290 referred to in Vol 35 pp 62-65
Qc42 Marked “Last Hour” Maxell C90 magnetic tape cassette.
FBI transcript 12/16/78: vol 35, pp. 141-173, RYMUR 89-4286-2374
Electronic Equipment: shortwave
radios, recorders, etc.
Items reviewed at American Consulate were identified as radio
equipment: tuners, power supplies, receiver, film strip reviewer, phone patch,
reel to reel recorder, short wave radio, etc. An itemized list of what they
listed is at: vol 30, pp 119-121, part of RYMUR 89-4286-2016
News Clippings: (source: Vol
165 - 175, RYMUR 89-4286-881 vol 1 to 10)
Mostly collected after November
18, 1978, by FBI offices across the country. Each category has many
subsections.
Ryan Shootings
Peoples Temple
PT Jonestown
Massacre
General Info
(Don Beck is a regular
contributor to the jonestown report. His other articles in this edition include Eva and Jim Pugh, Remembrance of Alice and Ava Inghram, What I Still Carry With Me, and Presentations of Roller Journals Complete.
His earlier articles appear here. He
is also the principal researcher and writer for the link at Jonestown Research. He
can be reached at donbeck@cox.net .)
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