Summary prepared by Fielding M. McGehee III. If you use this material, please credit The Jonestown Institute. Thank you.
Listen to MP3 (Pt. 1, Pt. 2). To return to the Tape Index, click here.
FBI Catalogue: Unidentified Individuals Speaking
FBI preliminary tape identification note: One BASF C-30 / 21 January 1973
Date cues on tape: The date is specified on the tape
People named:
Erica Crosby, high school friend of Annie Moore
Bible verses cited: None
Summary:
This tape is an audio letter sent to Annie Moore, a member of Peoples Temple who died in Jonestown. The writer is Erica Crosby, a high school friend, one of Annie’s many correspondents outside of the Temple. It was recorded on January 21, 1973. Because the tape is unrelated to the Temple – other than as an expression of friendship to a Temple member from an “outsider,” the type of contact which the Temple discouraged – it was not transcribed.
Annie herself was a prolific correspondent throughout her life. Her letters to her family are collected in the book, The Jonestown Letters (1985), edited by Rebecca Moore. A complete collection of Annie’s correspondence is accessible through the San Diego State University Archives.
FBI Summary:
Date of transcription: 3/7/79
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 1B47 #97. This tape was found to contain the following:
A recorded letter from a female who also recorded music on the tape.
This tape was reviewed, and nothing was contained thereon which was considered to be of evidentiary nature or beneficial to the investigation of Congressman RYAN.
Differences with FBI Summary:
The summary is accurate and meets the FBI’s purposes.
Tape originally posted May 2022.