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 Tapes Not Summarized
FBI preliminary tape identification note: One Tracs 60/ (illegible date) Sharon Amos/Liz Forman
Date cues on tape: None (Likely mid-1970s in San Francisco)
People named:
Sharon Amos (speaks)
Tim Carter
Liz Forman (speaks)
Maria Katsaris (speaks, but too soft for comprehension)
Peoples Temple members, full name unknown:
Jean (probably Jean Brown)
Mac (probably Jim McElvane)
Renee
Bible verses cited: None
Summary:
This tape consists of a brief telephone conversation between Temple members Sharon Amos and Liz Forman. Most of the conversation is mundane and out of context.
At one point, however, the two women try to set up a rendezvous place and time in Ukiah. Liz wonders what would happen if she bumps into Temple members on the street. Sharon says she thinks that’s unlikely, but suggests Liz say that she is in town to help her grandfather deal with medical problems. Then Sharon has a better idea: “I’d say Jim told you to take care of him, because that way they won’t be so questioning.”
FBI Summary:
Date of transcription: 3/15/79
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 6, 1979, Special Agent (name deleted) reviewed the tape numbered 1B62 #39.
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:
There is nothing to compare the two summaries, since the FBI did not write anything for this, or 64 other tapes which bear the notation “Tapes Not Summarized.” These tapes seems to have little on them which the FBI could use for its purposes of investigating crimes arising from the Jonestown tragedy, but then again, that describes many other tapes as well. The difference seems to be that one or two FBI agents catalogued this set of tapes — as evidenced by the typewriter used in writing the reports — and that generally, the transcriptions were made early in the process, before someone may have asked for greater detail in the reports.
Added to website : April 2003