Federal Bureau of Investigation
Reporting Office: San Francisco
Office of Origin: San Francisco
Date: 1/12/79
Investigative Period: 11/18/78 – 1/12/79
Name of Case: RYMUR
Report Made By: SA Donald R. Hale
Typed By: jmr
Character of Case: Congressional Assassination Statute
Summary: Prosecutive
Copies made:
[number illegible] – Bureau (89-4286)
[number illegible] – USA, San Francisco
(ATTN: AUSA DONDERO)
[number illegible] – Secret Service, San Francisco
1 – Each Field Office
2 – BQMRA (89-495)
5 – San Francisco (89-250)
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Federal Bureau of Investigation
Prosecutive Report of Investigation Concerning
Lawrence [Laurence] John Layton;
Ronnie Dennis (Status unknown);
Wesley Karl Breidenbach (Deceased);
Eddie Joe Crenshaw (Deceased);
Stanley Brian Gieg (Deceased);
Ronald De-Val James (Deceased);
Ernest [Earnest] Jones (Deceased);
Robert Edward Kice (Deceased);
Thomas David Kice (Deceased);
Anthony Simon (Deceased);
Donald Edward Sly (Deceased);
Ronald Tally [Talley] (Deceased);
Albert Ardell Touchette (Deceased);
Joseph Lafayette Wilson (Deceased);
Congressman Leo J. Ryan – Victim (Deceased);
Congressional Assassination Statute
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Table of Contents
| Narrative of Offense | B |
| Names of Defendants | C |
| Prosecutive Status | D |
| Witnesses | E |
| Evidence | F |
| Unproductive Investigation | G |
| Table of Contents of Investigative Results | i |
| Investigative Results | 1 |
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FD-518 (12-to-77)
Copy to: 2 – USA, San Francisco (ATTN: AUSA DONDERO)
1 – Secret Service, San Francisco
Report of: Donald R. Hale
Office: San Francisco
Date: 1/12/79
Field Office File #: 89-250
Bureau File #: 89-4286
Narrative of Offense:
The purpose of this report is to furnish an eyewitness account of the assault and assassination of Congressman Leo J. Ryan and Jonestown, Guyana and Port Kaituma, Guyana, South America.
This investigation was initiated on 11/18/78, upon receipt of information from [name deleted], Investigator, District Attorney’s Office, San Francisco, California, of the reported murder of Congressman Ryan in Guyana, South America.
United States Congressman Leo J. Ryan, along with Jackie Speier, Legislative Counsel to Ryan; James Schollaert, Committee Staff to Ryan; Bob Flick, NBC News; Don Harris, NBC Correspondent; Bob Brown, NBC Cameraman; Steve Sung, NBC Soundman; Tim Reiterman, Journalist, San Francisco Examiner; Greg Robinson, Photographer, San Francisco Examiner; Ron Javers, Journalist, San Francisco Chronicle; Gordon Lindsey [Lindsay], Freelance writer; Charles Krause, Journalist, Washington Post; and the following concerned relatives: Timothy and Grace Stoen; Steve Katsaris; Clara Bouquet; Howard and Beverly Oliver; Jim Cobb; Wayne Pietella; Bonnie Thielman [Thielmann]; Anthony Katsaris; Sherwin Harris; Nadine [Nadyne] Houston; Mickey Touchette; and Carolyn Boyd, arrived at Georgetown, Guyana on 11/14-15/78. Purpose of Ryan’s visit was a Congressional inquiry into the activities of the People’s Temple (PT) and the Reverend Jim Jones at Jonestown, Guyana. While in Georgetown, Guyana, Ryan met with US Embassy officials; Guyanese Government officials; Mark Lane, and Charles Garry, Temple Attorneys. Ryan subsequently traveled to Jonestown, on 11/17/78, aboard a chartered aircraft which landed at Port Kaituma. He was accompanied by Lane, Garry, Speier, Richard Dwyer, Deputy Chief of Mission, US Embassy, Georgetown,
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Guyana; the four NBC crew members and the five journalists, listed above; and four concerned relatives: Beverly Oliver; Anthony Katsaris; Jim Cobb; and Carolyn Boyd. After some communication with Jim Jones in Jonestown, the Ryan entourage was permitted to visit Jonestown with the exception of Gordon Lindsey.
On 11/17/78, Ryan spoke with Jones and conducted interviews and performance of his Congressional inquiry. On the following day in preparation to depart Jonestown, some Jonestown residents expressed desires to depart with Ryan. In the process of loading persons to return to Port Kaituma to await transportation for Georgetown, Congressman Ryan was assaulted with a knife by Donald Edward Sly. Sly was subdued by Attorneys Garry and Lane and the Ryan entourage, along with, Jonestown members desiring to leave, prepared and departed for Port Kaituma, via truck. Larry Layton demanded to accompany the entourage but was suspected by other “defectors” to be a traitor and not a true “defector”.
At Port Kaituma, the Ryan entourage, with the following Jonestown “defectors”: Brenda, Gerald, Tracy, Dale, Edith, and Patricia Parks; Juanita, Tom, Edith, Teena, and James Bogue; Monica Bagby; Harold Cordell; Vern Gosney; and Chris O’Neal and alleged “defector” Larry Layton, prepared to board two airplanes, when a tractor-trailer arrived at the airstrip carrying People’s Temple (PT) members who subsequently opened fire on the Ryan entourage.
Witnesses at the airstrip interviewed, and have identified: Wesley Karl Breidenbach (Deceased); Eddie Joe Crenshaw (Deceased); Ronnie Dennis (Status unknown); Stanley Brian Gieg (Deceased); Ronald De-Val James (Deceased); Ernest Jones (Deceased); Robert Edward Kice (Deceased); Thomas David Kice (Deceased); Larry John Layton (alive); Anthony Simon (Deceased); Ronald Tally [Talley] (Deceased); Albert Ardell Touchette (Deceased); Joseph Lafayette Wilson (Deceased) as assailants. Killed during the assault by above persons were:
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Congressman Leo J. Ryan; NBC Correspondent, Don Harris; NBC Cameraman, Bob Brown; San Francisco Examiner Photographer, Greg Robinson; and PT “defector” Patricia Parks.
With the assistance of Richard A. Dwyer, US Embassy; the Guyanese soldiers and surviving persons, the wounded and survivors were assisted and moved to a safe location and were subsequently transported to Georgetown.
This report contains results of all eyewitnesses interviewed to date. Charles Krause, Washington Post Journalist, has not made himself available for interview.
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Names of Defendants:
- Wesley Karl Breidenbach (Deceased);
Date of Birth: September 15, 1959
- Eddie Joe Crenshaw (Deceased);
Date of Birth: July 26, 1953
- Ronnie Dennis (Status unknown);
Date of Birth: December 20, 1961
- Stanley Brian Gieg (Deceased);
Date of Birth: January 20, 1959
- Ronald De-Val James (Deceased);
Date of Birth: November 1, 1955
- Ernest Jones (Deceased);
Date of Birth: September 7, 1922
- Robert Edward Kice (Deceased);
Date of Birth: January 4, 1948
- Thomas David Kice (Deceased);
Date of Birth: November 18, 1935
- Lawrence John Layton;
Date of Birth: January 11, 1946
- Anthony Simon (Deceased);
Date of Birth: July 22, 1954
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Names of Defendants – Continued:
- Donald Edward Sly (Deceased);
Date of Birth: March 3, 1936
- Ronald Tally [Talley] (Deceased);
Date of Birth: October 15, 1945
- Albert Ardell Touchette (Deceased);
Date of Birth: September 13, 1954
- Joseph Lafayette Wilson (Deceased);
Date of Birth: June 29, 1954
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Prosecutive Status
The Federal Barrel of Investigation (FBI), San Francisco, has been in constant contact with United States Attorney’s (USA) Office, San Francisco, since November 19, 1978, concerning violations of the Congressional Assassination Statute. Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Robert L. Dondero is handling this matter for the USA and is in daily contact with the FBI.
On November 24, 1978, AUSA Dondero authorized complaints filed by Special Agent (SA) Donald R. Hale, before US Magistrate Frederick J. Woelflen, US District Court for the Northern District of California, charging: Robert Edward Kice; Thomas David Kice; Joseph Lafayette Wilson; Albert Ardell Touchette; Ronald De-Val James; Eddie Joe Crenshaw; Ronald Tally; and Wesley Karl Breidenbach with violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 351 (a) (d). Complaints and no real warrants sealed.
On December 8, 1978, on authorization of AUSA Dondero, above complaints unsealed. US Magistrate Woelflen dismissed complaints and withdrew warrants in view of the fact that FBI investigation determined all subjects deceased.
On December 8, 1978, Federal Grand Jury (FGJ), Northern District of California, San Francisco, California, began testimony. The FGJ has continued to meet on a regular basis.
On January 12, 1979, AUSA Dondero authorized complaints filed by SA Hale before US Magistrate Woelflen, charging Lawrence John Layton and Ronnie Dennis with violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 351 (a) (d), Congressional Assassination Statute. No bail warrant issued January 12, 1979, and complaints and warrant sealed.
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Prosecutive Status – Continued
The FGJ continuing testimony and meet at least once a week. The FGJ periodically issued subpoenas for witnesses and records at request of AUSA Dondero.
The FBI, San Francisco, maintains daily contact with USA’s Office and furnishes current copies of interview reports as received by San Francisco Office.
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Witnesses:
Monica Bagby, can identify: Lawrence John Layton; Ronnie Dennis; Thomas David Kice; and Eddie Joe Crenshaw as members of the Port Kaituma assault group.
[Name deleted], can identify: Thomas David Kice; Joseph Lafayette Wilson; Albert Ardell Touchette; Ronald De-Val James; Ernest Jones; and Stanley Brian Gieg as members of the Port Kaituma assault group.
[Name deleted], can identify: Robert Edward Kice; Thomas David Kice; Stanley Brian Gieg; Joseph Lafayette Wilson; and Lawrence John Layton as members of the Port Kaiuma [Kaituma] assault group.
[Name deleted], can identify: Thomas David Kice; Robert Edward Kice; Stanley Brian Gieg; Joseph Lafayette Wilson; Albert Ardell Touchette; Ronnie James; Ernest (last name unknown, probably Jones); and Lawrence John Layton as members of the Port Kaituma assault group.
[Name deleted], can identify: Lawrence John Layton as member of the Port Kaituma assault group.
Thomas James Bogue, can identify: Joseph Lafayette Wilson; Ronnie James; Thomas David Kice; Robert Edward Kice; Ernest Jones; Anthony Simon; Lawrence John Layton; Wesley Karl Breidenbach; and Albert Ardell Touchette as members of the Port Kaituma assault group.
[Name deleted], can identify: Lawrence John Layton as member of the Port Kaituma assault group.
[Name deleted], can identify: Robert Edward Kice; Thomas David Kice; Joseph Lafayette Wilson; Ronnie James; Eddie Joe Crenshaw; Ronald Tally; Wesley Karl Breidenbach; Stanley Brian Gieg; and Lawrence John Layton as member[s] of the Port Kaituma assault group.
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Witnesses – Continued:
[Name deleted], can identify: Thomas David Kice; Albert Ardell Touchette; and Joseph Lafayette Wilson as members of the Port Kaituma assault group.
Richard A. Dwyer can identify: Lawrence John Layton as member of the Port Kaituma assault group.
[Name deleted], can identify: Lawrence John Layton as member of the Port Kaituma assault group.
Vernon Dean Gosney, can identify: Lawrence John Layton; Stanley Brian Gieg; Wesley Karl Breidenbach; Thomas David Kice; Robert Edward Kice; and Joseph Lafayette Wilson as members of the Port Kaituma assault group.
[Name deleted], can identify: Stanley Brian Gieg; Larry John Laton [Layton]; and Joseph Lafayette Wilson as members of the Port Kaituma assault group.
[Name deleted], can identify: Lawrence John Layton as member of the Port Kaituma assault group.
Beverly E. Oliver, can identify: Lawrence John Layton; Ronnie James; and Joseph Lafayette Wilson as members of the Port Kaituma assault group.
[Name deleted], can identify: Joseph Lafayette Wilson; Thomas David Kice; Robert Edward Kice; Ronnie James; Ronnie Dennis; and Lawrence John Layton as members of the Port Kaituma assault group.
[Name deleted], can identify: Robert Edward Kice; Thomas David Kice; Joseph Lafayette Wilson; Ronnie Dennis; Ronnie James; Stanley Brian Gieg; Lawrence John Layton; Eddie Joe Crenshaw; Albert Ardell Touchette; and Wesley Karl Breidenbach as members of the Port Kaituma assault group.
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Witnesses – Continued:
[Name deleted], can identify: Thomas David Kice; Robert Edward Kice; Ronnie James; Ronnie Dennis; Ernest Jones; Stanley Brian Gieg; Joseph Lafayette Wilson; and Lawrence John Layton as members of the Port Kaituma assault group.
Edith Amelia Parks, can identify: Albert Ardell Touchette; (first name unknown) Dennis (probably Ronnie Dennis); Lawrence John Layton; and Joseph Lafayette Wilson; as members of the Port Kaituma assault group.
[Name deleted], can identify: Lawrence John Layton; Joseph Lafayette Wilson; Ronnie Dennis; Thomas David Kice; Albert Ardell Touchette; and Ronnie James as members of the Port Kaituma assault group.
[Name deleted], can identify: Robert Edward Kice; Thomas David Kice; Joseph Lafayette Wilson; Albert Ardell Touchette; Wesley Karl Breidenbach; (first name unknown) Jones (Ernest Jones); Lawrence John Layton; Ronnie Dennis; and Ronnie James as members of the Port Kaituma assault group.
[Name deleted], can identify: Lawrence John Layton as member of the Port Kaituma assault group.
[Name deleted], can identify: Stanley Brian Gieg and Lawrence John Layton as members of the Port Kaituma assault group.
[Name deleted], can identify: Stanley Brian Gieg as member of the Port Kaituma assault group.
The above individuals may each identify additional subjects through photographic line-up.
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Witnesses – Continued:
Mark Lane and Charles Garry can identify Donald Edward Sly as assailant in Jonestown.
James Schollaert can identify Ryan staff, News Media and concerned relatives on trip to Guyana.
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Evidence:
Two bullets and a lead fragment from Congressman Leo J. Ryan being maintained by FBI Laboratory.
A .308 caliber, Remington Winchester, Model 700 rifle, Serial Number 6742465, in possession of Commissioner, Guyana Police Department, Georgetown, Guyana, South America.
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Unproductive Investigation:
In view of attempt to limit this initial report to the actual assault and murder of Congressman Leo J. Ryan, a large volume of records, interviews and information currently in possession of FBI is not being included in this report.
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Table of Contents of Investigative Results
| Lab Report | 1 |
| Ryan Autopsy | 7 |
Report Forms FD-302s:
| ATF Weapons Traces | 13 |
| [Name deleted] [Jim Schollaert] | 18 |
| [Name deleted] [Jackie Speier] | 22 |
| Richard A. Dwyer | 25 |
| [Name deleted] [Jim Cobb] | 50 |
| [Name deleted] [Carol Boyd] | 63 |
| Beverly E. Oliver | 70 |
| [Name deleted] [Chris O’Neal] | 78 |
| Monica Bagby | 92 |
| [Name deleted] [Harold Cordell] | 104 |
| [Name deleted] [Anthony Katsaris] | 134 |
| Vernon Dean Gosney | 150 |
| [Name deleted] [Dale Parks] | 165 |
| [Name deleted] [Brenda Parks] | 184 |
| [Name deleted] [Tracy Parks] | 197 |
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Table of Contents of Investigative Results (Continued):
| Edith Amelia Parks | 206 |
| [Name deleted] [Gerald Parks] | 219 |
| [Name deleted] [Juanita Bogue] | 237 |
| [Name deleted] [Jim Bogue] | 254 |
| [Name deleted] [Edith Bogue] | 274 |
| Thomas James Bogue | 292 |
| [Name deleted] [Teena Bogue] | 303 |
| Mark Lane | 313 |
| Charles Garry | 363 |
| [Name deleted] [Ron Javers] | 375 |
| [Name deleted] [Steve Sung] | 386 |
| [Name deleted] [Bob Flick] | 389 |
| [Name deleted] [Bob Flick] (signed statement) | 400 |
| [Name deleted] [Tim Reiterman] | 406 |
| [Name deleted] [Tim Reiterman] | 412 |
| [Name deleted] [Charles Krause] | 417 |