RYMUR Section 7 – Serials 581-662

The FBI’s investigation into the events of November 18, 1978 focused upon the assassination of Leo Ryan and any actions of members of Peoples Temple which may have shown evidence of a conspiracy related to that assassination. Code-named RYMUR – short for Ryan Murder – the investigation yielded 2750 serials totalling more than 10,000 pages, eventually separated into 42 large sections.

This page includes the contents of Section 7, including serials 581-662. All are dated during the last week of November 1978.

The table below lists each document by serial number, the number of pages within each serial, the date the serial was generated, the federal agency originating the serial, and a brief description. Each entry then includes the PDF and the text of the serial. Additional notes appear at the bottom of the page.

A listing of abbreviations used in the RYMUR documents – including FBI field offices and State Department embassies – is here.

In citing these documents, each serial should open with the official designation of “RYMUR 89-4286.” As an example, Serial 650 would be cited as “RYMUR 89-4286-650.”

Serial
# of Pages
Date
Office of Origin
Description
PDF
Text
581 10 11/29 FBI-LA Interviews with former members from LA, SF, elsewhere PDF Text
582 2 11/29 FBI-Pittsburgh HAM radio operator reports contacts with JT PDF Text
583 7 11/29 FBI-CO Interviews with former members, including critics PDF Text
584 4 11/29 FBI-El Paso HAM radio operator reports contacts with JT PDF Text
585 3 11/29 FBI-El Paso [Interview with woman regarding unrelated “cult”] PDF Text
586 10 11/29 FBI-CO Jim Cobb interview on Schacht; also, FBI questions for survivors’ interviews PDF Text
587 1 11/29 FBI-SD HAM operator acted as relay station between Guyana and US PDF Text
588 8 11/29 FBI-NO Several interviews, including with Mark Lane PDF Text
589 2 11/29 FBI-NY FBI negotiations with NBC for videotape PDF Text
590 5 11/29 FBI-Mobile HAM radio operator reports contacts with JT, including 11/78 PDF Text
591 2 11/30 FBI-PD [Report of investigation of unrelated incident] PDF Text
592 4 11/30 FBI-LA Interviews with defector Jack Arnold PDF Text
593 3 11/30 FBI-Milwaukee HAM radio operator reports contacts with JT PDF Text
594 17 11/30 SECSTATE 29 Nov. Dept press briefing PDF Text
595 3 11/30 FBI-Seattle FBI negotiations for interview with Richard Cordell PDF Text
596 2 11/29 FBI-SF FBI follows leads on Kay Nelson, Jim McElvane PDF Text
597 1 11/29 FBI-SF FBI learns of Lester Kinsolving PDF Text
598 3 11/29 FBI-SF FBI learns of “briefcase incident” PDF Text
599 2 11/29 FBI-SF FBI learns of Jones on Indianapolid Human Rights Commission PDF Text
600 3 11/29 FBI-AX HAM radio operator reports contacts with JT PDF Text
601 1 11/30 AmEmb Georgetown Report on Tom Bogue’s wound PDF Text
602 7 11/30 SECSTATE US expresses gratitude for GOG assistance PDF Text
603 6 11/2930 FBI-BQ Elderly JT survivors return to US PDF Text
604 1 11/29 FBI-SF Correction to Serial 596 PDF Text
605 2 11/30 FBI-SF FBI locates interview subject PDF Text
606 3 11/20 FBIHQ FBI pursues all leads on RYMUR investigation PDF Text
607 3 11/20 FBIHQ Description of FBI actions following news of Ryan’s death PDF Text
608 3 11/25 FBIHQ Mark Lane interviewed PDF Text
609 5 11/27 FBI-Houston HAM radio operator reports contacts with JT PDF Text
610 3 11/28 FBIHQ Elderly JT survivors return to US PDF Text
611 2 11/28 FBI-SF Seven elderly survivors to leave Guyana [Dupe of 536] PDF Text
612 5 11/28 FBI-SF List of JT survivors [Dupe of 505] PDF Text
613 1 11/28 FBIHQ Notation on Tish Leroy suicide note PDF Text
614 2 11/28 FBI-KC Former member writes lengthy letter to FBI PDF Text
615 14 11/28 FBI-IP Interview with Charlotte Baldwin PDF Text
616 4 11/28 FBI-SF List of PT members in SF [Duplicate of 507] PDF Text
617 11 11/29 FBI-LA Interview with Gordon Lindsay [Duplicate of 568] PDF Text
618 9 11/28 FBI-Albany Interview with Richard Hongisto [Duplicate of 547] PDF Text
619 2 11/28 SECSTATE Report on article on Tish Leroy suicide note [Duplicate of 535] PDF Text
620 2 11/28 AmEmb Georgetown Info on seven elderly JT survivors [Duplicate of 525] PDF Text
621 3 11/28 FBI-SF List of Temple members who took SFPD weapons course [Duplicate of 552] PDF Text
622 4 11/28 FBI-SJ Witness claims existence of hit list [Duplicate of 537] PDF Text
623 3 11/29 FBIHQ DEA provides list of questions to ask JT residents PDF Text
624 1 11/29 (likely) State Richard McCoy discusses PT member’s capacity for violence PDF Text
625 3 11/29 FBIHQ FBI fields questions re: presence in Guyana PDF Text
626 1 11/29 FBIHQ FBI sends team to recover passports PDF Text
627 3 11/29 AmEmb Georgetown FBI will not conduct investigation or interview survivors in Guyana PDF Text
628 2 11/30 AmEmb Georgetown Description of Layton’s weapon PDF Text
629 2 11/30 FBI-SC Interview with acquaintance of PT member PDF Text
630 3 11/28 FBI-SF FBI daily summary includes Lane correspondence w/ Ryan PDF Text
631 3 11/30 AmEmb Georgetown State notes press claim that 5 Temple members were granted Guy. Citizenship PDF Text
632 4 11/30 FBI-St. Louis [All info Exempted] PDF Text
633 3 11/30 SECSTATE State daily summary: elderly PT members leave Guyana PDF Text
634 4 11/30 FBI-BA HAM operator reports contacts with JT PDF Text
635 4 11/30 FBI-WFO FBI discusses involvement of Joe Mazor PDF Text
636 5 11/30 FBI-PD Former member gives background on Larry Schacht PDF Text
637 1 11/30 FBI-SF FBI seeks Guyana interviews with survivors PDF Text
638 1 11/30 FBI-SF FBI/SF seeks death list PDF Text
639 1 11/30 FBI-BA FBI overseeing ID of dead at Dover AFB PDF Text
640 3 11/30 FBI-IP FBI learns that woman from JT was signatory on bank accounts PDF Text
641 1 11/30 FBIHQ Transmittal sheet for photos of Ryan’s party PDF Text
642 2 11/25 FBI-SJ [RYMUR administrative memo] PDF Text
643 4 11/25 FBI-SJ [RYMUR administrative memo, Duplicate of 642] PDF Text
644 2 11/26 AmEmb Georgetown Status of survivors [Duplicate of 482] PDF Text
645 3 11/29 FBIHQ FBI to coordinate with SF DA Freitas PDF Text
646 6 11/30 FBI-LA Interviews with defector Jack Arnold [Duplicate of 592] PDF Text
647 5 11/30 FBI-Milwaukee HAM operator reports contacts with JT [Duplicate of 593] PDF Text
648 1 11/30 FBIHQ FBI seeks interview with Richard Dwyer PDF Text
649 3 11/27 AmEmb Georgetown Description of radio equipment taken from Lamaha Gardens PDF Text
650 5 11/28 State Summary of immediate aftermath in States following Ryan’s death PDF Text
651 1 11/28 FBI-MM Transmittal sheet for photos used as FBI evidence PDF Text
652 3 11/28 FBIHQ Interview with Vern Gosney; FBI seeks assistance from GOG PDF Text
653 3 11/28 FBIHQ Barbara Walters interview of Mark Lane PDF Text
654 2 11/29 FBI-San Antonio Anonymous caller claims Jones skimmed PT money PDF Text
655 2 11/29 FBIHQ Congressional staff, Jackie Speier worry about future attacks PDF Text
656 2 11/30 FBI-LA FBI attempts to locate mother of David Wise following TV appearance PDF Text
657 2 11/30 AmEmb Georgetown PT members say ill members were sent to Venezuela PDF Text
658 1 11/29 FBI-St. Louis No military records located for Layton, Beikman PDF Text
659 3 11/30 AmEmb Georgetown SCLC plans trip to Guyana PDF Text
660 2 11/30 FBI-SF [Report of investigation of unrelated incident] PDF Text
661 1 11/30 FBI-LA Description of Jim McElvane PDF Text
662 2 11/30 FBI-SF HAM operator reports contacts with JT PDF Text

The pdf of the complete section is here. It should be noted that this document is unique to this site, based upon the FBI’s official release of documents in 2014 and augmented with additional documents. The additional documents include: those released by the State Department; those released through the litigation of McGehee et al v. Justice; and those released by the FBI in 2001 but not included in the later release.

The information released in these serials may change as the FBI releases additional information pursuant to ongoing litigation under the Freedom of Information Act.