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