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 10, including serials 796-855. Most are dated from the first week of December 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 850 would be cited as “RYMUR 89-4286-850.”
Serial
|
# of Pages
|
Date
|
Office of Origin
|
Description
|
PDF
|
Text
|
796 | 12 | 12/1 | FBI-SJ | Interview with survivors from PT boat | Text | |
797 | 2 | 12/1 | FBIHQ | FBI investigate Esther Mueller’s connection to JT bank accounts | Text | |
798 | 1 | 12/1 | FBIHQ | [RYMUR administrative memo on photo transfer] | Text | |
799 | 1 | 12/2 | FBI-ME | FBI subpoenas Lane’s phone records | Text | |
800 | 1 | 12/1 | FBI-SF | FBI subpoena seeks location of Buford | Text | |
801 | 2 | 12/1 | FBI-LA | Source says Lane removed chests of material from JT | Text | |
802 | 2 | 12/1 | FBI-SF | Ryan aide provides info to FBI investigation | Text | |
803 | 1 | 12/1 | FBI-SF | FBI seeks interview with HAM radio operator | Text | |
804 | 2 | 12/2 | FBI-LA | HAM operator reports contacts with JT | Text | |
805 | 3 | 12/1 | FBI-KC | HAM operator reports contacts with JT | Text | |
806 | 3 | 12/1 | FBI-DL | HAM operator reports contacts with JT | Text | |
807 | 2 | 12/1 | FBI-SF | HAM operator reports contacts with JT | Text | |
808 | 2 | 12/3 | FBI-SC | Targets of “hit list” notified | Text | |
809 | 2 | 12/2 | FBI-SF | Human Freedom Center warns of dangerous survivors | Text | |
810 | 4 | 12/3 | FBI-BQMRA | Survivors interviewed upon arrival in US | Text | |
811 | 4 | 12/2 | SECSTATE | Survivors en route home, defectors threaten lawsuits | Text | |
812 | 3 | 12/3 | AmEmb Georgetown | Pan Am captain refuses to let 18 survivors on board | Text | |
813 | 2 | 12/3 | FBI-BA | Vern Gosney transported to California hospital | Text | |
814 | 5 | 12/3 | AmEmb Georgetown | Guyanese police announce release of more survivors | Text | |
815 | 5 | 12/2 | SECSTATE | Survivors en route home, defectors threaten lawsuits [dupe of 811] | Text | |
816 | 3 | 12/2 | AmEmb Georgetown | More survivors released by Guyana police | Text | |
817 | 4 | 12/2 | AmEmb Georgetown | More survivors freed for travel | Text | |
818 | 2 | 12/3 | SECSTATE | Survivors leaving, press calls dropping | Text | |
819 | 40 | 12/2 | SECSTATE | State press briefing transcript, 1 Dec 78 | Text | |
820 | 52 | 12/2 | SECSTATE | State press briefing transcript, 1 Dec 78 [duplicate of 819] | Text | |
821 | 1 | 12/4 | FBI-Springfield | Vern Gosney transported to California hospital | Text | |
822 | 1 | 12/4 | FBI-Springfield | Vern Gosney transported to California hospital | Text | |
823 | 6 | 12/4 | FBI-BQMRA | Short interviews of survivors upon arrival in US | Text | |
824 | 3 | 12/3 | SECSTATE | Possible criminal investigation of PT | Text | |
825 | 12 | 12/2 | SECSTATE | Status of survivors | Text | |
826 | 14 | 12/3 | SECSTATE | Guyanese death certificates | Text | |
827 | 2 | 12/1 | AmEmb Georgetown | Preliminary hearing in murder of Amos | Text | |
828 | 2 | 12/3 | FBI-BQMRA | Survivor questioned about phone number in possession | Text | |
829 | 1 | 12/2 | SECSTATE | Seeking location of Albatross | Text | |
830 | 1 | 12/1 | AmEmb Georgetown | No PT members granted Guyana citizenship | Text | |
831 | 2 | 1/29 | AmEmb Bridgetown | Status of Trinidad contingent | Text | |
832 | 4 | 12/1 | FBIHQ | HAM operator turns over radio tape to investigators | Text | |
833 | 2 | 12/4 | AmEmb Georgetown | Reservations for survivors to return to US | Text | |
834 | 3 | 12/4 | FBI-AX | Reporter of medical newspaper discusses story about PT | Text | |
835 | 5 | 12/4 | SECSTATE | Possible criminal investigation of PT [dupe of 824] | Text | |
836 | 1 | 12/4 | FBI-LA | FBI uncovers false lead for relative of JT dead | Text | |
837 | 2 | 12/5 | FBI-BQMRA | Survivors traveling from NYC to SF | Text | |
838 | 3 | 12/4 | FBI-BA | Vern Gosney transported to California hospital | Text | |
839 | 7 | 12/4 | AmEmb Georgetown | Status of survivors | Text | |
840 | 2 | 12/4 | FBI-SJ | Correction to Section 796 | Text | |
841 | 2 | 12/4 | AmEmb Georgetown | Cautionary note on confirming deaths or survivors | Text | |
842 | 1 | 12/3 | FBI-SF | Info on Freed interview of PT members | Text | |
843 | 1 | 12/4 | AmEmb Georgetown | No survivors under name submitted to State | Text | |
844 | 13 | 12/4 | SECSTATE | State seeks assistance in responding to NYT interview with Speier | Text | |
845 | 3 | 12/4 | USSS | Assessment of assassination threats | Text | |
846 | 2 | 12/4 | FBI-BQMRA | List of arriving survivors | Text | |
847 | 4 | 12/4 | FBI-Tokyo | HAM radio operator reports man being shot at by CIA in SA country | Text | |
848 | 5 | 12/4 | FBI-SJ | FBI doubts truthfulness of PT survivor from boat | Text | |
849 | 2 | 12/4 | FBI-SF | Permissions for autopsies sought, received | Text | |
850 | 6 | 12/4 | FBI-Newark | Psychiatrist, cult expert speaks to Kaituma survivors | Text | |
851 | 2 | 12/4 | FBI-SF | Lane and Buford arrange for interview | Text | |
852 | 2 | 12/4 | SECSTATE | Survivors trickling back, 580 bodies ID | Text | |
853 | 4 | 12/4 | FBI-WFO | FBI seeks FCC tapes, ownership papers on PT boats | Text | |
854 | 2 | 12/5 | AmEmb Georgetown | Embassy retention of local counsel | Text | |
855 | 4 | 12/5 | FBIHQ | Permissions for autopsy of Jim Jones sought | 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.