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 19, including serials 1401-1460. Most are dated mid- to late-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 1409 would be cited as “RYMUR 89-4286-1409.”
Serial
|
# of Pages
|
Date
|
Office of Origin
|
Description
|
PDF
|
Text
|
1401 | 3 | 12/21 | Legat Bern | [dupe of 1400] | Text | |
1402 | 2 | 12/21 | State | [Dupe of 1403] | Text | |
1403 | 6 | 12/21 | State | JT survivor criticizes US in Washington Post article [dupe of 1345] | Text | |
1404 | 3 | 12/21 | AmEmb-Bern | Peoples Temple funds in Switzerland | Text | |
1405 | 4 | 12/22 | FBI-SF | Congressional committee discusses scope of probe | Text | |
1406 | 2 | 12/22 | AmEmb-Georgetown | [Dupe of 1407] | Text | |
1407 | 3 | 12/22 | AmEmb-Georgetown | Guyana inquest finds that JJ murdered 910 people | Text | |
1408 | 2 | 12/22 | AmEmb-Georgetown | Info on preliminary hearing on Larry Layton, other defendants | Text | |
1409 | 3 | 12/22 | FBI-WFO | FBI contacts Robert Mendelsohn | Text | |
1410 | 3 | 12/23 | AmEmb-Georgetown | Prokes, Carter brother free to return to US | Text | |
1411 | 6 | Unknown | Unknown | [5 pages withheld in entirety] | Text | |
1412 | 2 | 12/23 | AmEmb-Georgetown | [Dupe of 1410] | Text | |
1413 | 2 | 12/23 | FBI-BQMRA | Survivors describe Carter brothers, Prokes as members of hit squad | Text | |
1414 | 2 | 12/23 | AmEmb-Georgetown | [Dupe of 1412] | Text | |
1415 | 3 | 12/23 | FBI-BQMRA | [Dupe of 1413] | Text | |
1416 | 3 | 12/26 | Legat Mexico | [Serial released, most withheld] | Text | |
1417 | 2 | 12/22 | AmEmb-Georgetown | [Dupe of 1407] | Text | |
1418 | 2 | 12/23 | AmEmb-Georgetown | [Dupe of 1410] | Text | |
1419 | 2 | 12/28 | AmEmb-Georgetown | List of several survivors returning to US | Text | |
1420 | 2 | 12/26 | AmEmb-Georgetown | [Dupe of 1423] | Text | |
1421 | 2 | 12/26 | AmEmb-Georgetown | Further info on preliminary hearing on Layton Layton | Text | |
1422 | 2 | 12/26 | AmEmb-Georgetown | [Dupe of 1421] | Text | |
1423 | 6 | 12/26 | AmEmb-Georgetown | Plans for survivors remaining in Jonestown | Text | |
1424 | 2 | 12/22 | AmEmb-Georgetown | [Dupe of 1408] | Text | |
1425 | 1 | 12/26 | AmEmb-Georgetown | [RYMUR administrative memo] | Text | |
1426 | 5 | 12/26 | FBI-Albany | “Erratic” woman claims son in Guyana | Text | |
1427 | 2 | 12/26 | State | [Dupe of 1434] | Text | |
1428 | 2 | 12/26 | Legat Mexico | FBIHQ | Text | |
1429 | 6 | 12/26 | FBI-Pittsburgh | Witness claims Lane proof of Stoen connection to intelligence agencies | Text | |
1430 | 3 | 12/26 | FBI-SF | Prokes contact info, returns to Calif., agrees to interview | Text | |
1431 | 3 | 12/23 | AmEmb-Georgetown | Release of more survivors to US | Text | |
1432 | 2 | 12/27 | FBI-Louisville | HAM radio operator reports contacts with JT | Text | |
1433 | 3 | 12/22 | AmEmb-Georgetown | Guyana inquest finds that JJ murdered 910 people [text dupe of 1407] | Text | |
1434 | 3 | 12/26 | State | State Dept queries to Embassy about returning survivors | Text | |
1435 | 2 | 12/27 | FBI-SF | Teri Buford claims Barry Goldwater on hit list | Text | |
1436 | 5 | 12/27 | FBI-San Antonio | Texas jail inmate claims (false) info about PT | Text | |
1437 | 3 | 12/27 | AmEmb-Georgetown | Embassy answers questions from Serial 1434 | Text | |
1438 | 3 | 12/22 | AmEmb-Georgetown | Guyana inquest finds that JJ murdered 910 people [text dupe of 1407] | Text | |
1439 | 4 | 12/27 | FBI-SF | [dupe of 1435] | Text | |
1440 | 2 | 12/23 | AmEmb-Georgetown | [Referral; dupe of 1431] | Text | |
1441 | 3 | 12/27 | AmEmb-Georgetown | Guyana police report on arrest of Prokes, Carters | Text | |
1442 | 2 | 12/23 | AmEmb-Georgetown | [Referral; dupe of 1445 [1410]] | Text | |
1443 | 2 | 12/27 | AmEmb-Georgetown | [Referral; dupe of 1438] | Text | |
1444 | 2 | 12/23 | State | [Referral; dupe of 1469] | Text | |
1445 | 3 | 12/27 | AmEmb-Georgetown | Prokes, Carter brother free to return to US [dupe of 1410] | Text | |
1446 | 2 | 12/27 | AmEmb-Georgetown | [Referral; dupe of 1437] | Text | |
1447 | 2 | 12/23 | AmEmb-Georgetown | [Referral; dupe of 1441] | Text | |
1448 | 2 | 12/27 | AmEmb-Port of Spain | Charlie Touchette in Trinidad | Text | |
1449 | 2 | 12/27 | AmEmb-Port of Spain | [Referral; dupe of 1448] | Text | |
1450 | 1 | 12/27 | FBI-BQMRA | Interview with relative of Temple deceased | Text | |
1451 | 1 | 12/27 | FBI-Phoenix | Barry Goldwater informed of threat | Text | |
1452 | 3 | 12/27 | FBI-BQMRA | [dupe of 1456] | Text | |
1453 | 4 | 12/26 | FBI-SF | [dupe of 1430] | Text | |
1454 | 2 | 12/27 | FBI-SF | FBI still seeks interviews with Javers, Sung, Dwyer, Krause | Text | |
1455 | 2 | 12/27 | FBIHQ | Guyana releases documents and tapes, shipped to NYC | Text | |
1456 | 2 | 12/27 | FBI-BQMRA | Several survivors scheduled return to US | Text | |
1457 | 13 | 12/27 | FBI-Richmond | HAM radio operator reports contacts with JT | Text | |
1458 | 3 | 12/28 | AmEmb Georgetown | Preliminary inquiry on Larry Layton | Text | |
1459 | 2 | 12/28 | AmEmb Georgetown | [Referral; dupe of 1458] | Text | |
1460 | 2 | 12/28 | State | Status of US air marshals in Guyana | 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.