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 34, including serials 2265-2320. Almost all are dated between August and October 1979.
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 2303 would be cited as “RYMUR 89-4286-2303.”
Serial | # of Pages | Date | Office of Origin | Description | Text | |
12 | Section 34 RYMUR administrative memoranda | Text | ||||
2265 | 2 | 8/3 | AmEmb Bern | [duplicate of 2277] | Text | |
2266 | 4 | 7/20 | Legat Bern | [withheld under b7, previously deleted under b1] | Text | |
2267 | 2 | 8/13 | FBI-SF | FBI to approach GOG re: Layton | Text | |
2268 | 2 | 8/14 | FBIHQ | FBI to approach GOG re: Layton | Text | |
2269 | 1 | 6/7 | FBI-SF | FBI to request classified version of House report | Text | |
2270 | 2 | 8/13 | FBI-SF | FBI negotiations with GOG re: Layton | Text | |
2271 | 4 | 8/13 | FBI-SF | FBI negotiations with GOG re: Layton [duplicate of 2270] | Text | |
2272 | 2 | 8/15 | FBIHQ | FBI negotiations with GOG re: Layton | Text | |
2273 | 5 | 8/16 | FBI-SF | FBI assessment of GOG case vs. Layton | Text | |
2274 | 7 | 8/16 | FBI-SF | FBI assessment of GOG case vs. Layton [duplicate of 2273] | Text | |
2275 | 1 | 8/17 | USDOJ | Transmittal letter of fingerprint report (not attached) | Text | |
2276 | 4 | 8/13 | FBIHQ | FBI negotiations with GOG re: Layton (dupe of 2267) | Text | |
2277 | 3 | 8/13 | AmEmb Bern | Temple funds in Switzerland | Text | |
2278 | 2 | 8/16 | FBI-SF | [all deleted under b3, Rule 6e] | Text | |
2279 | 1 | 8/3 | U.S. Congress | Letter of thanks from from congressman for Castillo mother | Text | |
2280 | 1 | 8/16 | FBIHQ | Transmittal of letter of thanks | Text | |
2281 | 3 | 8/17 | FBIHQ | FBI negotiations with GOG re: Layton | Text | |
2282 | 2 | 8/16 | FBI-SF | FBI searches for PT cave in Mendocino County | Text | |
2283 | 1 | 8/20 | FBIHQ | FBI searches for PT cave in Mendocino County | Text | |
2284 | 1 | 12/27 | FBIHQ | Arrival of audiotapes from Georgetown | Text | |
2285 | 57 | 6/28 | FBIHQ | Listing of audiotapes from Guyana | Text | |
2286 | 43 | 3/6 | FBIHQ | Listing of audiotapes from Guyana | Text | |
2287 | 3 | 7/9 | FBIHQ | Transmittal of death tape | Text | |
2288 | 3 | 8/7 | FBIHQ | Memo that audio tapes cannot be enhanced | Text | |
2289 | 2 | 8/7 | FBIHQ | Letter to mother of Castillo | Text | |
2290 | 1 | 8/23 | AmEmb Georgetown | Embassy reports results of conversation with Skip Roberts | Text | |
2291 | 1 | 4/6 | FBIHQ | Discussion of death tape | Text | |
2294 | 6 | 8/28 | U.S. Congress | Letter re: custody request | Text | |
2295 | 1 | 8/29 | FBIHQ | FBI response to letter re: custody request | Text | |
2296 | 4 | 8/31 | FBI-SF | FBI negotiations with GOG re: Layton | Text | |
2297 | 6 | 8/31 | FBIHQ | [duplicate of 2296) | Text | |
2300 | 2 | 9/17 | FBI-SF | Witnesses against Layton reluctant to return to Guyana | Text | |
2301 | 3 | 9/18 | FBIHQ | FBI negotiations with GOG re: Layton | Text | |
2302 | 3 | 9/21 | FBI-SF | Declaration by witness to PT financial transactions [most withheld] | Text | |
2303 | 42 | 9/17 | FBIHQ | Discussion of, transcript of death tape | Text | |
(after) 2303 | 3 | 1/3 | Outside source | Return of Mike Prokes to US | Text | |
2305 | 2 | 10/1 | FBIHQ | [duplicate of 2314] | Text | |
2306 | 2 | 10/3 | FBI-SF | Laurence Mann expects kickback on apartment rental | Text | |
2307 | 3 | 10/5 | Legat Bogota | Statement of Larry Layton, 11/18/78 | Text | |
2308 | 5 | 10/5 | FBIHQ | Statement of Larry Layton, 11/18/78 (duplicate of 2307) | Text | |
2309 | 1 | 10/12 | FBI-SF | FBI negotiations with GOG re: Layton | Text | |
2310 | 3 | 10/12 | FBIHQ | FBI negotiations with GOG re: Layton (duplicate of 2309) | Text | |
2311 | 2 | 9/28 | AmEmb Georgetown | Embassy discusses L. Layton trial | Text | |
2312 | 2 | 9/28 | FBIHQ | [duplicate of 2311] | Text | |
2314 | 5 | 10/1 | AmEmb Georgetown | Confession of Larry Layton | Text | |
2315 | 4 | 10/23 | Legat Bogota | Guyana indictment against Layton | Text | |
2316 | 6 | 10/23 | FBIHQ | Guyana indictment against Layton (duplicate of 2315) | Text | |
2317 | 3 | 10/23 | AmEmb Georgetown | Oral confession of Larry Layton | Text | |
2318 | 2 | 10/23 | FBIHQ | [duplicate of 2317] | Text | |
2319 | 2 | 10/25 | Legat Bogota | Witnesses against Layton in Guyana trial | Text | |
2320 | 4 | 10/25 | FBIHQ | Witnesses against Layton in Guyana trial (duplicate of 2319) | 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.