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 37, including serials 2481-2580. Almost all are dated in the second half of 1980.
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 2485 would be cited as “RYMUR 89-4286-2485.”
Serial | # of pages | Date | Office of Origin | Description | Text | |||
18 | Section 37 administrative memoranda | Text | ||||||
2481 | 35 | 8/14 | FBIHQ | Transcript of death tape | Text | |||
2482 | 2 | 8/10 | FBI-SF | US anticipates subpoenas of PK wounded | Text | |||
2485 | 5 | 8/26 | AmEmb Georgetown | Extradition of Larry Layton | Text | |||
2486 | 2 | 8/26 | FBIHQ | [dupe of 2485] | Text | |||
2487 | 2 | 9/5 | FBIHQ | FBI responds to House Intelligence Committee request for info | Text | |||
2488 | 2 | 9/18 | FBI-SF | US seeks interviews with PK media witnesses | Text | |||
2489 | 2 | 9/24 | FBI-WFO | FBI provides info on whereabouts of PK witnesses | Text | |||
2490 | 2 | 9/17 | AmEmb Georgetown | Deportation of Larry Layton | Text | |||
2491 | 2 | 9/17 | FBIHQ | [Dupe of 2490] | Text | |||
2493 | 2 | 9/26 | FBI-SF | Discussion of Layton transfer for US prosecution | Text | |||
2494 | 3 | 9/29 | FBIHQ | Layton transfer for US prosecution | Text | |||
2495 | 2 | 9/24 | AmEmb Georgetown | Deportation of Larry Layton | Text | |||
2496 | 2 | 9/24 | FBIHQ | [dupe of 2495] | Text | |||
2497 | 3 | 9/30 | SECSTATE | Deportation of Larry Layton | Text | |||
2498 | 2 | 9/30 | FBIHQ | [dupe of 2497] | Text | |||
2499 | 1 | 9/30 | FBI-SF | Arrangements for Layton transfer to US | Text | |||
2500 | 2 | 9/30 | FBIHQ | [unreadable, likely dupe of 2499] | Text | |||
2501 | 2 | 10/3 | FBI-SF | Layton transfer for US prosecution | Text | |||
2502 | 2 | 9/22 | FBIHQ | Layton to be dismissed from Guyana custody | Text | |||
2503 | 1 | 9/29 | DOJ Criminal Division | DOJ considers how to charge Layton | Text | |||
2504 | 2 | 10/1 | AmEmb Georgetown | Discussion of passport for Larry Layton | Text | |||
2505 | 2 | 10/1 | FBIHQ | [dupe of 2504] | Text | |||
2506 | 6 | 10/8 | FBIHQ | Details on Layton transfer for US prosecution | Text | |||
2507 | 3 | 10/9 | SecState | Issurance of card of identity for Larry Layton | Text | |||
2508 | 1 | 10/10 | AmEmb Georgetown | Layton not on board flight | Text | |||
2509 | 8 | 10/10 | FBI-SF | Indictment vs. Layton [dupe of 2512] | Text | |||
2510 | 2 | 10/10 | FBIHQ | Deportation of Layton delayed | Text | |||
2511 | 2 | 10/10 | FBI-SF | Indictment released | Text | |||
2512 | 8 | 10/10 | FBI-SF | Indictment vs. Layton | Text | |||
2513 | 1 | 10/14 | FBIHQ | Status report on Layton, post indictment | Text | |||
2514 | 2 | 10/14 | FBI-SF | US officials travel to Guyana | Text | |||
2515 | 4 | 10/14 | FBIHQ | US officials travel to Guyana [dupe of 2414] | Text | |||
2516 | 1 | 10/10 | AmEmb Port of Spain | PanAm reports someone wants to board plane to see Larry Layton | Text | |||
2517 | 2 | 10/10 | FBIHQ | [dupe of 2516] | Text | |||
2518 | 2 | 10/8 | SecState | Layton will travel to US with his attorney | Text | |||
2519 | 1 | 10/10 | AmEmb Port of Spain | Layton may be detained in Guyana until lawyer paid | Text | |||
2520 | 1 | 10/10 | AmEmb Georgetown | Expulsion of Larry Layton | Text | |||
2521 | 2 | 10/14 | FBI-SF | Status check on Layton | Text | |||
2522 | 3 | 10/15 | FBIHQ | Status check on Layton | Text | |||
2523 | 4 | 10/15 | FBIHQ | US officials travel to Guyana delayed (dupe of 2541) | Text | |||
2524 | 3 | 10/7 | AmEmb Georgetown | Expulsion of Larry Layton | Text | |||
2525 | 3 | 9/25 | FBIHQ | Memo on info sharing between FBI and DOJ | Text | |||
2526 | 1 | 10/8 | AmEmb Georgetown | Expulsion of Larry Layton | Text | |||
2527 | 2 | 10/8 | AmEmb Port of Spain | Expulsion of Larry Layton | Text | |||
2529 | 2 | 10/14 | FBI-SF | Fugitive warrant for Layton | Text | |||
2530 | 4 | 10/24 | FBIHQ | [duplicate of two serials] | Text | |||
2531 | 2 | 10/24 | FBI-SF | US Attorney to fly to Guyana to meet with counterpart | Text | |||
2533 | 4 | 10/24 | FBIHQ | US Attorney to fly to Guyana to meet with counterpart (dupe of 2531) | Text | |||
2534 | 3 | 10/27 | FBIHQ | Memo on info sharing between FBI and DOJ | Text | |||
2535 | 2 | 10/28 | FBIHQ | Agencies discuss Transporting of Layton | Text | |||
2536 | 2 | 10/29 | FBI-SF | US officials travel to Guyana | Text | |||
2538 | 2 | 10/23 | AmEmb Georgetown | Delay in Layton case | Text | |||
2539 | 2 | 10/23 | FBIHQ | [dupe of 2538] | Text | |||
2540 | 4 | 10/29 | FBIHQ | US officials travel to Guyana (dupe of 2536) | Text | |||
2541 | 2 | 10/15 | FBI-SF | US officials travel to Guyana delayed | Text | |||
2542 | 2 | -0- | FBIHQ | [Cover sheet; nothing attached] | Text | |||
2544 | 2 | 11/12 | FBI-SF | Layton transfer to marshals to accompany to US | Text | |||
2545 | 3 | 11/14 | AmEmb Georgetown | Layton departure postponed | Text | |||
2546 | 3 | 11/14 | FBIHQ | Layton transfer for US prosecution delayed | Text | |||
2547 | 2 | 11/06 | FBI-SF | Guyana Restraining order against Layton dismissed | Text | |||
2548 | 4 | 11/06 | FBIHQ | Guyana Restraining order against Layton dismissed (dupe of 2547) | Text | |||
2549 | 1 | 11/14 | AmEmb Port of Spain | Question on Layton status from Trinidad | Text | |||
2550 | 3 | 10/18 | AmEmb Georgetown | Question on expulsion of Larry Layton and claims against him | Text | |||
2551 | 2 | 11/3 | AmEmb Georgetown | Judge to rule that Layton owes legal fees | Text | |||
2552 | 2 | 11/3 | FBIHQ | [dupe of 2551] | Text | |||
2553 | 3 | 11/10 | FBI-SF | Expulsion of Larry Layton | Text | |||
2554 | 1 | 11/14 | AmEmb Georgetown | Larry Layton travel | Text | |||
2555 | 2 | 11/14 | SecState | Larry Layton travel | Text | |||
2556 | 2 | 11/14 | AmEmb Georgetown | U.S. Marshals in Guyana may present problem | Text | |||
2557 | 2 | 11/14 | FBIHQ | [dupe of 2556] | Text | |||
(after) 2559 | 1 | 11/19 | DOJ Criminal Division | Layton transfer for US prosecution | Text | |||
2560 | 2 | 11/18 | FBI-BQMRA | Layton transfer for US prosecution | Text | |||
2561 | 2 | Illegible | FBIHQ | [dupe of 2563] | Text | |||
(after) 2561 | 1 | 11/25 | DOJ Criminal Division | Layton pleads not guilty | Text | |||
2562 | 1 | 11/24 | FBI-SF | Layton pleads not guilty | Text | |||
2563 | 1 | illegible | AmEmb Georgetown | Departure of Larry Layton | Text | |||
2564 | 1 | 11/21 | FBI-BQMRA | Layton arrested | Text | |||
2565 | 2 | 11/22 | FBI-BQMRA | Layton before US magistrate | Text | |||
2566 | 1 | 11/18 | AmEmb Georgetown | Departure of Larry Layton | Text | |||
2567 | 2 | 12/1 | AmEmb Georgetown | Expulsion of Larry Layton done without fanfare | Text | |||
2568 | 9 | 11/19 | FBI-SF | Summary of SF FBI reports on PT, JJ | Text | |||
2569 | 2 | 10/21 | AmEmb Georgetown | Court hearing on Layton legal fees | Text | |||
2569x | 2 | 10/21 | FBI-SF | Warrant for Layton | Text | |||
2570 | 2 | 11/10 | AmEmb Georgetown | Layton to be expelled from Guyana | Text | |||
2571 | 1 | 11/12 | AmEmb Georgetown | Layton travel plans | Text | |||
2572 | 2 | 11/14 | AmEmb Georgetown | Layton travel plans | Text | |||
2573 | 2 | 11/20 | FBIHQ | [dupe of 2588] | Text | |||
2574 | 1 | illegible | AmEmb Georgetown | Layton travel plans | Text | |||
2575 | 1 | illegible | AmEmb Georgetown | Layton travel plans | Text | |||
2576 | 3 | 11/12 | AmEmb Georgetown | Layton travel plans set | Text | |||
2576x | 1 | 11/19 | FBIHQ | Attempts to make still photos from NBC footage | Text | |||
2577 | 2 | 12/1 | FBI-SF | Listing of full scope of RYMUR documents | Text | |||
2578 | 2 | 12/4 | FBI-SF | Request to contact Sukdheo | Text | |||
2579 | 2 | 12/1 | FBIHQ | [dupe of 2567] | Text | |||
2580 | 5 | 12/20 | FBIHQ | US officials travel to Guyana (dupe of 2581) | 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.