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 38, including serials 2581-2651. Almost all are dated in the first half of 1981.
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 2617 would be cited as “RYMUR 89-4286-2617.”
Serial | # of pages | Date | Office of Origin | Description | Text | |
15 | Section 38 Administrative Memoranda | Text | ||||
2581 | 3 | 12/2 | FBI-SF | US officials travel to Guyana | Text | |
2582 | 2 | 12/2 | FBIHQ | US officials travel to Guyana | Text | |
post 2582 | 7 | 12/31 | FBIHQ | Corres. with House Intel Comm. | Text | |
2583 | 3 | 12/5 | SecState | Privacy Act in relationship to Layton | Text | |
2584 | 5 | 12/24 | FBIHQ | Trial of Larry Layton set; Guyanese witnesses named (dupe of 2585) | Text | |
2585 | 3 | 12/24 | FBI-SF | Trial of Larry Layton set; Guyanese witnesses named | Text | |
(after) 2586 | 1 | 12/9 | FBI Identification Division | Report of fingerprint lab | Text | |
2588 | 1 | 11/20 | AmEmb Georgetown | Layton travel plans | Text | |
(after) 2588 | 3 | 11/20 | DOJ | FBI says no CIA connection with JT | Text | |
2589 | 3 | 11/24 | FBIHQ | Return of Layton to US | Text | |
(after) 2589x | 5 | 12/10 | FBIHQ | Status on requests from House Intel Comm. on CIA connection with JT | Text | |
2590 | 3 | 1/21 | FBI-SF | Government form with various categories relating to Layton arrest | Text | |
2591 | 1 | 1/14 | FBI-SF | Subpoena for Sukdheo | Text | |
After 2592 | 2 | 1/30 | FBIHQ | Names of FBI agents revealed to PT before November 1978 | Text | |
2593 | 2 | 1/30 | FBI-SF | NBC to turn over tapes to FBI | Text | |
2594 | 3 | 2/13 | FBIHQ | Transmittal of photos taken from NBC footage | Text | |
2595 | 2 | 2/7 | FBI-SF | Dispute over tapes made by Sukdheo | Text | |
2596 | 1 | 2/26 | FBI-SF | Motion to dismiss indictment rejected | Text | |
(after) 2596 | 3 | 3/3 | FBIHQ | Claim by Autumn Ryan v. US govt | Text | |
2597 | 3 | 3/4 | FBI-SF | Court order on physical evidence in Layton trial | Text | |
2598 | 5 | 3/4 | FBIHQ | Court order on physical evidence in Layton trial (dupe of 2597) | Text | |
2599 | 3 | 3/4 | FBI-BQMRA | Guyanese source reports on real story of PT | Text | |
(after) 2599 | 1 | 3/9 | FBIHQ | Recommendation on handling FOIA requests during Layton trial | Text | |
(after) 2599 | 1 | 3/6 | [Unknown] | [all deleted under b7(c), b7(d)] | Text | |
2600 | 1 | 3/11 | FBI-SJ | Report on physical evidence in Layton trial | Text | |
2601 | 2 | 3/13 | FBI-SJ | Report on physical evidence in Layton trial | Text | |
2602 | 5 | 3/7 | SecState | US seeks to document permission for FBI presence in Guyana | Text | |
2603 | 2 | 3/10 | FBI-SF | Guyana to release physical evidence for Layton trial | Text | |
2604 | 2 | 3/17 | AmEmb Georgetown | US seeks to document permission for FBI presence in Guyana | Text | |
(after) 2604 | 1 | 3/27 | [Unknown] | [all deleted under b7(c)] | Text | |
2605 | 4 | 4/7 | FBIHQ | Layton defense team seeks interview with Guyana witnesses (dupe) | Text | |
2606 | 3 | 4/7 | FBI-SF | Layton defense team seeks interview with Guyana witnesses | Text | |
2607 | 2 | 3/31 | FBI-SF | Transmittal of photos [not attached], request for exhibits | Text | |
2607x | 4 | 3/31 | FBI-SF | Status report on RYMUR, with eye towards recovering costs from PT | Text | |
2608 | 2 | 4/14 | FBI-SJ | Layton defense team seeks interview with Guyana witnesses | Text | |
2609 | 3 | 4/2 | FBI-SF | Layton trial delayed | Text | |
2610 | 3 | 4/14 | AmEmb Georgetown | Tamburello seeks statements of Guyanese witnesses | Text | |
2611 | 5 | 4/22 | FBIHQ | Report on getting still photos from videotapes | Text | |
2612 | 4 | 4/14 | AmEmb Georgetown | [dupe of 2610] | Text | |
2615 | 3 | 4/22 | AmEmb Georgetown | Layton defense seeks to establish chain of custody for GOG documents | Text | |
2616 | 2 | 4/14 | FBIHQ | [dupe of 2610] | Text | |
2617 | 5 | 5/6 | FBI-SF | Statement of Larry Layton, retracting part of confession | Text | |
2618 | 2 | 4/24 | SecState | State replies to Layton defense request for GOG documents | Text | |
2619 | 2 | 5/4 | FBI-SF | Subpoenas for witnesses vs. Larry Layton | Text | |
2620 | 2 | 5/7 | FBI-SF | Guyana told defense should submit requests to US Atty | Text | |
2621 | 5 | 5/11 | SecState | State offers assistance to Layton defense | Text | |
2622 | 2 | 5/15 | FBIHQ | [dupe of 2621] | Text | |
2624 | 3 | 5/21 | FBI-SF | US seeks clarification from Guyana response on several issues | Text | |
2625 | 6 | 5/6 | FBIHQ | Statement of Larry Layton (dupe of 2617) | Text | |
2626 | 3 | 5/7 | FBIHQ | Guyana told defense should submit requests to US Atty (dupe of 2620) | Text | |
2627 | 3 | 6/2 | FBI-SF | List of Guyana witnesses traveling to Layton trial | Text | |
2628 | 7 | 5/6 | SecState | Statement of Larry Layton (text dupe of 2617) | Text | |
2628x | 3 | 5/16 | SecState | Travel of witnesses for Layton trial | Text | |
2629 | 1 | 6/15 | FBI-WFO | US Embassy forwards material for trial | Text | |
2630 | 2 | 6/15 | FBIHQ | GOG official forwards material for trial | Text | |
2632 | 4 | 6/25 | FBIHQ | Layton trial delayed (dupe of 2642) | Text | |
2633 | 5 | 5/29 | AmEmb Georgetown | Travel of Guyanese witnesses to SF | Text | |
2634 | 4 | 6/2 | FBIHQ | List of Guyana witnesses traveling to Layton trial (dupe of 2627) | Text | |
2635 | 1 | 6/16 | FBIHQ | List of autopsies performed by AFIP | Text | |
2636 | 5 | 7/2 | FBIHQ | FBI investigation of pre-11/78 records on Layton | Text | |
2638 | 3 | 5/15 | AmEmb Georgetown | Suggestions of additional Guyanese witnesses to SF | Text | |
2639 | 2 | 5/15 | FBIHQ | [dupe of 2638] | Text | |
2642 | 3 | 6/25 | FBI-SF | Layton trial delayed | Text | |
2646 | 2 | 6/25 | FBI-SF | Info on Dwyer being authenticated | Text | |
2647 | 3 | 6/25 | FBIHQ | Info on Dwyer being authenticated (dupe of 2646) | Text | |
2648 | 2 | 6/8 | DOJ-Criminal Division | FBI help on jury pool requested | Text | |
2649 | 1 | 6/26 | FBIHQ | FBI help on jury pool requested | Text | |
2650x | 3 | 6/18 | FBI-SF | Mootoo seeks payment as witness | Text | |
2651 | 13 | 7/27 | FBIHQ | FBI investigates person “related to” Layton trial | 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.