[Editor’s note: The State Department FOIA release of 1981 made several deletions in this cable. Much of the information is known to the editor – based primarily upon releases of other cables on the same family – and is denoted below in red type.]
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 01 GEORGE 00232 181523Z
[Listing of agencies receiving informational copies on PDF]
R 181400Z JAN 78
FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6059
UNCLASSIFIED GEORGETOWN 0232
E.O. 11652: N/A
TAGS: CASC, (GRIFFITH, DANA)
SUBJECT: W/W DANA GRIFFITH, JUNE 8, 1970, CALIFORNIA
REF: GEORGETOWN 0034 (B) 77 STATE 309694
1. Consul contacted Mary Griffith on Jan. 11 during his visit to Jonestown. He informed her that her daughter, Mrs. Carnella Griffith, requested that she, Mary Griffith return Dana to her in the U.S. Mary Griffith replied that she would not return Dana to her daughter’s custody. She appeared surprised that Carnella Griffith was now asking for the return of Dana. Mary Griffith explained that Carnella Griffith had given her custody of the child at birth and she and her late husband had been Dana’s de facto parents since then. Mary Griffith stated that she considered Dana to be her own child and under no circumstances would she return her to her daughter’s custody.
2. Consul advised Mary Griffith to contact her daughter and discuss this matter. He mentioned to her Carnella Griffith’s desire to visit her and Dana at Jonestown. Mary Griffith replied that Carnella Griffith was welcome if “she comes with the right attitude.” Obviously, from Mary Griffith’s replies, she will not give up Dana without a battle in the local courts.
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
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3. Our records on the Griffith family indicate that [3 lines deleted]. We have not concluded the formalities on the report of death on Emmett Griffith, since there was a delay concerning the issuing of the official report of death by the appropriate GOG official. [3 lines deleted]
Burke
UNCLASSIFIED