[Editor’s note: This FD-302 interview with Thomas Bogue appears two different places, as as Part 6 of Serial 1557 and as Part 24 of Serial 1681, the FBI’s 387-page report of January 12, 1979. While the earlier version of the interview had more deletions than the later – designated by blue type – in neither interview was the subject identified. The deleted information which is known to the editor is indicated by red type.]
FD-302
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Date of transcription 12/21/78
Thomas James Bogue, upon his return from Guyana to John F. Kennedy Airport on 12/21/78, was questioned concerning his knowledge of the events which occurred in Jonestown, Guyana on or about 11/18/78.
Bogue provided the following information:
For some time he and [Released in 1681-24: his parents, two sisters] and another individual named [name deleted] and his family were trying to escape from Jonestown through the bush. For various reasons their plans never materialized. However, on 11/18/78, at about 1 PM, [name deleted] went to see Congressman Leo Ryan, who was visiting Jonestown, and told him that he and [his family] wanted to leave Jonestown. Ryan told [name deleted] that he would get them out on the next flight. They then got on a truck with other members of the Peoples Temple who wanted to defect, including Larry Layton, and drove to the front gate. No one believed that Larry Layton was defecting because he had been such a fanatical follower of Jones. At the gate another close follower of Jones, Joe Wilson, got on the truck and the truck was then driven to Port Kaituma Airstrip. Joe Wilson and Larry Layton got off the truck and started talking together. After about 15 or 20 minutes a small plane arrived at the airstrip and shortly thereafter a Guyana cruiser arrived. Layton boarded the small plane, along with some others. He (Bogue), along with others boarded the larger plane. At this point the truck that took them to the airstrip left. Shortly thereafter the Peoples Temple tractor and trailer pulled up next to the larger plane and five men started shooting at the larger plane, using shotguns, rifles and a magnum. The individuals doing the shooting were Joe Wilson, Ronnie James, Tom Kice., Sr., Bob Kice, Sr., Ernest [Earnest] Jones and Anthony Simon. The driver of the truck was either Wesley Briedenbach or Albert Touchette. A passenger in this larger plane, Patty Parks, was killed. He (Bogue) managed to get the door of the larger plate shut, but was shot in the leg during the process. After the door was shut, the truck went around to the other side of the plane and these individuals began shooting at everyone on the ground outside the plane. After they shot up everyone outside the plane, the truck left.
Bogue observed the shooting from the plane window but was unable to see who actually shot anyone in particular. He did not see who shot Congressman Ryan.
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Shortly thereafter he opened the plane door and ran into the bush with [several names deleted]. They did not come out of the bush until the next morning when they [missing word] it was safe.
Bogue provided the following information concerning the Peoples Temple (PT) and Jim Jones:
When he was seven years old his parents belonged to the Golden Rule Temple in Willits, California. Jim Jones was in charge of this temple. In June, 1976, Jim Jones took him to Jonestown. On 11/1/77, he tried to run from Jonestown with one [Brian Davis]. [They] were caught and were chained and shackled together for three weeks and made to work at hard labor for 18 hours a day as a punishment.
On three or four occasions in the United States and three or four times in Jonestown he was made to sign blank pieces of paper. Once or twice in Jonestown a whole group was made to sign a paper, saying they had stolen money. Jim Jones told them if they ever attacked the Temple these confessions will be used against them.
Jones had bodyguards (number unknown) who sometimes carried handguns. He did not know everyone on Jones’ Security Force, however, he did know they sometimes used the slogan “Defense of the Revolution”. He never heard of the term “Angels”. People in charge of various projects on the farm were on the Planning Commission. They met at the A.O.L. Office. He did not know about an inner core on the Planning Commission. He had no information concerning bribery or influence peddling by members of the Peoples Temple. He had no information concerning Jones’ contact or influence over officials of the State of California, including Lieutenant Governor Dimalley [Mervyn Dymally]. He had no information regarding members of the Peoples Temple who are fugitives from justice in the United States or have committed crimes that they are charged with.
In Jonestown he worked 10 1/2 hours a day as a physical therapist. He worked seven days a week with 1/2 day off on Sundays. The meals consisted merely of rice and gravy. Each evening there would be a meeting between 7:45 PM and 11 PM. There would be a class in Russian language (records), news was given and Jones would usually speak. The security of Jonestown consisted of guards in the tower and one or two guards at Jones’ home. Sometimes these guards were armed.
Three or four months ago two Soviet officials from the Russian Embassy in Georgetown visited Jonestown. He did not know the purpose of the visit.
In Jonestown weapons were stored in a warehouse made out of troolie leaves. He did not know how many weapons. Crossbows, longbows and combination bows were stored in a crate next to the metal warehouse.
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He had no knowledge of any firearms training by the Peoples Temple at Jonestown or in California.
Jim Jones indicated on several occasions that he had a team and that any Peoples Temple member that attacked the church would be taken care of by the team. The team would “knock off detectors”. He was not aware of any officials who have been targeted for murder.
Once about 2 or 3 months ago Jim Jones had a suicide rehearsal. He had no knowledge of any relocation plans that Jones had in the event of a mass suicide.
He did not know if the assassinations of Congressman Ryan and his party was prepared for in advance. He felt that the following surviving members of the Peoples Temple Church would carry out an assassination plan if it existed:
Steve [Stephan] Jones
White
Male
6’4″ tall
180 pounds
19 years oldCalvin Douglas
Black
Male
5’10” tall
170 pounds
early 20sEugene Smith
Black
Male
5’6″ tall
200 pounds
25 years oldCarl [Karl] Barnett
Black
Male
5’10” tall
early 20sBonnie Beck
White
Female
early 30s
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BQ 89-495
Laura Johnson [Johnston]
White
Female
Long Brown Hair
Located at Peoples Temple in San Francisco
He had no knowledge of the radio used by the Peoples Temple Church. He had no knowledge of a “hit list” or of individuals to be assassinated.
Paula Adams handled Public Relations in Georgetown and spent most of her time in Georgetown.
He had no knowledge concerning Primitive nuclear device bomb at Jonestown.
White Night was the name used for an alert in the event the Peoples Temple in Jonestown was attacked.
Hut C-14 contained all types of weapons and some members of the security force lived there.
Dr. Lawrence [Laurence] Schacht was a doctor who went to school in Mexico but did not have a license to practice medicine. Schacht had a whole medical staff and they were all members of the Peoples Temple.
Bogue provided the following information concerning the below named Peoples Temple members:
Tim Jones
White
Male
6’2″ tall
170 pounds
Blonde hair
Blue eyes
Fair skin
20-21 years old
Security and Basketball team, present whereabouts unknownJimmy Jones, Jr.
Black
Male
6’2″ tall
165 pounds
Brown eyes
Black hair
18 years old
Security and Basketball team, present whereabouts unknownEddy [Eddie] Crenshaw
Deceased
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Herbert Newell
Black
Male
Early 20s
Took care of storage tent and cooked, present whereabouts GeorgetownJohnny Cobb
Black
Male
66’1” tall
Brown eyes
Curly hair
165 pounds
19 years old
Basketball team and security, present whereabouts unknownJohnny Brown Jones
Black
Male
5’11” tall
Late 20s
Minister
May be deceasedMark Cordell
White
Male
Bushy hair
18 years old
Basketball team and security, present whereabouts unknownJim MacElvane [McElvane]
DeceasedBilly Oliver
DeceasedSteve Jones
American Indian
6’4″ tall
180 pounds
brown hair
Brown eyes
long hair, mustache
19 years old
Security and Basketball team
Currently in jail in Guyana
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BQ 89-495
Lee Ingram
Black
Male
Early 40s
5’11” tall
Bald spot on top of head
Basketball coach, Planning Commission
Present whereabouts unknownChris O’Neal –
Returned to United States 12/21/78Calvin Douglas
Black
Male
Early 20s
5’10”
Brown eyes
Afro
175 pounds
Full-time security and basketball
Currently in GeorgetownCleveland Newell
Black
Male
6 feet tall
150 pounds
22 years old
Full-time security
Present whereabouts unknownBonnie Simon
DeceasedPaul McCann
DeceasedPauline Groot
DeceasedTom Grubbs
DeceasedMarie Rankin also known as Duchess [Duckett]
Deceased
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BQ 89-495
Terry Buford
White
Female
brown hair
20s
120 pounds
Former assistant to Jim Jones, claimed to be defector from Peoples Temple but he (Bogue) does not believe this, currently staying with Mark Lane in United StatesJean Brown
White
Female
30s
5’5″ tall
Former schoolteacher in United States
Position in Jonestown unknown, present whereabouts unknownRennie Kice
DeceasedLora [Laura] Johnston
White
Female
Short brown hair
late 20s
in charge of work crew in Jonestown, currently at Peoples Temple in San FranciscoVera Young
does not knowJune Crym
does not knowMike Prokes
White
Male
20s
Short brown hair
150 pounds
5’9″
Former reporter in United States
Positions in Jonestown unknown, currently in Georgetown
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Tim Carter
White
Male
30s
Light brown hair
5’9″ tall
165 pounds
Assistant to Jim Jones in Jonestown, currently in GeorgetownSandra Ingram also known as Bradshaw
Does not knowJudy Flowers
DeceasedJim and Harriet Randolph
Does not knowLeona Collier
Black
Female
Early 30s
Was an assistant to Jim Jones, has not been in Jonestown recently, present whereabouts unknownDale Parks
Returned to United States 12/21/78Burrell Wilson
Black
Male
5’10” tall
Medium build
19-20 years old
Was kitchen worker and member of basketball team, not in Jonestown recently, currently in San FranciscoClaire Janaro
White
female
brown hair
early 40s
not in Jonestown recently, currently somewhere in United StatesDon Belk [Beck]
White
Male
black hair
30s
Former schoolteacher in United States, whereabouts unknown
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BQ 89-495
Richard Janaro
White
Male
Late 40s
180 pounds
5’11”
Whereabouts unknownBonnie Beck
White
female
30s
Welfare worker in Ukiah, CaliforniaMarie [Maria] Katsaris
DeceasedTish LeRoy
DeceasedChuck Beikman
White
Male
40s5’8″ tall
Heavy build
190 pounds
ex-Marine
Worked in shoe repair, currently being held in GeorgetownJoyce Touchette
DeceasedCharlie Touchette
White
Male
late 40s
5’8″ tall
200 pounds
Captain of Jones’ cargo ship, currently GeorgetownMichelle Touchette
DeceasedMike Touchette
White
Male
early 20s
140 pounds
brown hair
handled first aide for basketball team, currently in Georgetown
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BQ 89-495
Stanley Clayton
Black
Male
20s
Cook
Considered defector from Peoples Temple
Currently in GeorgetownMary Lee Bogue
deceasedTina Bogue
Returned to United States 12/21/78Odell Rhodes
Black
Male
late 20s
teacher
Considered a defector from Peoples Temple
Currently in GeorgetownTim Carter
currently in Georgetown at the Park HotelVera Ingram
does not knowJim Cobb
Black
Male
180 pounds
29-30 years old
Dentist
Defector
Came to Jonestown with Congressman Ryan
Jim Jones used drugs which came in crates or when footlockers. (Kind of drug unknown). He did not know of any Peoples Temple members who used drugs.
The only drugs produced by the Peoples Temple were herbal drugs, amount unknown.
Commercial drugs were handled by the doctors.
He had no information concerning boats belonging to the Peoples Temple being used to transport drugs and knew nothing about drugs being sent outside Guyana by the Peoples Temple.
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The Peoples Temple had an assembly line which made stuffed dolls which were sold to stores in Georgetown. About 15 or 20 people worked full time making dolls.
Bogue advised that he plans to stay with relatives [names and address deleted], San Francisco, California.
The following is a description of Bogue:
| Name | Thomas James Bogue |
| Alias | T.J., Liniquis Asante Culoga (American Indian nickname) |
| Race | White, (American Indian) |
| Sex | Male |
| Date and Place of Birth | 9/21/61, Sacramento, California |
| Height | 5 feet 7 1/2 inches |
| Weight | 130 pounds |
| Build | Slender |
| Hair | Black |
| Eyes | Brown |
| Scars or Marks | Right arm lower “VIB”, right shoulder “R”, large scar back of lower left [word missing] |
| Residence | San Francisco [name deleted], address unknown, father’s sister |
| Occupation | Physical therapy |
| Employment | None |
| Education | Ninth grade, Roosevelt Junior high school, San Francisco |
| Marital status | Single |
| Family members | [Deleted] |
| Social Security Number | None |
| Selective Service Number | None |
| Arrests | Juvenile arrest 1973-75, burglary, Redwood Valley, California |
| Destination Point | San Francisco |