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 2, including serials 101-207. All are dated during the first week following the Jonestown tragedy in November 1978.
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 150 would be cited as “RYMUR 89-4286-150.”
Serial
|
# of Pages
|
Date
|
Office of Origin
|
Description
|
PDF
|
Text
|
101 | 2 | 11/21 | FBI-SF | Funeral arrangements for Ryan, Bob Brown | Text | |
102 | 2 | 11/21 | FBI-SF | Cudjoe reportedly shipped arms from SF to Guyana | Text | |
103 | 6 | 11/21 | FBI-SF | Interview with Joe Holsinger | Text | |
104 | 3 | 11/23 | FBI-SF | Funeral arrangements for Ryan | Text | |
105 | 2 | 11/21 | FBI-SF | US Atty to call grand jury | Text | |
106 | 1 | 11/21 | FBI-SF | Funeral arrangements for Ryan | Text | |
107 | 1 | 11/21 | FBI-SF | Mike Prokes reportedly has info on who shot Jones | Text | |
108 | 2 | 11/21 | FBI-SF | Former member Ruth Kerns provides info to FBI | Text | |
109 | 2 | 11/21 | FBI-SF | Phil Tracy volunteers info on PT | Text | |
110 | 2 | 11/21 | FBI-SF | Former member claims hit list exists | Text | |
111 | 2 | 11/21 | FBI-SF | Reports of Dymally connection to PT | Text | |
112 | 4 | 11/19 | FBI-LA | FBI follows up leads from LA field office | Text | |
113 | 2 | 11/20 | FBI-MM | FBI agents en route to Guyana | Text | |
114 | 8 | 11/20 | FBI-SJ | [Duplicate of 879] | Text | |
115 | 1 | 11/19 | FBI-LA | FBI attempts to locate Larry Layton’s brother in LA area | Text | |
116 | 2 | 11/20 | AmEmb Georgetown | [Duplicate of 26] | Text | |
117 | 7 | 11/20 | FBI-SJ | [Duplicate of 879] | Text | |
118 | 6 | 11/20 | State Dept. | State argues that arrested Americans should be prosecuted by US, not GOG | Text | |
119 | 4 | 11/20 | AmEmb Georgetown | Embassy consults with Guyana police on needs and protocols | Text | |
120 | 3 | 11/21 | FBI-AQ | HAM radio operator reports contacts with JT | Text | |
121 | 8 | 11/21 | FBI-SJ | FBI follows up early leads on shooters at airstrip, hit list | Text | |
(after) 121 | 2 | 11/22 | CID | Former member has info on assassinations, retaliation | Text | |
122 | 7 | 11/21 | FBI-SC | Defector member provides info on PT | Text | |
123 | 6 | 11/21 | FBI-BA | Ron Javers gives narrative of events | Text | |
124 | 1 | 11/21 | FBI-AT | Plane with body of Don Harris arrives in US | Text | |
125 | 3 | 11/20 | FBI-Knoxville | HAM radio operator reports contacts with JT, several deletions of single person | Text | |
126 | 2 | 11/21 | FBI-LA | Members of Concerned Relatives return from Guyana | Text | |
127 | 7 | 11/21 | FBI-BA | [Virtual duplicate of 123] | Text | |
128 | 2 | 11/21 | FBI-LA | FBI background on Jim Jones | Text | |
129 | 2 | 11/21 | FBI-SF | [virtual dupe of 157] | Text | |
130 | 1 | 11/21 | FBI-Las Vegas | [RYMUR administrative memo] | Text | |
(after) 130 | 1 | 11/21 | CID | Former member claims knowledge of numerous PT crimes | Text | |
131 | 5 | 11/21 | FBI-DL | Former member reports on crimes committed by PT members, numerous deletions | Text | |
132 | 5 | 11/21 | FBI-CG | HAM radio operator reports contacts with JT | Text | |
133 | 3 | 11/20 | FBI-AQ | HAM radio operators report contacts with JT | Text | |
134 | 4 | 11/21 | FBI-TP | HAM radio operator reports negative contacts with JT | Text | |
135 | 2 | 11/21 | FBI-DN | Contact of TOS doesn’t want FBI contact | Text | |
136 | 6 | 11/21 | FBI-SC | FBI transmits articles of incorporation, Jones’ fingerprints | Text | |
137 | 5 | 11/22 | FBI-SF | Former members give account of life in PT, warns of death squads [Duplicate of 300] | Text | |
138 | 6 | 11/22 | FBI-BA | [Duplicate of 194] | Text | |
139 | 8 | 11/23 | FBI-SC | [Duplicate of 222] | Text | |
140 | 6 | 11/22 | FBI-SC | Interview with former member from Indianapolis, likely follow-up from Serial 222 | Text | |
141 | 5 | 11/21 | State Dept. | 405 bodies found; bodies decomposing after 50 hours, survivor search on | Text | |
142 | 2 | 11/22 | FBI-SJ | HAM radio operator reports use of codes, several deletions, likely of same person | Text | |
143 | 5 | 11/22 | FBI-SJ | Relatives in congressional party report on basketball team | Text | |
144 | 2 | 11/22 | FBI-SC | Sacramento FBI field office reports on Ryan files | Text | |
145 | 2 | 11/22 | FBI-AT | HAM radio operator reports contacts with JT | Text | |
146 | 2 | 11/22 | FBI-AX | Report of PT hit list | Text | |
147 | 2 | 11/22 | FBI-SC | Report on notary publics in PT; Joe Mazor investigated PT | Text | |
148 | 3 | 11/22 | FBI-PD | Interview with former member, critic in US | Text | |
149 | 7 | 11/22 | FBI-PD | Interview with former member Ruth Kerns | Text | |
150 | 4 | 11/22 | FBI-MM | HAM radio operator reports contacts with JT | Text | |
151 | 2 | 11/22 | FBI-LA | LA FBI office seeks guidance | Text | |
152 | 4 | 11/22 | FBI-LA | Woman tells of family involvement in PT | Text | |
153 | 9 | 11/21 | FBI-WFO | Discussion of Temple radio licenses through FCC, Ryan travel | Text | |
154 | 2 | 11/22 | FBI-WFO | FCC tapes of monitored Temple radio traffic available with subpoena | Text | |
155 | 5 | 11/22 | FBI-DN | Former member gives interview, speaks of TOS knowledge of PT | Text | |
156 | 1 | 11/22 | FBI-DL | Potential witness has not recontacted FBI | Text | |
157 | 1 | 11/21 | FBI-SF | Location of Lamaha Gardens house | Text | |
158 | 2 | 11/21 | FBI-SF | [Duplicate of 157] | Text | |
159 | 5 | 11/23 | FBI-DL | Witness claims to be part of conspiracy vs JT | Text | |
160 | 7 | 11/23 | State Dept. | 74 survivors permitted to leave; Layton arraigned; visible ID now impossible | Text | |
161 | 2 | 11/22 | FBI-SJ | HAM radio operator reports contacts with JT | Text | |
162 | 1 | [all withheld under b1] | Text | |||
163 | 1 | [all withheld under b1] | Text | |||
164 | 3 | 11/19 | JCS, WDC | DOD Secretary authorizes Guyana operation to return bodies to US | Text | |
165 | 1 | 11/19 | FBIHQ | Reports of suicides in Guyana | Text | |
166 | 3 | 11/19 | FBIHQ | FBI to examine its records in PT; survivors in GT need protection | Text | |
167 | 6 | 11/19 | State Dept. | State report of 11/19 (1 pm) lists PK dead and seriously wounded; C-130 en route | Text | |
168 | 2 | 11/19 | State Dept. | State report of 11/19 (7 pm) reports Amos deaths, MEDEVAC en route | Text | |
169 | 1 | 11/20 | FBIHQ | Death threat to Holsinger | Text | |
170 | 1 | 11/20 | FBIHQ | FBI learns of potential witness | Text | |
171 | 2 | 11/20 | FBIHQ | Early reports indicate 400 dead in JT, Jim Jones in custody in Matthews Ridge | Text | |
172 | 2 | 11/20 | FBIHQ | PK victims being evacuated from Guyana | Text | |
173 | 1 | 11/20 | DOJ | FBI claims jurisdiction in prosecuting law out of country | Text | |
174 | 3 | 11/20 | FBIHQ | FBI reviews its own jurisdiction, laws to investigate deaths | Text | |
175 | 1+5 | 11/19 | CIA | CIA reports on deaths in Guyana [Most withheld under b1] | Text | |
176 | 3 | 11/21 | FBIHQ | Description of scope of RYMUR investigation; FBI learns of potential witness | Text | |
177 | 1 | 11/21 | FBIHQ | Verification of legal basis for investigation | Text | |
178 | 1 | 11/21 | FBIHQ | Verification of legal basis for investigation | Text | |
179 | 3 | 11/21 | FBIHQ | Review of files already made of PT | Text | |
180 | 2 | 11/21 | FBIHQ | [Duplicate of 187] | Text | |
181 | 1 | 11/21 | FBIHQ | [RYMUR administrative memo] | Text | |
182 | 1 | 11/21 | FBIHQ | FBI interviews Tim Stoen, Jeff Haas | Text | |
183 | 1 | 11/21 | FBIHQ | FBI has problems getting into Guyana | Text | |
184 | 1 | 11/21 | FBIHQ | Anonymous source calls State to report on five names of Temple members | Text | |
185 | 3 | 11/21 | FBIHQ | HAM radio operator reports contacts with JT | Text | |
186 | 3 | 11/21 | FBIHQ | FBI reports Ryan did not contact agency re: PT | Text | |
187 | 2 | 11/21 | FBIHQ | Assignment of agents to Guyana | Text | |
188 | 3 | 11/21 | FBI-SF | [Duplicate of 102] | Text | |
189 | 2 | 11/21 | JCS/WDC | State requests DOD airlift support | Text | |
190 | 1 | [All withheld under b1] | Text | |||
191 | 1 | 11/22 | FBIHQ | Authority for FBI agents to travel on military flights to Guyana | Text | |
192 | 1 | 11/22 | FBIHQ | 81 bodies from Jonestown to be flown to Dover AFB | Text | |
193 | 5 | 11/20 | FBIHQ | Description of RYMUR investigation; request to establish contact with NBC | Text | |
194 | 5 | 11/22 | FBI-BA | Temple survivor returns; Ryan briefcase; HAM radio recordings; | Text | |
195 | 2 | 11/22 | FBIHQ | FBI role in Guyana | Text | |
196 | 3 | 11/22 | FBIHQ | FBI role in investigating RYMUR [Much withheld under b1] | Text | |
197 | 4 | 11/22 | FBIHQ | Release of PT petition against govt harassment, 4/78 | Text | |
198 | 2 | 11/22 | State Dept. | US investigates Jim Cobb claim that US Embassy official was compromised | Text | |
199 | 1 | 11/22 | FBI-DE | HAM radio operator denies contact with PT | Text | |
200 | 2 | 11/22 | FBI-SF | Interview with Indianapolis follower of PT | Text | |
201 | 8 | 11/22 | FBI-WFO | Discussion of Temple radio licenses through FCC, need subpoena | Text | |
202 | 4 | 11/23 | FBI-LA | Interview with non-member at Human Freedom Center | Text | |
203 | 2 | 11/23 | FBI-NY | NBC reports on 13 hours of video [Duplicate of 220] | Text | |
204 | 1 | 11/23 | FBI-SF | HAM radio operators complained to FCC about PT | Text | |
205 | 2 | 11/23 | FBI-SF | FBI attempts to locate former member of PT | Text | |
206 | 3 | 11/23 | FBIHQ | Former PT member contact with FBI | Text | |
207 | 1 | 11/23 | FBI-Newark | Report of HAM radio patch with JT | 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.