[Editor’s note: Several of the subjects whose names are deleted in this serial are known to the editor. Those notations have been indicated by red type.]
United States Department of Justice
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Memorandum
Date: 11/19/78
To: Mr. [D. W.] Moore
From: [deleted name]
Subject: Unknown Subjects;
Rep. Leo Ryan (Calif.) – Victim
Possible Assassination
SA [deleted name], FBI office, Los Angeles, was contacted at 9:30 a.m. at which time he was requested to check the records of the Los Angeles Office concerning any information re Reverend James Jones, aka Reverend Jim Jones or the People’s Temple Christian Sect or People’s Sect. He advised that the records reveal no main file, however, there were several references concerning Reverend James Jones. SA [deleted name] stated that the Los Angeles Office has been in receipt of information concerning the situation in Guyana and that the Los Angeles Police Department had been contacted concerning this situation.
SA [deleted name] was instructed to furnish FBIHQ a teletype concerning pertinent information in their possession.
SA [deleted name], FBI San Francisco, was contacted at 9:50 p.m. at which time he advised that there has not been any active investigation concerning the above mentioned individual or his group, however, they did have some references contained in their files.
[deleted name] stated he has been in contact with one [deleted name] [Kevin Ford], who is an Assistant District Attorney of San Francisco County in San Francisco, who was personally looking into this matter and [deleted name] has been in contact with the San Francisco Police Department and State Department. SA [deleted name] stated that [deleted name] has spoken to one [deleted name] [Tim Stoen] in Guyana (an individual who had accompanied Ryan to Guyana). [Stoen] was presently with his wife and eight other people at the Pegasus Hotel in Georgetown, Guyana. They were awaiting police portection [protection] since [Stoen] had heard a rumor while he was in Guyana that members of the Sect may try to kill him and the others and then commit suicide.
Mr. [Ford] also advised SA [deleted name] that he had picked up information that perhaps members of the Sect in San Francisco might try to kill former members of the Sect who were in that
JWM/jap (7) CONTINUED – OVER
[deleted name] Memo to Mr. Moore
UNSUB; REP. LEO RYAN {CALIF.) – VICTIM
area. [deleted name] also advised that the San Francisco Police Department has been advised by him and they were watching the Sect’s Temple in San Francisco.
SA [deleted name] advised that the information concerning the possible killings and suicide have been furnished to the San Francisco Police Department and the Berkeley, California Police Department. The State Department and Secret Service were also contacted. SA [deleted name] stated that a teletype would be prepared concerning all pertinent information in the files and what has recently transpired would be furnished to FBI HQ as soon as possible.
Mr. [deleted name], Security Department, State Department, Washington, D. C., advised at 10:25 a.m. that the State Department had received a cable stating that the Americans who are presently at the Pegasus Hotel in Georgetown, Guyana, were now under police protection since it was felt that members of the Sect in that country might try to kill these Americans.
Mr. Douglas Bennet, Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations, State Department, Washington, D. C., advised at 10:45 a.m. that the State Department had received information from one [deleted name], that two ex-members from the Temple Sect were Al and Jean Mills of Berkeley, California. These individuals were in their apartment and were afraid that members of the Sect would try to kill them.
The above information furnished by Douglas Bennet was telephonically furnished to SA [deleted name] of the San Francisco Office and he stated that the Police Department, Berkeley, California, would be furnished this information immediately.
At 11:58 a.m. a telephone call was made to FBI HQ by one [deleted name] of Golden, Colorado (telephone number [deleted]). Mr. [deleted name] advised that he has been in contact with law enforcement officials and the State Department and he wanted to furnish a bit of information concerning People’s Temple Christian Church. Mr. [deleted name] advised that he had received information that one Clare Janero [Claire Janaro] operates the Happy Acres Care Home in Redwood Valley, California. He stated that she is a fanatic and a member of the Sect. He just received information that she is presently in Guyana. He believes that she may be an individual who would try to harm the Americans who are at the Pegasus Hotel, Georgetown, Guyana. He also
[deleted name] Memo to Mr. Moore
UNSUB; REP. LEO RYAN {CALIF.) – VICTIM
stated that he does not know of any threats presently being made against people in the United States, however, he felt that if any activity did commence in the future that perhaps the people who work for [deleted name] at the Care Home may be involved with the Sect.
The above information was furnished to SA [deleted name] of the San Francisco Office immediately after telephonic conversation and he advised that Al and Jean Mills are presently together with [deleted name] and several other ex-members of the Temple Sect. These individuals were in an apartment in Berkeley, California, and they are being protected by the Berkeley Police Department.
SA [deleted name] further advised that the San Francisco Police Department has set up a Command Post at Police Department Headquarters and that the Sect’s Temple in San Francisco was under surveillance.
It is to be noted that pertinent information was furnsihed [furnished] to Mr. [deleted name] of the Emergency Program Center, Justice Department, in the a.m.
All of the above information has been furnished during the day to Mr. James B. Adams, Associate Director, and James O. Ingram, Deputy Assistant Director.