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 5, including serials 384-497. Almost all are dated during the second week – November 24-27, 1978 – following the Jonestown tragedy.
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 440 would be cited as “RYMUR 89-4286-440.”
|
Serial
|
# of Pages
|
Date
|
Office of Origin
|
Description
|
PDF
|
Text
|
| 384 | 3 | 11/25 | FBI-Milwaukee | HAM radio operator reports contacts with Jonestown | Text | |
| 385 | 2 | 11/25 | FBI-LA | Interview with man who knew Temple members, including Jones’ son | Text | |
| 386 | 1 | 11/20 | FBI-SF | Identification aids en route to Dover | Text | |
| 387 | 3 | 11/26 | FBIHQ | SF & St. Louis FBI tasked with investigating Layton and Beikman | Text | |
| 388 | 3 | 11/26 | SECSTATE | [Referral; duplicate of 391 & 481] | Text | |
| 389 | 7 | 11/25 | FBI-SF | FBI lays out legal theories on pursuing conspiracy charges | Text | |
| 390 | 6 | 11/25 | FBI-ME | Mark Lane alleges PT hired person to break into home; negotiates immunity for Buford | Text | |
| 391 | 2 | 11/26 | SECSTATE | Members of press coming to Charleston, SC for arrival of survivors | Text | |
| 392 | 1 | 11/26 | FBI-BA | Olivers return to US | Text | |
| 393 | 3 | 11/25 | FBI-Seattle | Interview with John Biddulph, member of Eight Revolutionaries | Text | |
| 394 | 2 | 11/20 | FBIHQ | Tentative ID of Jim & Marceline Jones as among JT dead | Text | |
| 395 | 1 | 11/26 | FBI-SF | Daily summary of investigation | Text | |
| 396 | 2 | 11/26 | SECSTATE | Arrangements made for returning survivors, press arriving | Text | |
| 397 | 4 | 11/26 | SECSTATE | State Dept suggests post-clean-up tasks for military | Text | |
| 398 | 1 | 11/26 | JCS | Military reports Jonestown cleared | Text | |
| 399 | 2 | 11/26 | SECSTATE | Embassy considers hiring local counsel to represent US interests | Text | |
| 400 | 3 | 11/26 | SECSTATE | Arrangements for survivors returning to Charleston | Text | |
| 401 | 2 | 11/26 | AmEmb Port of Spain | Albatross leaves Trinidad | Text | |
| 402 | 6 | 11/26 | USJTF | Military presence being dismantled | Text | |
| 403 | 2 | 11/26 | FBI-BU | FBI seeks interview with several HAM operators | Text | |
| 404 | 2 | 11/26 | FBI-SF | Medical records to help with ID said to be in JT | Text | |
| 405 | 1 | 11/26 | AmEmb Port of Spain | FBI agents visiting Barbados will be carrying guns | Text | |
| 406 | 1 | 11/26 | FBI-BA | FBI effort to interview HAM operator | Text | |
| 407 | 3 | 11/24 | FBI-WFO | FBI and State Dept have list of 900 people believed to have died | Text | |
| 408 | 2 | 11/26 | JCS | Diplomatic delay on return of survivors | Text | |
| 409 | 2 | 11/26 | AmEmb Georgetown | Ambassador didn’t meet Jim Jones, receive Blakey affidavit; does have CR petition | Text | |
| 410 | 1 | 11/26 | JCS | [duplicate of 398] | Text | |
| 411 | 7 | 11/25 | AmEmb Georgetown | Embassy considers hiring local counsel | Text | |
| 412 | 7 | 11/25 | SECSTATE | Task force supplies and equipment | Text | |
| 413 | 3 | 11/25 | FBI-AX | List of congressional party to Georgetown & Jonestown | Text | |
| 414 | 8 | 11/26 | USJTF | Primary clean-up mission completed | Text | |
| 415 | 1 | 11/26 | FBI-Phoenix | FBI effort to interview HAM operator | Text | |
| 416 | 3 | 11/26 | AmEmb Georgetown | Description of final check of body removal | Text | |
| 417 | 3 | 11/26 | SECSTATE | Embassy responses to press queries | Text | |
| 418 | 3 | 11/26 | SECSTATE | Authority for funding helicopter | Text | |
| 419 | 2 | 11/26 | AmEmb Georgetown | Miguel de Pina’s departure | Text | |
| 420 | 3 | 11/25 | AmEmb Georgetown | Update on Larry Layton arrest | Text | |
| 421 | 5 | 11/26 | AmEmb Georgetown | Update on Chuck Beikman arrest | Text | |
| 422 | 2 | 11/27 | SECSTATE | DOD assets in Guyana | Text | |
| 423 | 4 | 11/27 | JCS | Military reports 912 bodies, JT medical records airlifted to Dover | Text | |
| 424 | 6 | 11/27 | SECSTATE | List of Peoples Temple members | Text | |
| 425 | 1 | 11/26 | AmEmb Georgetown | Engagement of local counsel | Text | |
| 426 | 1 | 11/27 | AmEmb Port of Spain | FBI agents to meet Temple vessel in Barbados | Text | |
| 427 | 8 | 11/27 | FBI-IP | interview with Jones family member | Text | |
| 428 | 2 | 11/27 | FBI-BU | HAM radio operator reports contacts with Jonestown | Text | |
| 429 | 1 | 11/27 | FBI-BT | Travel of Terry Carter Jones to Guyana | Text | |
| 430 | 3 | 11/27 | JCS | Final report on transport of bodies to Dover [duplicate of 440] | Text | |
| 431 | 2 | 11/27 | FBI-NY | Temple survivor returns to US | Text | |
| 432 | 1 | 11/27 | Paris | [RYMUR administrative memo] | Text | |
| 433 | 1 | 11/27 | FBI-SF | Ryan’s office locates correspondence with Lane | Text | |
| 434 | 4 | 11/27 | FBI-MM | Interview with Walter Thain, Jonestown visitor; HAM radio operator reports contacts | Text | |
| 435 | 4 | 11/27 | FBI-LA | FBI searches real estate offices of Temple member Kay Nelson | Text | |
| 436 | 3 | 11/27 | AmEmb Bridgetown | FBI visiting Barbados will have to surrender weapons, PT members “undesired” | Text | |
| 437 | 4 | 11/27 | SECSTATE | Dover in difficult process of making ID; Guyana withholds fingerprint cards | Text | |
| 438 | 2 | 11/27 | FBI-SF | Olivers to arrive in California | Text | |
| 439 | 1 | 11/27 | AmEmb Georgetown | Luckhoo declines representation of Larry Layton | Text | |
| 440 | 3 | 11/27 | JCS | Final report on transport of bodies to Dover | Text | |
| 441 | 2 | 11/27 | FBI-Newark | HAM radio operator reports contacts with Jonestown | Text | |
| 442 | 3 | 11/27 | FBI-LA | Interview reveals relatives of PT members, Jonestown dead | Text | |
| 443 | 3 | 11/27 | FBI-Philadelphia | FBI effort to interview HAM operators | Text | |
| 444 | 1 | 11/27 | FBI-Newark | HAM radio operator reports contacts with Jonestown | Text | |
| 445 | 4 | 11/27 | FBI-TP | Interview with spouse of longtime Temple member | Text | |
| 446 | 2 | 11/27 | FBI-Milwaukee | HAM radio operator reports contacts with Jonestown | Text | |
| 447 | 2 | 11/27 | FBI-NY | Informant alleges drug smuggling into Jonestown | Text | |
| 448 | 2 | 11/27 | FBI-Milwaukee | Woman believes runaway daughter may have been in Jonestown | Text | |
| 449 | 5 | 11/27 | FBI-ME | Mark Lane alleges PT hired person to break into Memphis home | Text | |
| 450 | 2 | 11/27 | FBI-KC | FBI effort to interview HAM operators | Text | |
| 451 | 3 | 11/27 | FBI-IP | Interview with Mickey Touchette | Text | |
| 452 | 2 | 11/28 | FBI-SC | Calif. DMV receives requests for photos and thumb prints for ID | Text | |
| 453 | 1 | 11/27 | FBI-SF | SF FBI wants 13 hours of NBC tape | Text | |
| 454 | 1 | 11/28 | FBI-LA | LAPD reports no arrest records of Jim Jones, or assault on David Wise | Text | |
| 455 | 1 | 11/27 | FBI-SF | FBI effort to interview HAM operators | Text | |
| 456 | 5 | 11/27 | FBI-WFO | Results of efforts to interview HAM operators | Text | |
| 457 | 4 | 11/27 | FBI-SC | Alleged PT member files false report, asserts link between Dan White and PT | Text | |
| 458 | 1 | 11/28 | FBI-SF | Name added to death list | Text | |
| 459 | 3 | 11/27 | FBI-SF | List of survivors returning to US | Text | |
| 460 | 1 | 11/28 | FBI-LA | Witness refuses to talk to FBI | Text | |
| 461 | 1 | 11/28 | SECSTATE | Richard Janaro’s relative seek contact | Text | |
| 462 | 3 | 11/27 | FBI-Mobile | HAM radio operator reports contacts with Jonestown | Text | |
| 463 | 2 | 11/27 | JCS | Termination of crisis action team | Text | |
| 464 | 1 | 11/18 | State/FBI | Flash cable with first word of Ryan’s death to FBI | Text | |
| 465 | 1 | 11/20 | State Guyana Working Group | Guyanese Crisis Committee approves medevac and graves registration | Text | |
| 466 | 1 | 11/20 | State Guyana Working Group | Early count of deaths in JT, military aircraft en route | Text | |
| 467 | 4 | 11/22 | FBI-SF | Description of PT organization, operation [duplicate of 300] | Text | |
| 468 | 1 | 11/21 | State Guyana Working Group | State proposes to Embassy that bodies be buried on site | Text | |
| 469 | 1 | 11/22 | FBIHQ | Airlift of bodies to Dover AFB | Text | |
| 470 | 3 | 11/22 | State Guyana Working Group | Layton in custody; few survivors located; Next-of-kin being notified | Text | |
| 471 | 1 | 11/22 | FBIHQ | Establishment of RYMUR command center | Text | |
| 472 | 2 | 11/22 | State Guyana Working Group | Military operations report | Text | |
| 473 | 1 | 11/22 | FBI-New Haven | HAM radio operator reports contacts with Jonestown | Text | |
| 474 | 4 | 11/24 | FBI-SJ | FBI to interview JT survivors from PT boat Albatross arriving in Trinidad | Text | |
| 475 | 2 | 11/24 | FBIHQ | Daily FBI summary | Text | |
| 476 | 3 | 11/25 | FBI-BU | HAM magazine article on contacts with Jonestown | Text | |
| 477 | 2 | 11/26 | FBIHQ | Report of short phone call to FBI from someone with info on PT | Text | |
| 478 | 3 | 11/26 | FBIHQ | Daily FBI summary | Text | |
| 479 | 1 | 11/26 | FBIHQ | FBI informed PT medical and dental records should be in JT | Text | |
| 480 | 4 | 11/26 | SECSTATE | SitRep 21: last bodies removed; military “retrograde” underway; trial date for Layton | Text | |
| 481 | 2 | 11/26 | AmEmb Georgetown | Replies to questions about PT arrests | Text | |
| 482 | 8 | 11/26 | AmEmb Georgetown | Status of survivors | Text | |
| 483 | 2 | 11/26 | State Guyana Task Force | [duplicate of 480] | Text | |
| 484 | 9 | 11/27 | FBIHQ | Tish Leroy suicide note | Text | |
| 485 | 2 | 11/27 | FBIHQ | Secret Service requests interview with Stephan Jones, basketball team | Text | |
| 486 | 1 | 11/27 | FBIHQ | Ukiah dentist to assist in identification | Text | |
| 487 | 2 | 11/27 | FBIHQ | Dover AFB asks Guyana for fingerprint records of JT dead | Text | |
| 488 | 2 | 11/27 | FBIHQ | SitRep 21: last bodies removed; military “retrograde” underway; trial date for Layton | Text | |
| 489 | 4 | 11/24 | FBIHQ | FBI wants Leroy suicide note; GOG reports 78 survivors | Text | |
| 490 | 1 | 11/24 | FBIHQ | Alleged threats on Anthony Katsaris | Text | |
| 491 | 4 | 11/24 | FBIHQ | FBI seeks to interview Lane and Garry | Text | |
| 492 | 2 | 11/28 | FBI-SF | Name added to death list [dupe of 458] | Text | |
| 493 | 5 | 11/27 | FBI-SJ | Interview with Vern Gosney [dupe of 502] | Text | |
| 494 | 4 | 11/27 | FBI-SF | List of survivors returning to US [dupe of 459] | Text | |
| 495 | 1 | 11/27 | FBI-MM | Witness sought by FBI already interviewed | Text | |
| 496 | 2 | 11/27 | AmEmb Georgetown | Guyanese police take custody of physical evidence (Layton gun, 32 guns, briefcase) | Text | |
| 497 | 3 | 11/27 | FBI-NO | Interview with relatives of Selika Bordenave | 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.
Originally posted on March 24th, 2019.
Last modified on June 29th, 2022.