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 28, including serials 1831-1911. All are dated February 1979.
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 1850 would be cited as “RYMUR 89-4286-1850.”
| Serial | # of pages | Date | Office of Origin | Description | Text | |
| 15 | Section 28 Administrative memoranda | Text | ||||
| 1831 | 2 | 2/1 | FBI-SF | Reinterview with Julius Evans | Text | |
| 1832 | 2 | 2/1 | FBI-ME | Effort to interview Teri Buford about PT finances | Text | |
| 1833 | 1 | 2/2 | FBI-El Paso | Transmittal of two documents | Text | |
| 1834 | 3 | 2/1 | AmEmb Georgetown | Hearing into Amos murder | Text | |
| 1835 | 3 | 2/1 | AmEmb Georgetown | Hearing into Amos murder | Text | |
| 1836 | 3 | 2/5 | FBIHQ | Effort to interview Richard Janaro about PT finances | Text | |
| 1837 | 8 | 2/6 | FBI-SF | Interview with Helen Swinney on Temple finances; RYMUR list of PT bank accounts | Text | |
| 1838 | 17 | 2/6 | FBIHQ | Daily log of Military Command Center after Ryan assassination | Text | |
| 1839 | 1 | 2/6 | FBI-SF | FBI to review 250 cassettes from Jonestown | Text | |
| 1840 | 51 | 2/7 | FBIHQ | GOG provides records of cash from PT, passport info of Ann Moore, Guyana inquest | Text | |
| 1841 | 3 | 2/6 | SecState | PT funds in Switzerland | Serial 1841 | Text |
| 1842 | 2 | 2/8 | FBIHQ | [dupe of 1846] | Text | |
| 1843 | 2 | 2/12 | FBI-SF | Grandmother of Stephanie Brown files child stealing charges | Text | |
| 1844 | 3 | 2/6 | AmEmb Georgetown | Stephan Jones charges dismissed | Text | |
| 1846 | 2 | 2/8 | FBI-SF | FBI attempts to trace route of Cudjoe | Text | |
| 1847 | 2 | 2/9 | FBIHQ | FBI identifies 15 additional bodies, body numbers | Text | |
| 1848 | 2 | 2/8 | AmEmb Georgetown | [Retransmittal of Serial 1879] | Text | |
| 1849 | 8 | 2/8 | FBIHQ | Translation of PT stock/business transaction in Panama | Text | |
| 1850 | 3 | 2/8 | FBIHQ | Q 054 tape of radio broadcast is in code | Text | |
| 1851 | 22 | 2/7 | FBI-SF | Interviews sent to Guyana for prosecution of Larry Layton (FBI narrative of PK shootings) | Text | |
| 1852 | 5 | 2/6 | AmEmb Georgetown | Hearing into Amos murder | Text | |
| 1853 | 16 | 2/6 | Legat Caracas | Description of some Jonestown tapes | Text | |
| 1854 | 2 | 2/5 | AmEmb Georgetown | Hearing into Amos murder | Text | |
| 1855 | 1 | 1/29 | FBIHQ | Skip Roberts to travel to DC | Text | |
| 1856 | 1 | 1/17 | FBIHQ | FBI considers “limited domestic security investigation” of PT | Text | |
| (after) 1856 | 4 | 2/6-15 | FBIHQ | Transmittal sheets for tapes | Text | |
| 1857 | 1 | 2/13 | FBI-SF | Stephanie Brown returns home | Text | |
| 1858 | 22 | 2/13 | FBI-WFO | Interview of Richard McCoy | Text | |
| 1859 | 1 | 2/13 | FBIHQ | Stephan Jones to leave Guyana [retransmittal of 1861] | Text | |
| 1860 | 2 | 2/12 | FBI-ME | Effort to interview Teri Buford about PT finances | Text | |
| 1861 | 1 | 2/13 | AmEmb Georgetown | Stephan Jones wishes to return to US | Text | |
| 1862 | 1 | 2/12 | AmEmb Georgetown | Trial delay for Larry Layton | Text | |
| 1863 | 1 | 2/12 | Legat Caracas | FBI considers issues raised by Guyana inquest | Text | |
| 1864 | 1 | 2/12 | Legat Caracas | Stephan Jones to leave Guyana | Text | 1866 | 1 | 2/9 | AmEmb Georgetown | Stephan Jones has been released, Layton and Beikman still in custody | Text |
| 1867 | 2 | 2/9 | FBIHQ | FBI Lab has two typewritten pages of particular typewriter | Text | |
| 1869 | 4 | 2/8 | FBI Identification Section | FBI identifies body of Marie Howard, aka Marie Duckett | Text | |
| 1870 | 4 | 2/2 | US DOJ | GOG provides PT cash records, passports of A. Moore. M. Katsaris, A. McGowan | Text | |
| 1871 | 2 | 2/7 | FBI Identification Section | FBI identifies body of Brian Bouquet | Text | |
| 1874 | 2 | 1/12 | FBI-SF | Informant has info on JT tragedy, will exchange for visa for girlfriend | Text | |
| 1875 | 1 | [Document withheld under b1] | Text | |||
| 1876 | 5 | 1/31 | FBIHQ | FBI Lab files reports on firearms, tapes | Text | |
| 1877 | 1 | 1/27 | AmEmb Georgetown | Stephan Jones counsel didn’t suggest contempt of court charges | Text | |
| 1878 | 10 | 1/5 | FBIHQ | Notes on tape boxes | Text | |
| 1879 | 1 | 2/8 | FBI-SF | Stephan Jones to leave Guyana | Text | |
| 1880 | 4 | 2/14 | FBI Identification Section | FBI identifies body of Eva Pugh | Text | |
| 1882 | 2 | 2/16 | FBIHQ | FBI checks Guyana inquest against grand jury info | Text | |
| 1884 | 2 | 2/22 | FBI-SF | Lee Ingram to return to US | Text | |
| 1885 | 2 | 2/20 | Legat Caracas | FBI checks Guyana inquest against grand jury info | Text | |
| 1886 | 1 | 2/21 | Legat Caracas | Lee Ingram to return to US | Text | |
| 1887 | 2 | 2/20 | FBIHQ | [retransmittal of 1885] | Text | |
| 1888 | 2 | 2/22 | FBI-BQMRA | Sky marshal will accompany Stephan Jones on flight | Text | |
| 1889 | 2 | 2/21 | FBI-BQMRA | FBI learns Sandy Bradshaw married to Lee Ingram | Text | |
| 1890 | 2 | 2/23 | FBI-LA | FBI surveils address for evidence of gold holdings | Text | |
| 1891 | 10 | 2/6 | FBIHQ | List of physical items recovered from bodies in JT | Text | |
| 1892 | 1 | 2/9 | FBI-SF | Transmittal for photographs of PK airstrip | Text | |
| 1893 | 2 | 2/26 | FBIHQ | Crates of PT evidence en route to US | Text | |
| 1894-0 | 7 | 2/26 | FBI in Georgetown | FBI report of investigation in Guyana: Introductory pages | Text | |
| 1894-1 | 14 | 1/5 | Sampling of checks recovered from Jonestown | Text | ||
| 1894-2 | 44 | 12/4 | Contents of Shirley Edwards folder recovered from Jonestown | Text | ||
| 1894-3 | 12 | 12/4 | Contents of briefcase found in Robin Tschetter’s room, Lamaha Gardens | Text | ||
| 1894-4 | 28 | 12/4 | Contents of briefcase found in Sharon Amos’ room, Lamaha Gardens | Text | ||
| 1894-5 | 21 | 12/11 | Guyana police investigations, autopsies of PK, GT dead | Text | ||
| 1894-6 | 4 | 12/14 | Suicide note of Annie Moore | Text | ||
| 1894-7 | 2 | 12/15 | Suicide note of Maria Katsaris | Text | ||
| 1894-8 | 8 | 12/14 | Guyana police report on PK murders | Text | ||
| 1894-9 | 5 | 12/14 | Letters of instruction of Temple accounts, recovered from Mike Prokes | Text | ||
| 1894-10 | 2 | 12/15 | Mootoo statements on manner of deaths in JT | Text | ||
| 1894-11 | 1 | 12/8 | Review of 22 tape recordings found at JT | Text | ||
| 1894-12 | 1 | 12/5 | Review of White Night tape | Text | ||
| 1894-13 | 1 | 12/21 | Review of Last Hour tape | Text | ||
| 1894-14 | 1 | 12/14 | 5 cases of tapes found at JT | Text | ||
| 1894-15 | 1 | 12/21 | Custody of Last Hour tape | Text | ||
| 1894-16 | 1 | 12/21 | Custody of Jonestown tapes | Text | ||
| 1894-17 | 1 | 12/21 | Custody of Jonestown tapes | Text | ||
| 1894-18 | 5 | 12/15 | Inventory of radio equipment, photos | Text | ||
| 1894-19 | 4 | 12/4 | Statement of Emboff Richard Martin | Text | ||
| 1894-20 | 1 | 12/4 | 2nd statement of Emboff Richard Martin | Text | ||
| 1894-21 | 7 | 12/20 | FBI conducts firearm examination | Text | ||
| 1894-22 | 1 | 12/14 | Discussion of evidence recovered at JT | Text | ||
| 1894-23 | 1 | 12/15 | Discussion of evidence recovered at JT | Text | ||
| 1896 | 1 | 2/23 | Legat Caracas | Privacy Act concerns | Text | |
| 1898 | 2 | 2/23 | FBI-Albany | Interview of relative of Sandy Bradshaw | Text | |
| (after) 1899 | 2 | 12/9 | INS | Informant has info on JT tragedy, will exchange for visa for girlfriend | Text | |
| 1900 | 4 | 2/22 | FBI-BQMRA | HAM radio operator reports JT contacts | Text | |
| 1901 | 3 | 2/22 | FBI-MM | Lee Ingram arrives in US | Text | |
| 1902 | 3 | 2/22 | FBIHQ | [retransmittal of 1901] | Text | |
| 1903 | 4 | 2/21 | FBI-ME | Interview with Teri Buford | Text | |
| 1904 | 4 | 2/22 | FBIHQ | [dupe of 1903] | Text | |
| 1905 | 1 | 2/21 | FBI-SF | Crates of evidence arrive in US | Text | |
| 1906 | 2 | 2/21 | AmEmb Georgetown | Return of Temple member to US | Text | |
| 1907 | 8 | 2/21 | FBI-BQMRA | Photos of Jonestown survivors [photocopied] | Text | |
| (after) 1907 | 1 | 2/1 | FBI-New Rochelle | Missing person unrelated to JT found | Text | |
| (after) 1908 | 1 | 2/26 | FBIHQ | Transmittal sheet for photographs | Text | |
| 1909 | 3 | 2/19 | AmEmb Georgetown | Trial of Larry Layton begins | Text | |
| 1911 | 3 | 2/17 | FBI-SF | Copies of missing pages from Guyana inquest | 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 April 1st, 2019.
Last modified on July 17th, 2022.