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 30, including serials 1980-2083. Almost all are dated March 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 2050 would be cited as “RYMUR 89-4286-2050.”
| Serial | # of pages | Date | Office of Origin | Description | Text | |
| 21 | Section 30 administrative memoranda | Text | ||||
| 1980 | 23 | 3/8 | FBI-BQMRA | Photographs of Stephan Jones | Text | |
| 1981 | 7 | 3/8 | FBIHQ | PT assets | Text | |
| 1982 | 3 | 3/6 | AmEmb Georgetown | Embassy reports on Rex McKay’s request that judge in Layton case recuse himself | Text | |
| 1983 | 4 | 3/9 | FBIHQ | Treasury checks in Guyana, survivor countersuits, GOG plans to monitor survivors | Text | |
| 1984 | 2 | 3/8 | FBI-SF | Charges dismissed against Layton in Guyana | Text | |
| 1985 | 4 | 3/12 | FBIHQ | JT’s self-incriminating letters, death threats released | Text | |
| 1986 | 6 | 2/27 | FBI-WFO | Interview with House committee investigator into Ryan’s death | Text | |
| 1987 | 1 | 3/12 | FBIHQ | FBI director rejects request for letters | Text | |
| 1988 | 3 | 3/12 | AmEmb Georgetown | [dupe of 1979] | Text | |
| 1989 | 6 | 3/13 | FBI-WFO | [dupe of 1985] | Text | |
| 1990 | 1 | 2/16 | Legat Caracas | Mootoo to furnish toxicology study for poison in JT | Text | |
| 1991 | 1 | 3/14 | FBIHQ | Mootoo delayed in furnishing toxicology study | Text | |
| (after) 1991 | 3 | 3/13 | FBIHQ | Photographic work ordered from FBI lab | Text | |
| 1992 | 1 | 3/14 | FBI-SC | Mike Prokes shoots self at news conference | Text | |
| 1993 | 1 | 3/14 | FBIHQ | [dupe of 1992] | Text | |
| 1994 | 1 | 3/15 | FBI-SF | Grand jury indicts Larry Layton | Text | |
| 1995 | 17 | 3/14 | FBI-SC | Statement of Mike Prokes before shooting himself | Text | |
| 1996 | 17 | 3/15 | FBIHQ | [dupe of 1995] | Text | |
| 1997 | 1 | 3/15 | Legat Caracas | GOG asks for return of some materials | Text | |
| 1998 | 1 | 3/6 | FBI-DE | Odell Rhodes may be recontacted by FBI | Text | |
| 1999 | 7 | 3/21 | FBIHQ | Description of bullets recovered from Chris Lewis murder scene | Text | |
| 2000 | 1 | 3/19 | FBI-SF | FBI requests materials from Prokes press conference | Text | |
| 2002 | 2 | 3/19 | AmEmb Georgetown | New York Times reports that “death tape” to be marketed | Text | |
| 2003 | 2 | 3/19 | FBIHQ | US contacts Panama regarding civil suits against PT | Text | |
| 2004 | 2 | 3/18 | FBI Identification Section | FBI unable to match footprints to any of JT dead | Text | |
| 2005 | 1 | 3/15 | FBI-SF | Grand jury lists unindicted codefendants in case against Layton | Text | |
| 2006 | 4 | 3/16 | FBIHQ | Report on suicide of Mike Prokes | Text | |
| 2006 (post) | 1 | 3/13 | DOJ Criminal Division | Criminal Investigative Division memo on RYMUR investigation | Text | |
| 2007 | 5 | 3/13 | FBI-SF | [dupe of 1985] | Text | |
| 2007 (post) | 6 | 2/27 | FBI-Boston | Source claims to sell gold on behalf of PT | Text | |
| 2012 | 6 | 3/9 | SecState | Embassy has questions about Temple checks in Guyana, suit filed by survivors | Text | |
| 2013 | 4 | 3/9 | FBI Identification Section | FBI identifies body of Irma Gill | Text | |
| 2014 | 24 | 3/7 | DOJ Civil Division | Temple articles of incorporation in other countries | Text | |
| 2015 | 2 | 2/16 | FBIHQ | Memo on Mootoo trip to USA [dupe of 1990]] | Text | |
| 2016 | 13 | 2/15 | Legat Caracas | Report on crates, passports found in JT, transferred to US | Text | |
| 2017 | 3 | 2/28 | FBIHQ | Short report from serology and firearm units of FBI | Text | |
| 2018 | 6 | 3/23 | FBI-SF | Guyana Evidence Index | Text | |
| 2019 | 1 | 3/28 | FBIHQ | Request for appearance before grand jury | Text | |
| 2020 | 1 | 3/22 | FBIHQ | State seeks to interview Norman Ijames | Text | |
| 2021 | 1 | 3/27 | FBIHQ | State seeks to interview Norman Ijames; follow-up to 2020 | Text | |
| 2022 | 4 | 3/27 | FBIHQ | Request for interview of, and letter from, CR member Clare Bouquet | Text | |
| 2023 | 9 | 3/27 | FBIHQ | Investigation of ties between PT and CPUSA; PT memos on issue | Text | |
| 2024 | 1 | 3/26 | Legat Caracas | Memo on grand jury appearance | Text | |
| 2025 | 1 | 3/26 | FBIHQ | Memo on grand jury appearance [retransmittal of 2024] | Text | |
| 2026 | 2 | 3/23 | FBI-SF | Memo on shipment of Guyana evidence transported to US | Text | |
| 2027 | 7 | 3/23 | FBI Identification Section | Report on fingerprints of JT survivors | Text | |
| 2028 | 1 | 3/23 | FBI-SF | Cover sheet for Guyana Evidence Index | Text | |
| 2029 | 1 | 3/12 | FBI-SF | Request for identification of fingerprints | Text | |
| 2030 | 2 | 3/22 | FBI Identification Section | Response to request for identification of fingerprints | Text | |
| 2031 | 2 | 3/21 | FBIHQ | [Retransmittal of 2048] | Text | |
| 2032 | 3 | 3/15 | AmEmb Georgetown | State Dept reply to Embassy question on Temple checks | Text | |
| 2033 | 2 | 3/16 | FBI-DE | Request to compare tape of JT broadcast with sample of JJ voice | Text | |
| 2034 | 3 | 3/15 | FBI-Milwaukee | Interview with HAM operator who claims GOG more deeply involved in JT | Text | |
| 2035 | 66 | 3/15 | FBI-SC | Report on Michael Prokes suicide, copy of suicide note & packet | Text | |
| 2036 | 1 | 3/13 | FBI-SC | Gov. Reagan advised of alleged hit list | Text | |
| 2039 | 2 | 2/16 | FBI-NY | Review of polygraph of unnamed Temple member | Text | |
| 2040 | 1 | 3/9 | FBIHQ | State looks into 1977 contacts with PT | Text | |
| 2042 | 2 | 3/13 | Legat Mexico | Cover memo for photo of Larry Schacht | Text | |
| 2043x | 2 | 2/14 | FBIHQ | Proposal to decipher PT radio codebooks | Text | |
| 2047 | 4 | 3/21 | FBI-SF | Request to travel to Guyana to meet Skip Roberts | Text | |
| 2048 | 2 | 3/21 | FBI-SF | FBI request to interview survivors who testified at coroner’s inquest | Text | |
| (after) 2048 | 1 | 3/21 | FBI-SF | Transfer page for photos | Text | |
| 2049 | 2 | 3/21 | FBIHQ | Identifications of two additional bodies | Text | |
| 2050 | 2 | 3/22 | Legat Caracas | Partial inventory of evidentiary materials shipped to US from Guyana | Text | |
| 2051 | 3 | 3/22 | FBI Identification Section | Report of fingerprint lab | Text | |
| 2052 | 1 | 3/22 | FBI-SF | US Atty seeks testimony of Embassy official (Dwyer 2054) before grand jury | Text | |
| 2053 | 1 | 3/22 | FBIHQ | [Retransmittal of Serial 2052] | Text | |
| (after) 2053 | 2 | FBI-NY | Transfer page for photos | Text | ||
| 2054 | 2 | 3/23 | AmEmb Georgetown | US Atty seeks testimony of Dwyer before grand jury | Text | |
| 2055 | 1 | 3/23 | FBI-SF | FBI review of evidence shows no bearer certificates | Text | |
| 2056 | 2 | 3/23 | FBIHQ | [Retransmittal of 2026] | Text | |
| 2057 | 3 | 3/24 | SecState | State discusses Privacy Act in response to FBI for info | Text | |
| 2059 | 11 | 3/26 | FBIHQ | Report on audio-visual materials recovered from JT | Text | |
| (after) 2060 | 1 | 3/27 | FBIHQ | Transfer page for photos | Text | |
| 2061 | 2 | 3/27 | FBIHQ | Report on audio-visual materials recovered from JT | Text | |
| 2062 | 2 | 3/26 | AmEmb Georgetown | Mootoo says he made no formal report, did no toxicology of PK victims | Text | |
| 2063 | 1 | 3/28 | FBI-SF | US Atty seeks testimony of Embassy official (likely Dwyer) before grand jury | Text | |
| 2064 | 1 | 3/12 | FBI-SF | Report on dental records of Selika Bordenave | Text | |
| 2065 | 2 | 3/28 | FBI Identification Section | Report on dental records of Selika Bordenave | Text | |
| 2066 | 1 | 3/29 | FBI-BQMRA | Report on xerox materials shipped to FBI from Guyana | Text | |
| 2067 | 1 | 3/29 | FBIHQ | Report on xerox materials shipped to FBI from Guyana (dupe of 2066) | Text | |
| 2068 | 2 | 3/29 | FBIHQ | Authorization for SF FBI agent to travel to Guyana | Text | |
| 2069 | 3 | 3/29 | FBIHQ | Authorization for SF FBI agent to travel to Guyana | Text | |
| 2070 | 2 | 3/29 | FBI-SF | State seeks to interview Norman Ijames | Text | |
| (after) 2071 | 1 | 3/30 | FBIHQ | Transfer page for photos | Text | |
| 2072 | 1 | 4/2 | FBI-MM | Monarch Aviation reveals that Norman Ijames working for them | Text | |
| 2073 | 8 | 4/2 | FBI-BQMRA | Photos of Stephan Jones | Text | |
| 2077 | 2 | 4/2 | FBI-SF | Reports of tape in which PT members declare allegiance to socialism | Text | |
| 2079 | 2 | 4/3 | FBI-WFO | Report on efforts of three PT members applying for passports | Text | |
| 2080 | 2 | 4/4 | Legat Caracas | FBI reports on efforts to negotiate with GOG | Text | |
| 2081 | 1 | 4/5 | FBIHQ | Cover sheet for photos [not included] | Text | |
| 2082 | 2 | 3/8 | FBI-SF | Cover sheet for Guyana evidence [not included] | Text | |
| 2082x | 1 | 3/13 | FBI-SF | FBI requested to look into possibility of missing person being in JT | Text | |
| 2082×1 | 1 | 3/16 | FBIHQ | Cover sheet for photos | Text | |
| 2083 | 1 | 3/21 | FBIHQ | Investigation into PT relationship with Soviet Union | 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 August 1st, 2022.