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 9, including serials 727-795. Most are dated from either the last few days of November or first few days of December 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 750 would be cited as “RYMUR 89-4286-750.”
Serial
|
# of Pages
|
Date
|
Office of Origin
|
Description
|
PDF
|
Text
|
727 | 1 | 11/30 | FBIHQ | Transmittal sheet of Ryan autopsy report | Text | |
728 | 1 | 11/23 | FBIHQ | HAM operator reports contacts with JT | Text | |
729 | 6 | 11/25 | FBI-SF | Affidavit outlining Jim Cobb version of events at Port Kaituma airstrip | Text | |
730 | 4 | 11/27 | FBIHQ | Statement of PC member, status of survivors | Text | |
731 | 11 | 11/28 | FBI-Tampa | Letters, postcards sent to HAM’s; news articles | Text | |
732 | 1 | 11/27 | FBIHQ | Webster letter to Vance urging State Dept. cooperation | Text | |
733 | 1 | 11/30 | FBIHQ | Memo on desirability of conducting autopsies | Text | |
734 | 1 | 11/30 | FBI-SF | Notice of grand jury subpoena | Text | |
735 | 3 | 11/30 | FBI-SF | Daily summary: subpoena; Buford testimony; returning survivors [Dupe of 686] | Text | |
736 | 5 | 11/30 | FBIHQ | Letter to FBI about danger of cults | Text | |
737 | 4 | 12/1 | FBIHQ | Request to classify certain info as natl security | Text | |
738 | 17 | 12/1 | FBI-DL | Former members speak of hit list, firearms acquisition, drugs [duplicate of 786] | Text | |
739 | 4 | 12/1 | FBI-SF | Negotiations for Buford testimony, Freitas request | Text | |
740 | 9 | 12/4 | FBI-NY | Letter from Marion Campbell, written before deaths | Text | |
741 | 2 | 12/4 | FBI-SC | FBI negotiates for interview with Dymally | Text | |
742 | 2 | 12/4 | FBIHQ | Three survivors returning to US | Text | |
743 | 4 | 12/4 | FBIHQ | FBI seeks corroboration of testimony on hit list | Text | |
744 | 2 | 12/4 | FBIHQ | Two possible shooters not yet among identified dead | Text | |
745 | 2 | 12/5 | AmEmb Georgetown | List of survivors returning to US | Text | |
746 | 7 | 12/5 | AmEmb Georgetown | US must take care of survivors until repatriation | Text | |
747 | 5 | 12/5 | FBI-SJ | Interview with survivors from Albatross, PT boat | Text | |
748 | 9 | 12/5 | FBI-WFO | Interview with Joe Holsinger | Text | |
749 | 2 | 12/5 | FBI-BQMRA | Summary of interview with JT survivors; subpoenas sought | Text | |
750 | 3 | 12/5 | FBI-IP | Interview with former members | Text | |
751 | 1 | 12/5 | State | Returning survivors asked about compromising relations with USG officials | Text | |
752 | 2 | 12/5 | AmEmb Bridgetown | Charles Touchette asks for whereabouts of son | Text | |
753 | 2 | 12/5 | AmEmb Bridgetown | Charles Touchette asks for whereabouts of son | Text | |
754 | 3 | 12/5 | FBI-AX | Interview with Lester Kinsolving | Text | |
755 | 1 | 12/5 | FBIHQ | FBI locates Temple bank accounts, source of cyanide | Text | |
756 | 1 | 12/5 | FBI-LA | Ronald Reagan notified of existence on hit list | Text | |
757 | 2 | 12/5 | FBI-SC | PT member claims to have bombed train | Text | |
758 | 2 | 12/5 | SECSTATE | Sky marshals assigned to accompany Temple members | Text | |
759 | 4 | 12/5 | FBI-Oklahoma City | Soldier in clean-up reports evidence of drug smuggling | Text | |
760 | 1 | 12/4 | FBI-SF | LA Times reports hit list | Text | |
761 | 2 | 12/4 | FBI-SF | PT dissolution filed; Buford testimony; hit list | Text | |
762 | 3 | 12/5 | FBI-SJ | Interview with NBC producer Bob Flick | Text | |
763 | 4 | 12/4 | FBI-SF | Interview with former Planning Comm member | Text | |
764 | 1 | 12/6 | FBI-LA | FBI unable to locate mother of David Wise | Text | |
765 | 3 | 12/6 | FBI-LA | Interview with Nell Smart | Text | |
766 | 2 | 12/6 | FBI-LA | Hue Fortson loads truck outside LA PT | Text | |
767 | 3 | 12/6 | FBI-LA | Interview with friend of JT survivor Monica Bagby | Text | |
768 | 2 | 12/5 | FBI-SF | Buford testimony; subpoenas for survivors | Text | |
769 | 9 | 12/5 | Amemb Georgetown | US Embassy comments on NYT interview with Jackie Speier | Text | |
770 | 1 | 12/5 | FBI-BQMRA | Negotiations for Buford interview | Text | |
771 | 2 | 12/5 | FBI-SC | Jones 1973 arrest not sealed | Text | |
772 | 1 | 12/5 | FBI-BQMRA | Survivors due to arrive in NYC | Text | |
773 | 3 | 12/5 | Amemb Georgetown | Contents of JT guest book | Text | |
774 | 9 | 12/5 | FBI-MM | Interview with survivors | Text | |
775 | 27 | 12/6 | FBIHQ | Letter to FBI about “Jones cult,” with news clips | Text | |
776 | 3 | 11/22 | FBIHQ | DOJ memo on crimes committed in Guyana | Text | |
777 | 23 | none | FBIHQ | Letter to FBI about uninvestigated allegations | Text | |
778 | 9 | 11/25 | FBI-BT | Interview with sympathetic relative | Text | |
779 | 2 | 11/27 | FBIHQ | Concerned citizen letter to FBI about JJ | Text | |
780 | 2 | 11/29 | FBI-SF | Freitas letter to FBI requesting access to interviews | Text | |
781 | 3 | 11/30 | SECSTATE | Dispositions remains of Touchette family | Text | |
782 | 3 | 11/21 | FBI-TP | HAM operator reports contacts with JT | Text | |
783 | 2 | none | FBIHQ | Autopsy protocols discussed | Text | |
784 | 5 | 12/1 | FBI-ME | FBI follows up on Memphis contact with Mark Lane break-in | Text | |
785 | 2 | 12/1 | FBI-BA | Medical condition of Jackie Speier | Text | |
786 | 16 | 12/1 | FBI-DL | Extended interview by former leader | Text | |
787 | 3 | 12/1 | FBI-BA | Description of items recovered from bodies in Dover | Text | |
788 | 3 | 12/1 | Amemb Georgetown | Custody of Albatross | Text | |
789 | 2 | 12/1 | FBI-Phoenix | Contact with Sen. Goldwater’s office yields no info | Text | |
790 | 2 | 12/1 | FBI-CG | HAM operator reports contacts with JT | Text | |
791 | 1 | 12/1 | FBIHQ | FBI asks State for correspondence regarding PT | Text | |
792 | 2 | 12/1 | FBIHQ | FBI to examine tape recordings from JT | Text | |
793 | 34 | 12/1 | FBIHQ | JT community letter to Van de Kamp protesting persecution | Text | |
794 | 8 | none | FBIHQ | Letter to FBI from former Temple member | Text | |
795 | 1 | 12/1 | FBIHQ | Transmittal page | 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.