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 12, including serials 916-970. With very few exceptions, all are dated either December 7 or December 8, 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 950 would be cited as “RYMUR 89-4286-950.”
Serial
|
# of Pages
|
Date
|
Office of Origin
|
Description
|
PDF
|
Text
|
916 | 2 | 12/7 | FBIHQ | ATF investigation | Text | |
Unnumbered serial after 916 | 1 | 12/4 | State | Termination of Guyana Working Group | Text | |
Unnumbered serial after 916 | 2 | 12/8 | FBI-Tampa | Transmittal sheets for audiotapes | Text | |
917 | 2 | 12/7 | FBI-LA | PT radios turned over to MacDill AFB | Text | |
918 | 2 | 12/7 | FBIHQ | Re-interview of Nell Smart | Text | |
919 | 3 | 12/5 | FBIHQ | Identification of bodies, with body numbers | Text | |
920 | 2 | 12/7 | FBIHQ | Identification of bodies, with body numbers | Text | |
921 | 1 | 12/7 | FBIHQ | FBI warns to take death threats seriously | Text | |
922 | 2 | 12/5 | FBIHQ | [Referral; duplicate of 745] | Text | |
923 | 4 | 12/7 | FBIHQ | Unrelated case investigated; JJ personal papers to be sold | Text | |
924 | 5 | 12/6 | FBIHQ | FBI interview of Lane and Buford | Text | |
925 | 7 | 12/7 | FBIHQ | Interview by former member Faith Kice | Text | |
926 | 5 | 12/7 | FBIHQ | Summaries of interviews with Phil Kerns, others | Text | |
927 | 1 | 12/7 | FBIHQ | [continuation of serial 925] | Text | |
928 | 2 | 12/7 | FBIHQ | FBI identification on Jim Jones arrest record released | Text | |
929 | 1 | 12/7 | FBIHQ | Papers, death tape to be transported to WDC | Text | |
930 | 2 | 12/7 | FBIHQ | Autopsy protocol | Text | |
931 | 2 | 12/7 | FBI-BQMRA | Survivors return to US | Text | |
932 | 2 | 12/7 | FBI-SF | HAM operator reports contacts with JT | Text | |
933 | 2 | 12/7 | FBI-SF | Summary: Survivors return; HAM communications; bank accounts | Text | |
934 | 22 | 12/7 | FBI-BQMRA | Interview with basketball team members | Text | |
935 | 2 | 12/7 | FBI-LA | FBI follows false lead on connection to PT | Text | |
936 | 2 | 12/7 | USSS | Assessment of assassination threat | Text | |
937 | 4 | 12/7 | FBI-CG | HAM operator reports contacts with JT | Text | |
938 | 2 | 12/7 | FBI-NY | FBI traces ship suspected of PT connection | Text | |
939 | 2 | 12/8 | FBI-LV | Ann Moore, Carolyn Layton autopsies | Text | |
940 | 1 | 12/4 | FBI-SD | FBI follows leads of PT members | Text | |
941 | 1 | 12/7 | Amemb Georgetown | 17 Temple members depart Guyana | Text | |
942 | 2 | 12/7 | FBI-SF | Lane, Buford report location of PT bank accounts | Text | |
943 | 3 | 12/8 | FBI-BQMRA | Survivor arrives in US | Text | |
944 | 1 | 12/8 | FBI-SF | FBI follows up break-ins at Lane’s | Text | |
945 | 1 | 12/8 | FBI-SF | PT bank account info | Text | |
946 | 4 | 12/7 | FBI-WFO | Ryan briefcase; anonymous calls to Ryan family; FCC tapes | Text | |
947 | 2 | 12/8 | FBI-Las Vegas | Ann Moore, Carolyn Layton autopsy protocol | Text | |
948 | 2 | 12/8 | FBI-New Haven | HAM operator reports contacts with JT | Text | |
949 | 2 | 12/8 | FBI-Indianapolis | FBI follows lead given by Jim Jones Jr. | Text | |
950 | 1 | 12/8 | State | State Dept examines Temple allegations against Embassy | Text | |
951 | 1 | 12/8 | FBI-BQMRA | Richard Clark claims Jim Jr. & Tim Jones harassed dissenters | Text | |
952 | 2 | 12/8 | FBI-SF | FBI investigates connection between PT and Freitas | Text | |
953 | 1 | 12/8 | FBI-SF | US seeks dismissal of charges against dead PK shooters | Text | |
954 | 2 | 12/8 | FBI-DL | PT members requests no further contact from FBI | Text | |
955 | 1 | 12/8 | FBI-SF | Transmittal letter for photos | Text | |
956 | 5 | 12/8 | FBIHQ | US investigates questions of assets and individual PT members | Text | |
957 | 5 | 12/8 | FBIHQ | Autopsy protocol | Text | |
958 | 2 | 12/8 | FBIHQ | Processing of JT documents | Text | |
959 | 2 | 12/8 | FBIHQ | FBI to contact provider of cyanide in New York | Text | |
960 | 3 | 12/8 | FBIHQ | FBI to contact provider of cyanide in New York | Text | |
961 | 2 | 12/8 | FBIHQ | Body recovery team may be removing JT papers | Text | |
962 | 2 | 12/8 | FBIHQ | Identification of bodies | Text | |
963 | 9 | 12/7 | FBI-DL | [dupe of 925] | Text | |
964 | 2 | 12/8 | FBIHQ | Jim Jones autopsy protocol | Text | |
965 | 3 | 12/8 | FBIHQ | [dupe of 945] | Text | |
966 | 1 | 12/8 | FBIHQ | [RYMUR administrative memo] | Text | |
967 | 2 | 12/8 | FBI-CG | Church linked to PT denies connection | Text | |
968 | 2 | 12/9 | State | State acknowledges discovery of tape of last hour | Text | |
969 | 2 | 12/9 | FBI-BT | FBI follows up lead on PT contact | Text | |
970 | 2 | 12/9 | FBI-Seattle | Attorney for Richard Cordell seeks immunity | 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.