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 17, including serials 1316-1360. Most are dated mid-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 1350 would be cited as “RYMUR 89-4286-1350.”
Serial
|
# of Pages
|
Date
|
Office of Origin
|
Description
|
PDF
|
Text
|
1316 | 2 | 12/20 | FBI-DE | HAM radio operator reports contacts with Jonestown | Text | |
1317 | 2 | 12/19 | FBI-SF | FBI to notify potential target on hit list | Text | |
1318 | 1 | 12/20 | FBI-WFO | [RYMUR administrative memo] | Text | |
1319 | 1 | 12/20 | FBI-SF | [RYMUR administrative memo] | Text | |
1320 | 3 | 12/21 | Amb Georgetown | Discussion of Temple assets in Guyana | Text | |
1321 | 3 | 12/20 | SECSTATE | Sky marshals to fly with survivors | Text | |
1322 | 2 | 12/20 | Amb Panama | US needs assistance in working with Panama banks | Text | |
1323 | 2 | 12/20 | Amb Panama | Discussion of Temple assets in Panama bank | Text | |
1324 | 3 | 12/19 | FBI-DE | Group in Grand Rapids, MI unrelated to Peoples Temple | Text | |
1325 | 3 | 12/20 | Legat Mexico | Mexican contact to get info on Schacht in medical school | Text | |
1326 | 2 | 12/20 | Amb Panama | [Dupe of 1322] | Text | |
1327 | 2 | 12/20 | Amb Panama | [Referral; dupe of 1323] | Text | |
1328 | 2 | 12/20 | Amb Georgetown | [RYMUR administrative memo] + Guyana court proceedings on Jones and Beikman | Text | |
1329 | 2 | 12/20 | Amb Georgetown | [Dupes of 1328, 1381, 1387] | Text | |
1330 | 2 | 12/18 | Amb Georgetown | [Referral; dupe of 1515] | Text | |
1331 | 2 | 12/13 | FBI-LA | Rumor of JJ linked to scam involving sugar sales | Text | |
1332 | 2 | 12/20 | SECSTATE | [Dupe of 1522] | Text | |
1333 | 2 | 12/20 | SECSTATE | [Dupe of 1342] | Text | |
1334 | 2 | 12/18 | Amb Georgetown | [Referral; dupe of 1274] | Text | |
1335 | 2 | 12/19 | FBI-SJ | HAM radio operator to provide tapes | Text | |
1336 | 3 | 12/20 | FBI-SC | PT files for dissolution | Text | |
1337 | 5 | 12/20 | FBI-SC | [dupe of 1336] | Text | |
1338 | 2 | 12/20 | FBI-DE | Efforts to contact two potential witnesses unsuccessful | Text | |
1339 | 4 | 12/20 | FBI-DE | [dupe of 1338] | Text | |
1340 | 1 | 12/18 | FBI-HQ | [RYMUR administrative memo] | Text | |
1341 | 4 | 12/20 | AmEmb Bern | Temple funds in Switzerland | Text | |
1342 | 3 | 12/20 | AmEmb Georgetown | Protection of US assets in Guyana [dupe of 1320] | Text | |
1343 | 2 | 12/20 | State | [Dupe of 1341 and 1342] | Text | |
1344 | 2 | 12/20 | FBI-Springfield | FBI investigates alleged link between Arizona church and PT | Text | |
1345 | 6 | 12/21 | SECSTATE | Text of Washington Post article about JT survivor criticizing US | Text | |
1346 | 3 | 12/21 | FBI-Phila | FBI investigates alleged link between journalist and PT | Text | |
1347 | 3 | 12/21 | FBI-SC | Interview with Jeanette Kerns | Text | |
1348 | 8 | 12/20 | FBI-SF | Grand jury receives info on Panama bank accounts | Text | |
1349 | 2 | 12/21 | FBI-Cincinnati | Interviews with former member, relatives of Temple member | Text | |
1350 | 3 | 12/22 | AmEmb Georgetown | Preliminary inquest of Larry Layton | Text | |
1351 | 3 | 12/10 | FBI-SF | Grand jury info | Text | |
1352 | 2 | 12/21 | Legat Mexico | Temple bank accounts | Text | |
1353 | 11 | 12/22 | FBI-BQMRA | Interviews provided by JT survivors, PK witnesses, PT members | Text | |
1354 | 2 | 12/22 | FBI-NO | Former member considers lawsuit against Lane | Text | |
1355 | 7 | 12/12 | FBI-BU | Newspaper articles | Text | |
1356 | 33 | 12/13 | FBI-LA | PT members in letter-writing campaign against Medlocks | Text | |
1357 | 2 | 12/16 | SECSTATE | [Referral; dupe of 1297] | Text | |
1358 | 2 | 12/19 | FBI-New Haven | HAM radio operator reports contacts with JT | Text | |
1359 | 1 | 12/20 | AmEmb Georgetown | Members of basketball team listed | Text | |
1360 | 3 | 12/20 | AmEmb Georgetown | [dupe of 1359] | 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.