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 20, including serials 1461-1515. Most are dated from late December 1978 or early January 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 1504 would be cited as “RYMUR 89-4286-1504.”
Serial
|
# of Pages
|
Date
|
Office of Origin
|
Description
|
PDF
|
Text
|
1461 | 2 | 12/28 | State | [Referral; dupe of 1460] | Text | |
1462 | 4 | 12/27 | FBI-SF | [Dupe of 1454] | Text | |
1463 | 2 | 12/28 | AmEmb Georgetown | [Referral; dupe of 1464] | Text | |
1464 | 2 | 12/28 | AmEmb Georgetown | List of items shipped from Guyana to FBI in US | Text | |
1465 | 2 | 12/28 | FBI-BQMRA | Several survivors scheduled return to US; additional pages of fingerprint info | Text | |
1466 | 7 | 12/28 | FBI-BQMRA | Relatives returning to US turn over papers to FBI; fingerprint report | Text | |
1467 | 10 | 12/28 | FBI-BQMRA | PT record of Department of State form; early identifications of JT dead | Text | |
1468 | 3 | 12/28 | FBIHQ | Tapes and documents flown to US from Guyana | Text | |
1469 | 3 | 12/27 | State | Sky marshals to accompany survivors | Text | |
1470 | 2 | 12/28 | AmEmb Georgetown | [Referral; dupe of 1419] | Text | |
1471 | 5 | 12/28 | FBI-BQMRA | Relatives returning to US turn over papers to FBI | Text | |
1472 | 9 | 12/28 | FBI-BQMRA | Interview with Sharla Evans; FBI collects phone numbers | Text | |
1473 | 15 | 12/28 | FBI-Baltimore | Interview with Steve Sung, Ron Javers | Text | |
1474 | 2 | 12/29 | AmEmb Georgetown | [Referral; dupe of 1477] | Text | |
1475 | 2 | 12/29 | Legat Bern | [Referral; dupe of 1480] | Text | |
1476 | 2 | 12/29 | AmEmb Georgetown | JT survivor leaves GT for US | Text | |
1477 | 2 | 12/29 | AmEmb Georgetown | Guyanese death certificate sent to US | Text | |
1478 | 2 | 12/29 | FBI-Knoxville | HAM operator requests return of tapes | Text | |
1479 | 3 | 12/29 | FBI-Newark | HAM radio operator reports contacts with JT | Text | |
1480 | 3 | 12/29 | Legat Bern | Panamanian bank accounts | Text | |
1481 | 2 | 12/29 | AmEmb Georgetown | [Referral; dupe of 1476] | Text | |
1482 | 5 | 12/28 | FBI-NY | HAM operator society puts out call for assistance from operators | Text | |
1483 | 3 | 12/28 | FBI-WFO | Informant claims JT deaths a plot of Lane & Garry to get Temple money | Text | |
1484 | 3 | 12/28 | FBI-SF | Background on, warning about, Helen Swinney | Text | |
1485 | 1 | 12/29 | FBIHQ | Dwyer, Krause located for interviews | Text | |
1486 | 4 | 12/29 | FBIHQ | Status of remaining survivors | Text | |
1487 | 3 | 12/29 | FBI-BQMRA | Interview with relative of Temple deceased | Text | |
1488 | 16 | 12/29 | FBI-BQMRA | Interview with Chris O’Neal | Text | |
1489 | 5 | 12/29 | FBI-BQMRA | Articles about Mark Lane | Text | |
1490 | 3 | 12/30 | FBI-BQMRA | Summaries of interviews | Text | |
1491 | 3 | 12/29 | FBI-MM | Summary of interview with “uncooperative” survivor, likely Odell Rhodes | Text | |
1492 | 2 | 12/29 | FBI-BQMRA | FBI discusses whether to inform returning survivors of right to counsel | Text | |
1493 | 3 | 12/30 | AmEmb Georgetown | Preliminary inquiry into Larry Layton | Text | |
1494 | 2 | 12/31 | AmEmb Georgetown | [Referral; dupe of 1496] | Text | |
1495 | 1 | 12/31 | FBI-BT | Carter brothers decline FBI interviews | Text | |
1496 | 3 | 12/31 | AmEmb Georgetown | US warns that local media will report on PT cash going to Soviet Embassy | Text | |
1497 | 2 | 1/2 | FBI-Tampa | Woman alleges Jones still alive, broadcasting on AM radio | Text | |
1498 | 1 | 1/2 | FBIHQ | Transmittal sheet for newspaper clippings [not attached] | Text | |
1499 | 4 | 12/27 | FBI-Tampa | HAM radio operator reports contacts with JT | Text | |
1500 | 2 | 1/3 | USSS | [Referral; dupe of 1554] | Text | |
1501 | 1 | 1/3 | FBI-LA | Relative reports JT survivor not interested in FBI interview | Text | |
1502 | 1 | 1/2 | FBI-SF | HAM tapes not received in SF | Text | |
1503 | 2 | 1/2 | FBI-WF | FBI seeks Charles Krause, believes he is “evading” interview | Text | |
1504 | 6 | 1/3 | AmEmb Georgetown | Preliminary inquiry into Larry Layton | Text | |
1505 | 2 | 1/2 | State | Ambassador to discuss disposal of PT assets | Text | |
1506 | 2 | 1/3 | FBIHQ | Fingerprint report | Text | |
1507 | 3 | 1/4 | FBI-LA | FBI follows up report [1497], finds unrelated to Jonestown | Text | |
1508 | 4 | 1/3 | State | Some PT survivors may elect to stay in GT permanently | Text | |
1509 | 5 | 12/17 | AmEmb Georgetown | Testimony in coroner’s inquest | Text | |
1510 | 1 | 1/2 | Legat Mexico | Bank account information [withheld under national security, later released] | Text | |
1511 | 1 | 12/10 | Legat Caracas | [RYMUR administrative memorandum] | Text | |
1512 | 3 | 12/11 | AmEmb Port of Spain | Bank records in Trinidad not public records | Text | |
1513 | 2 | 12/11 | AmEmb Port of Spain | [Referral; dupe of 1512] | Text | |
1514 | 21 | 12/18 | FBI-BQMRA | Fingerprints of returning JT survivors | Text | |
1515 | 10 | 12/18 | AmEmb Georgetown | [Dupe of 1246] | 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.