RYMUR Section 34 – Serials 2265-2320

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 34, including serials 2265-2320. Almost all are dated between August and October 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 2303 would be cited as “RYMUR 89-4286-2303.”

Serial # of Pages Date Office of Origin Description PDF Text
12 Section 34 RYMUR administrative memoranda PDF Text
2265 2 8/3 AmEmb Bern [duplicate of 2277] PDF Text
2266 4 7/20 Legat Bern [withheld under b7, previously deleted under b1] PDF Text
2267 2 8/13 FBI-SF FBI to approach GOG re: Layton PDF Text
2268 2 8/14 FBIHQ FBI to approach GOG re: Layton PDF Text
2269 1 6/7 FBI-SF FBI to request classified version of House report PDF Text
2270 2 8/13 FBI-SF FBI negotiations with GOG re: Layton PDF Text
2271 4 8/13 FBI-SF FBI negotiations with GOG re: Layton [duplicate of 2270] PDF Text
2272 2 8/15 FBIHQ FBI negotiations with GOG re: Layton PDF Text
2273 5 8/16 FBI-SF FBI assessment of GOG case vs. Layton PDF Text
2274 7 8/16 FBI-SF FBI assessment of GOG case vs. Layton [duplicate of 2273] PDF Text
2275 1 8/17 USDOJ Transmittal letter of fingerprint report (not attached) PDF Text
2276 4 8/13 FBIHQ FBI negotiations with GOG re: Layton (dupe of 2267) PDF Text
2277 3 8/13 AmEmb Bern Temple funds in Switzerland PDF Text
2278 2 8/16 FBI-SF [all deleted under b3, Rule 6e] PDF Text
2279 1 8/3 U.S. Congress Letter of thanks from from congressman for Castillo mother PDF Text
2280 1 8/16 FBIHQ Transmittal of letter of thanks PDF Text
2281 3 8/17 FBIHQ FBI negotiations with GOG re: Layton PDF Text
2282 2 8/16 FBI-SF FBI searches for PT cave in Mendocino County PDF Text
2283 1 8/20 FBIHQ FBI searches for PT cave in Mendocino County PDF Text
2284 1 12/27 FBIHQ Arrival of audiotapes from Georgetown PDF Text
2285 57 6/28 FBIHQ Listing of audiotapes from Guyana PDF Text
2286 43 3/6 FBIHQ Listing of audiotapes from Guyana PDF Text
2287 3 7/9 FBIHQ Transmittal of death tape PDF Text
2288 3 8/7 FBIHQ Memo that audio tapes cannot be enhanced PDF Text
2289 2 8/7 FBIHQ Letter to mother of Castillo PDF Text
2290 1 8/23 AmEmb Georgetown Embassy reports results of conversation with Skip Roberts PDF Text
2291 1 4/6 FBIHQ Discussion of death tape PDF Text
2294 6 8/28 U.S. Congress Letter re: custody request PDF Text
2295 1 8/29 FBIHQ FBI response to letter re: custody request PDF Text
2296 4 8/31 FBI-SF FBI negotiations with GOG re: Layton PDF Text
2297 6 8/31 FBIHQ [duplicate of 2296) PDF Text
2300 2 9/17 FBI-SF Witnesses against Layton reluctant to return to Guyana PDF Text
2301 3 9/18 FBIHQ FBI negotiations with GOG re: Layton PDF Text
2302 3 9/21 FBI-SF Declaration by witness to PT financial transactions [most withheld] PDF Text
2303 42 9/17 FBIHQ Discussion of, transcript of death tape PDF Text
(after) 2303 3 1/3 Outside source Return of Mike Prokes to US PDF Text
2305 2 10/1 FBIHQ [duplicate of 2314] PDF Text
2306 2 10/3 FBI-SF Laurence Mann expects kickback on apartment rental PDF Text
2307 3 10/5 Legat Bogota Statement of Larry Layton, 11/18/78 PDF Text
2308 5 10/5 FBIHQ Statement of Larry Layton, 11/18/78 (duplicate of 2307) PDF Text
2309 1 10/12 FBI-SF FBI negotiations with GOG re: Layton PDF Text
2310 3 10/12 FBIHQ FBI negotiations with GOG re: Layton (duplicate of 2309) PDF Text
2311 2 9/28 AmEmb Georgetown Embassy discusses L. Layton trial PDF Text
2312 2 9/28 FBIHQ [duplicate of 2311] PDF Text
2314 5 10/1 AmEmb Georgetown Confession of Larry Layton PDF Text
2315 4 10/23 Legat Bogota Guyana indictment against Layton PDF Text
2316 6 10/23 FBIHQ Guyana indictment against Layton (duplicate of 2315) PDF Text
2317 3 10/23 AmEmb Georgetown Oral confession of Larry Layton PDF Text
2318 2 10/23 FBIHQ [duplicate of 2317] PDF Text
2319 2 10/25 Legat Bogota Witnesses against Layton in Guyana trial PDF Text
2320 4 10/25 FBIHQ Witnesses against Layton in Guyana trial (duplicate of 2319) PDF 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.