RYMUR Section 38 – Serials 2581-2651

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 38, including serials 2581-2651. Almost all are dated in the first half of 1981.

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 2617 would be cited as “RYMUR 89-4286-2617.”

Serial # of pages Date Office of Origin Description PDF Text
  15     Section 38 Administrative Memoranda PDF Text
2581 3 12/2 FBI-SF US officials travel to Guyana PDF Text
2582 2 12/2 FBIHQ US officials travel to Guyana PDF Text
post 2582 7 12/31 FBIHQ Corres. with House Intel Comm. PDF Text
2583 3 12/5 SecState Privacy Act in relationship to Layton PDF Text
2584 5 12/24 FBIHQ Trial of Larry Layton set; Guyanese witnesses named (dupe of 2585) PDF Text
2585 3 12/24 FBI-SF Trial of Larry Layton set; Guyanese witnesses named PDF Text
(after) 2586 1 12/9 FBI Identification Division Report of fingerprint lab PDF Text
2588 1 11/20 AmEmb Georgetown Layton travel plans PDF Text
(after) 2588 3 11/20 DOJ FBI says no CIA connection with JT PDF Text
2589 3 11/24 FBIHQ Return of Layton to US PDF Text
(after) 2589x 5 12/10 FBIHQ Status on requests from House Intel Comm. on CIA connection with JT PDF Text
2590 3 1/21 FBI-SF Government form with various categories relating to Layton arrest PDF Text
2591 1 1/14 FBI-SF Subpoena for Sukdheo PDF Text
After 2592 2 1/30 FBIHQ Names of FBI agents revealed to PT before November 1978 PDF Text
2593 2 1/30 FBI-SF NBC to turn over tapes to FBI PDF Text
2594 3 2/13 FBIHQ Transmittal of photos taken from NBC footage PDF Text
2595 2 2/7 FBI-SF Dispute over tapes made by Sukdheo PDF Text
2596 1 2/26 FBI-SF Motion to dismiss indictment rejected PDF Text
(after) 2596 3 3/3 FBIHQ Claim by Autumn Ryan v. US govt PDF Text
2597 3 3/4 FBI-SF Court order on physical evidence in Layton trial PDF Text
2598 5 3/4 FBIHQ Court order on physical evidence in Layton trial (dupe of 2597) PDF Text
2599 3 3/4 FBI-BQMRA Guyanese source reports on real story of PT PDF Text
(after) 2599 1 3/9 FBIHQ Recommendation on handling FOIA requests during Layton trial PDF Text
(after) 2599 1 3/6 [Unknown] [all deleted under b7(c), b7(d)] PDF Text
2600 1 3/11 FBI-SJ Report on physical evidence in Layton trial PDF Text
2601 2 3/13 FBI-SJ Report on physical evidence in Layton trial PDF Text
2602 5 3/7 SecState US seeks to document permission for FBI presence in Guyana PDF Text
2603 2 3/10 FBI-SF Guyana to release physical evidence for Layton trial PDF Text
2604 2 3/17 AmEmb Georgetown US seeks to document permission for FBI presence in Guyana PDF Text
(after) 2604 1 3/27 [Unknown] [all deleted under b7(c)] PDF Text
2605 4 4/7 FBIHQ Layton defense team seeks interview with Guyana witnesses (dupe) PDF Text
2606 3 4/7 FBI-SF Layton defense team seeks interview with Guyana witnesses PDF Text
2607 2 3/31 FBI-SF Transmittal of photos [not attached], request for exhibits PDF Text
2607x 4 3/31 FBI-SF Status report on RYMUR, with eye towards recovering costs from PT PDF Text
2608 2 4/14 FBI-SJ Layton defense team seeks interview with Guyana witnesses PDF Text
2609 3 4/2 FBI-SF Layton trial delayed PDF Text
2610 3 4/14 AmEmb Georgetown Tamburello seeks statements of Guyanese witnesses PDF Text
2611 5 4/22 FBIHQ Report on getting still photos from videotapes PDF Text
2612 4 4/14 AmEmb Georgetown [dupe of 2610] PDF Text
2615 3 4/22 AmEmb Georgetown Layton defense seeks to establish chain of custody for GOG documents PDF Text
2616 2 4/14 FBIHQ [dupe of 2610] PDF Text
2617 5 5/6 FBI-SF Statement of Larry Layton, retracting part of confession PDF Text
2618 2 4/24 SecState State replies to Layton defense request for GOG documents PDF Text
2619 2 5/4 FBI-SF Subpoenas for witnesses vs. Larry Layton PDF Text
2620 2 5/7 FBI-SF Guyana told defense should submit  requests to US Atty PDF Text
2621 5 5/11 SecState State offers assistance to Layton defense PDF Text
2622 2 5/15 FBIHQ [dupe of 2621] PDF Text
2624 3 5/21 FBI-SF US seeks clarification from Guyana response on several issues PDF Text
2625 6 5/6 FBIHQ Statement of Larry Layton (dupe of 2617) PDF Text
2626 3 5/7 FBIHQ Guyana told defense should submit  requests to US Atty (dupe of 2620) PDF Text
2627 3 6/2 FBI-SF List of Guyana witnesses traveling to Layton trial PDF Text
2628 7 5/6 SecState Statement of Larry Layton (text dupe of 2617) PDF Text
2628x 3 5/16 SecState Travel of witnesses for Layton trial PDF Text
2629 1 6/15 FBI-WFO US Embassy forwards material for trial PDF Text
2630 2 6/15 FBIHQ GOG official forwards material for trial PDF Text
2632 4 6/25 FBIHQ Layton trial delayed (dupe of 2642) PDF Text
2633 5 5/29 AmEmb Georgetown Travel of Guyanese witnesses to SF PDF Text
2634 4 6/2 FBIHQ List of Guyana witnesses traveling to Layton trial (dupe of 2627) PDF Text
2635 1 6/16 FBIHQ List of autopsies performed by AFIP PDF Text
2636 5 7/2 FBIHQ FBI investigation of pre-11/78 records on Layton PDF Text
2638 3 5/15 AmEmb Georgetown Suggestions of additional  Guyanese witnesses to SF PDF Text
2639 2 5/15 FBIHQ [dupe of 2638] PDF Text
2642 3 6/25 FBI-SF Layton trial delayed PDF Text
2646 2 6/25 FBI-SF Info on Dwyer being authenticated PDF Text
2647 3 6/25 FBIHQ Info on Dwyer being authenticated (dupe of 2646) PDF Text
2648 2 6/8 DOJ-Criminal Division FBI help on jury pool requested PDF Text
2649 1 6/26 FBIHQ FBI help on jury pool requested PDF Text
2650x 3 6/18 FBI-SF Mootoo seeks payment as witness PDF Text
2651 13 7/27 FBIHQ FBI investigates person “related to” Layton trial 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.