[Editor’s note: The interviewee in this serial whose name is deleted is Steven Katsaris, a member of the Concerned Relatives, whose son Anthony Katsaris survived the attack at Port Kaituma on November 18, 1978 in Jonestown. The deleted information from the memorandum – designated by brackets – which is known to the editor has been indicated by red type.]
FD-302
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Date of transcription 12/7/78
[Name deleted] [Steven Katsaris], who resides at [address deleted], California, telephone number [deleted], was interviewed at Roosevelt Roads Naval Hospital, Roosevelt Roads Naval Station, Puerto Rico, where he was residing while awaiting for [his son Anthony Katsaris], to recuperate after [information deleted] during the incident at Jonestown, Guyana. [Steven Katsaris] advised that he is a [two lines related to employment deleted], California, telephone number [deleted]. He was interviewed concerning his background knowledge of Reverend Jim Jones and the People’s Temple both in San Francisco and in the country of Guyana.
He advised that the People’s Temple first originated in the state of Indiana. This was under the direction of Jim Jones an ordained minister within the Disciples of Christ Church. During the early 60s Jones was very active in the civil rights and integration movement which made him very popular in the Richmond, Indiana area. He is married to Marceline Jones, whose nickname is “Marcy”. Marcy is several years older than Jim Jones and she is approximately fifty. She is described as five feet six inches tall, 140 to 150 pounds, light hair, medium complexion and build. Jones, who is in his 40s, is described as a white male and approximately five feet ten inches tall. [Steven Katsaris], who has not seen Jones for several years, remembered him as owning a medium build, about 165 pounds, dark hair, thin sideburns, which he would pencil in with dark coloring, and he also dyed his hair black. [Katsaris] described him as strikingly handsome. Jones also has a son, Steven [Stephan] Jones, who is a white male approximately 19 years old, six feet four inches tall, 175 pounds, athletically built and who, [Katsaris] described, as having very piercing dark eyes.
Sometime between 1964 and 1965, Jones became an ordained minister. During this time he was preaching that he believed that a nuclear holocaust was inevitable and his congregation tended to believe him. During a period when he was preaching of this nuclear holocaust, and after doing some
SJ 89-123
2
research, he determined that the northern California area and the country of Brazil would be two of the safest places to live in the event of nuclear war. Based upon this, he and several leaders of the congregation, went to Brazil. One of these leaders, Ross Case, who now lives in Ukiah, California, was a very active member of the Church. Case was an associated [associate] minister of Jones and in the People’s Temple. The group returned from Brazil, after doing missionary work there for approximately one year. After returning from Brazil, Jones decided that he would move his Temple from Indiana and he wound up in Redwood Valley, California, which is a small community in northern California, about eight miles north of Ukiah.
Sometime between 1966 and 1967, Jones and his Indiana congregation moved to Redwood Valley where he purchased a parcel of land. Approximately 100 people, many old and many young people, moved from Indiana to California. Ross Case became a schoolteacher in Ukiah and Jones’ wife, Marcy, began work in the state mental hospital in Mendocino, California. She was a registered nurse.
Jones and his group of followers became very active in the area and attempted to make an immediate impact on the local community by doing special deeds for the community, and because of this, gained many new members from the Redwood Valley area. As soon as he established himself there, some of his unusual tactics against those who opposed him began to surface.
Jones began to call anyone that opposed him or that was not entirely true to his beliefs, “right-wing fascist”. At one point he attempted to compromise Case after having persuaded a young black man to accuse Case of being a homosexual. The young black man made an apparent tape and presented it to the Superintendent of schools in an effort to get Case fired. This tactic was used on many people who opposed Jones.
In the early 1970s, Jones had his followers convinced that they must take security measures against outsiders. He built a watch tower on the Temple and also posted guards at the gate of the Temple in Redwood Valley. All members of the
SJ 89-123
3
congregation were issued identification cards with photographs in order to gain admission to the Temple. Jones even persuaded the local sheriff to issue gun permits to almost all of the congregation. He constantly told his congregation that the fascists were going to get members of the congregation. Jones did this repeatedly in an order to strengthen his powers over his followers. [Katsaris] also said that numerous times he, Jones, would hold special meetings starting at eight o’clock in the morning and keep the meeting going until midnight, at which time he would tell all the congregation to stick close together in the Temple as there was going to be great danger. As prearranged there would be gunshots coming into the Temple and then he would appear as a hero to his followers because he had predicted what was to happen.
At this time Jones had between 300 and 400 members at the Temple. Some stayed at the Temple, some had their homes in the nearby area. Jones lived in Redwood [Valley], which was approximately two miles from the Temple. Many of the congregation would donate their property to the Temple. Within ten years time, Jones had accumulated between ten and twenty million dollars in the bank. His ambitions were beginning to leave Redwood Valley area and he saw that perhaps the San Francisco Bay area might be a good district to move into and to move his people there. He indicated to his followers that they did not need to own property, therefore they would donate the property and he would put them up in the Temple.
After Jones moved to San Francisco, his bank accounts grew into the twenty million dollar range. He had money and banks in Panama and in Switzerland. He also had, by this time, obtained eleven greyhound buses, which he would use to take people from Redwood Valley to San Francisco and also on to the Temple in Los Angeles, and the trips would alternate. At this point, [Katsaris] indicated that Tim Stoen and Debbie Layton, both ex-members, have knowledge of where Jones’ bank accounts are located.
After Jones moved his headquarters to San Francisco, he obtained a political appointment from Mayor [George] Moscone and even came into acquaintance with Rosalynn Carter, the President’s
SJ 89-123
4
wife and numerous other national political figures.
[Katsaris] advised that by 1977, when he, [Katsaris], returned from Guyana where he had gone to meet with [his daughter Maria Katsaris], who was a follower of Jones, the Concerned Citizen’s Group [Concerned Relatives] was formed. He noted it was a very informal group.
[Maria Katsaris] began making trips to Guyana in the mid-70s. She took one trip to Guyana in December, 1975, as a nurse and went down to help out in the Jonestown camp over the Christmas holidays. By this time, [Maria] was getting more and more interested in the Jones movement, and [Katsaris] began to have concern over [several words deleted]. Jones was establishing the camp in Guyana and believed that in the country of Guyana there was a way to get rid of racism and to help the underprivileged.
By this time Tim Stoen, an attorney, began advising Jones on money matters and legal matters. Stoen’s main job at this time was in the negotiations for the acquisition of the land in Guyana.
Jones, as leader of the People’s Temple, claimed he had twenty thousand members in the San Francisco area and one thousand members in the Los Angeles area. As leader he had a very close knit group below him made up of approximately one hundred very close followers and this group was known as the Planning Commission. Now the followers were mainly in Guyana and in San Francisco. Jones is looking to outsiders, at this point, as more and more detrimental to he and his cause and began storing an arsenal of weapons in the San Francisco-based Temple. Weapons were also being smuggled to Guyana broken down into various members’ suitcases. Debbie Layton and Tim Stoen would have information regarding the smuggling of guns into the Jonestown, Guyana camp. Also speculation on the part of [Katsaris] revealed that possibly two boats, one named the “Cajoe” [“Cudjoe”] and the other the “Albatross III” were used to take the guns to Guyana. He also had information that negotiations for a large seagoing vessel was to be purchased by the Temple and used in case that anything went wrong for the followers to be taken to either Cuba or to the Soviet Union. This is an example of how Jones always overreacted.
SJ 89-123
5
Regards to an overreaction, [Katsaris] stated for example that a reporter for the San Francisco Examiner, Lester Kinsolving, (phonetic), wrote a derogatory story about Jones in the local newspaper. Because of this, Jones called a press conference and tried to discredit this reporter. Also in the summer of 1977, a rumor was moving about that two investigative reporters by the name of Marshal [Marshall] Kilduff and Phil Tracy going to do an expose on the People’s Temple for the New West Magazine. Jones followers claimed that the article would be based on racial prejudice.
Before the magazine article was published, [his daughter Maria Katsaris] called him and said that there was to be a derogatory article in the New West Magazine which was to be published by some racist individuals. She asked [her father] to send a letter to the publisher of the magazine which [Katsaris] did. He simply asked the publisher to check out all the information to be published before it was put in print. The investigative report was subsequently published in August, 1977, and he furnished a xeroxed copy of this article to the interviewing Agent.
In September, 1977, [Katsaris] made a trip to Guyana in order to go to the Jonestown camp and converse with [Maria Katsaris]. He stated during that trip, he never did get to see [Maria Katsaris] and when talking on the telephone, he felt like someone was putting words in her mouth. Meanwhile, there was a mass exodus of people from the San Francisco Temple and information came to his attention that Jones spent approximately two hundred thousand dollars bussing people to Miami and then onto Guyana. People such as young people and older people were leaving the San Francisco area and were not returning.
By December of 1977, [Katsaris] indicated that there were approximately 800 people at the camp in Jonestown. His followers continued going until recently. Jones was making an effort to get people to Guyana that remained behind in San Francisco and who might pose a threat to him and his group. Most of the people at the Jonestown camp did not know what they were getting themselves into.
SJ 89-123
6
By January, 1978, [Katsaris] was showing his concern for the People’s Temple by contacting appropriate people in positions of responsibility, both in the California government and in the federal government in Washington, D. C. Tim Stoen, who left the group in December, 1977, also, at this time, became active in the Concerned Relatives Group.
As previously mentioned, [Katsaris] made a trip to Guyana in September, 1977, and during that time he was not allowed to see [his daughter Maria]. We went again in November, 1977, and during this time, he did manage to see [his daughter]. [Katsaris] was never allowed to go into the camp in Jonestown and met [his daughter Maria] in Georgetown. He noted that as far as he was concerned, she had been totally changed and refused to leave the camp. After his return from Guyana in November, 1977, he furnished a detailed statement to the Department of State, Washington, D. C.
Because of increasing concern over their loved ones, members of the Concerned Relatives Group eventually contacted Congressman Leo Ryan. This contact was approximately two months ago and he was initially contacted by Claire [Clare] Bouquet, who is a schoolteacher in Burlingame, California. The Congressman appeared interested in the situation and based upon his interest, a group of the Concerned Citizens went to San Mateo, California and met with the Congressman. After this meeting he stated he would look into the situation as he intended to go to Guyana and a group of Concerned Relatives could travel with him. With this decision, a trip to Guyana is organized.
The chairman of the International Relations Community [Committee] in the House of Representatives Congressman Blockie from Illinois [Clement Zablocki from Wisconsin], approved the trip and several meetings were also held with members of the International Relations Committee along with Congressman Derninsky [Edward Derwinski] from Chicago, Illinois.
[Katsaris] stated that he would, before continuing in regards to the people going to Guyana, that he would like to back up to approximately one month ago. He stated that approximately one month ago, [Katsaris] received a telephone call from [line of information deleted]
SJ 89-123
7
and she stated that Mark Lane wanted to interview [Katsaris] for Esquire Magazine. Apparently Lane was doing an article or said that he was doing an article for Esquire about the People’s Temple and [balance of paragraph mostly deleted].
The next day [Katsaris] learned that Mark Lane went to San Francisco and held a press conference in the People’s Temple. Lane stated he had just returned from Guyana and said he was convinced the FBI and CIA were plotting against the Jonestown camp and because of this he planned a lawsuit against the United States Government and other agencies.
By this time, [Katsaris] advised, that the group is ready to leave for Guyana. On November the 8 and 9, 1978, [Katsaris] went to Washington, D.C. to conduct some business prior to leaving for Guyana. On Monday, November 13, 1978, [name deleted and Katsaris], along with Congressman Ryan and his party and various newsmen, left from New York City on a Pan-American flight to Guyana. He stated that there were 12 other members of the Concerned Relatives Group besides himself and [name deleted]. He noted there were four San Francisco area newsmen which include Tim Reitteman [Reiterman] (phonetic), a reporter for the San Francisco Examiner, Greg Robinson, a photographer for the San Francisco Examiner, Ron Javers, a reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, and Gordon Lindsay, a freelance writer, on the trip. Also NBC newsman Bob Flick, Don Harris, FNU [First name unknown] [Bob] Brown and Steve Song [Sung] accompanied the group. With Congressman Ryan was his assistant Jackie Spier [Speier] and a member of the Congressional Staff, James Schollaert, who was a member of the Committee for International Relations.
SJ 89-123
8
The group arrived in Georgetown, Guyana at approximately 12:15 AM Wednesday morning, November 15, 1978. Prior to them going to the airport, one of the reporters Ron Javers, had problems in going through customs and he was detained along with Bob Flick, the NBC newsman at the airport. Flick had no problems with customs but had agreed to stay at the airport with Ron Javers. The remaining members of the group went on to the Pegasus Hotel in Georgetown, Guyana with Congressman Ryan and Mark Lane staying at United States Ambassador Burke’s residence.
When the group arrived at the Pegasus Hotel, all the members thought that they had confirmed reservations but nonetheless, when they arrived they were told there were no rooms available. All decided to stay in the Hotel lobby while several decided to go to another hotel in downtown Georgetown called the Tower Hotel. Before morning most of the persons that stayed behind were put in rooms. In the morning they contacted the people who had gone to the Tower Hotel and they came back and checked into the Pegasus.
On Thursday, November 16, the group spent most of the day with United States Ambassador Burke and told him of their problems with the People’s Temple. Thursday evening, after dinner, he and [name deleted] along with Grace Stoen, went outside the hotel. While outside the hotel two individuals in a car drove by whom he thought he had seen before. When they drove by, they said hello and told him that members from the People’s Temple were approximately half a mile down the street. With this [half line deleted], walked to where the individuals were. He later determined that those he was to talk to from the Jonestown camp were Steve Jones, Tim Jones, Michael Touchette, Lee Ingram, and FNU [John] Cobb. When they reached the group of individuals they introduced themselves and engaged in conversation with the five individuals. By this time, some other members of the group of Concerned Relatives had noticed the members of the People’s Temple there and also wanted to talk with them. [Katsaris] inquired of the group as to why they were in Jonestown [Georgetown] and Lee Ingram stated that they were in town for a few weeks because they had to play in a few basketball games. Many of the Concerned Relatives stated how badly they wanted to see the camp and to see their relatives.
SJ 89-123
9
The boys told everyone that all at the Jonestown camp were very happy and the reason why the members of the Concerned Relatives were not allowed into the camp was because that everyone was busy there and they would not have time to talk. [Katsaris] pointed out that this was the first time that anyone had made contact with members of the People’s Temple during this trip.
When [Katsaris] and the other members had concluded their conversation with five boys, they returned to the hotel. Jim Cobb, a member of the Concerned Relatives Group, stated that he noticed the group of boys outside and said that he had also noticed them in the tavern in the hotel the previous evening. Also Tim Stoen indicated to [Katsaris] that he could not believe that it was just a coincidence that the members of the People’s Temple basketball team were there to play basketball but he felt like they were there to determine what the Concerned Relatives were doing.
[Katsaris] stated that Friday afternoon, November 17, 1978, the group of designated persons to go to the camp left on board an airplane with Congressman Ryan. Those that left were all members of the press, a member of the Embassy Staff, Mr. [Richard] Dwyer, a Guyanese official [Neville Annibourne], Mark Lane and Charles Garry, the attorneys for Jones and four members of the Concerned Citizens group. Those member from the Concerned Relatives Group that left on the plane consisted of Beverly Oliver, [Katsaris’ son] Anthony Katsaris, Carol Boyd and Jim Cobb. Sherwin Harris, accompanied the group from the hotel to the airport that Friday afternoon. Harris and [Katsaris] rode in a taxi with a Guyanese official by the name of Alan Mann. By the time they reached the airport everyone had gotten on the plane and the Guyanese official, Mann, hurried to get on the plane. The plane took off on Friday at approximately 2:45 PM.
[Katsaris] stated that for several hours that Friday evening, they did not hear from anyone who had gone to the camp. However, late that Friday evening, Sharon Amos, who is the estranged wife of Sherwin Harris, and who lives at the Georgetown, Guyana People’s Temple, telephonically contacted the Concerned Relatives at the hotel and indicated that she had received information by radio that everyone
SJ 89-123
10
had arrived at the Jonestown camp in the Ryan group and that the Congressman was well received and impressed with the camp.
[Katsaris] and the remaining members of the Concerned Relatives Group that remained at the hotel, expected Ryan and the group to return to Georgetown at or by around 3 PM Saturday afternoon. [Katsaris] had told the other neighbors that he would go to the airport and meet the group as it returned. Meanwhile, he had been informed by the United States Embassy Staff member James that a cargo plane that had been scheduled to go pick them up had taken off late and the new arrival time would be around 4:30. The Embassy informed the Concerned Relatives Group that 16 people had decided to leave the Jonestown camp with Congressman Ryan’s group. [Katsaris], at this time, felt like there might be something wrong, that the Embassy knew something was wrong but did not want to say anything. The Concerned Relatives Group surmised that the plane possibly got to the airport near Jonestown too late and the pilot could not fly out at night. Sherwin Harris, in the meantime, mentioned to [Katsaris] that he could not understand how Congressman Ryan persuaded sixteen members of the People’s Temple in Jonestown to come back.
At approximately 7:30 PM, while [Katsaris] was having dinner at the hotel, he received word that two police officers from the Georgetown police were at the hotel and had asked everyone to go individually to the hotel manager’s office and not to leave the hotel. [Katsaris] indicated that people did go to the office individually and [Katsaris] was the sixth person to be called into the manager’s office. When he arrived in the office, the two police officers, one of which was a superintendent, told him that Sherwin Harris’ wife, Sharon Amos and two children were found dead a short time ago. They noted that Mr. Harris had spent the afternoon and early evening with his estranged wife and children and they wanted to ask Mr. Harris a few questions. The two officers also told [Katsaris] that there was trouble at Jonestown, however, they asked him not to mention it to the other members of the group so as not to cause hysteria. All members of the group were told by the police to stay away from windows and doors.
SJ 89-123
11
[Katsaris], when advised that the cause of the rumors of what might have happened at Jonestown and the reaction of the police at the hotel, his immediate feelings were that the People’s Temple group had decided to commit suicide. He felt like Sherwin Harris’s family was probably the first to go. [Katsaris] requested of the police superintendent about the security of the hotel and the policeman indicated that security was sufficient but asked the group to go to [Katsaris]’ hotel room and remain there for the rest of the evening. The group proceeded to his room at a Guyanese policeman was posted outside the door as a guard.
While in the room, [Katsaris] received a telephone call from [name deleted] that there had been trouble at the Jonestown camp.
[Katsaris] stated that he was at the Embassy and was there to obtain details. At approximately 10 PM on Saturday evening, [Katsaris] received a telephone call from a member of the news media in the United States asking [Katsaris] to confirm the death of Congressman Ryan. [Katsaris] told the newsman that he could not confirm this. At this point, [Katsaris] stated that he placed a telephone call to the Human Freedom Center in Berkeley at which time he stated that they had received information that serious trouble had taken place at the camp in Jonestown. By this time the police superintendent had increased security around the hotel and Debbie Layton also informed [Katsaris] at this time that the People’s Temple group did have automatic weapons, rifles, shotguns and pistols. By this time, which was around 11 PM, numerous calls were coming in and going out of the hotel room and at 11 PM, [name deleted] called him and said that Congressman Ryan had been shot and killed. Apparently a pilot that had escaped the shooting said that several people were shot up.
The members of the Concerned Relatives group that remained in the hotel spent the night in one room. By early morning they all then went back to their rooms for some sleep. At approximately 6:30 AM, Sunday, November 19, 1978, [name deleted] called [Katsaris] again and informed him that [Katsaris’ son Anthony] was one of the wounded to be brought out. By 7 AM, November 19, he was dressed and
SJ 89-123
12
indicated to the group that he was going to try to get back to the Jonestown camp in an attempt to locate [his daughter Maria] in the jungle. He and [name deleted] received a ride to the United States Embassy in a Guyanese police car. When they arrived at the Embassy, an Embassy official, [name deleted] talked to them, however, things were happening very fast so he and [name deleted] got a cab and went back to the hotel. It was at this point that the cabdriver, who he knew to be [name deleted], and whom [Katsaris] had relied on and trusted in the past, revealed to [Katsaris] that the group of individuals that [Katsaris] had talked to there were members of the basketball team he [name deleted] had overheard him saying that, in fact, they were going to possibly kill the members of the Concerned Relatives Group which had remained at the hotel. When he and [name deleted] reached the hotel, [name deleted] again called and indicated that the Embassy would take them to the airport.
By approximately 1 PM, he was at the airport when the first airplane came in. [Katsaris’ son Anthony] was lying on the floor of the chartered Guyanese airplane. The United States Air Force colonel had [Anthony] put on the United States military aircraft and [Katsaris] accompanied [Anthony] along with other members of the wounded party to Roosevelt Roads Naval Station, Puerto Rico, where [Anthony Katsaris] was hospitalized, suffering from a [line describing injuries deleted].
[Steven Katsaris] concluded by indicating that if possible Jones would have effected an escape and he is certain that the People’s Temple members presently located in San Francisco have been instructed to kill as many defectors and other people that worked against Jones and then commit suicide themselves if anything went wrong.
[Interview 2]
FD-302
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Date of transcription 12/7/78
Name deleted] [Steven Katsaris], who resides at [address deleted], California, telephone number [deleted], was interviewed at Roosevelt Roads Naval Hospital, Roosevelt Roads Naval Station, Puerto Rico, where he is [deleted line related to his son, Anthony Katsaris, who was recuperating from wounds sustained in the assault at Port Kaituma].
[Steven Katsaris] advised that it is his knowledge that practically every evening for a twelve hour period during the late evening hours, the People’s Temple in San Francisco would communicate by shortwave radio with the People’s Temple located in Georgetown, Guyana, and at Jonestown, Guyana. These transmissions were coded and in approximately June, 1978, the Concerned Relatives Group starting monitoring these communications. While monitoring this communications, approximately 100 tapes were made of the conversations, some of which have been transcribed.
He advised that these tapes, the code of which was broken by the Concerned Relatives, are in possession of Al and Geanie [Jeannie] Mills, Human Freedom Center, Berkeley, California. He noted that the tapes concerned tactical maneuvers on the part of the People’s Temple in its relationship with the press, law enforcement officials and the Concerned Relatives Group.
At this point an article [which] appeared in November 22, 1978, issue of the San Juan, Puerto Rico, Star, local newspaper, was provided to [Katsaris]. In this United Press International interview of Steve [Stephan] Jones, Jones advised that his father was “ill, paranoid, and drugged when he ordered the mass suicide.” Jones was also quoted in this article as saying that “I hated him. He was a fascist. He destroyed everything we lived and worked for.” Jones was also quoted as saying that he was in Georgetown, Guyana to “play basketball.” At this point, [Katsaris] stated that at one point he talked with Steve Jones in Georgetown and Jones denied that suicide rehearsals, beatings and other irregularities ever took place at the Jonestown camp. During this conversation with Jones, a black man by the name of Lee Ingram, engaged in the conversation. Ingram told him that he, along with Steve Jones and others, were
SJ 89-123
2
there in Georgetown to play basketball for a couple of months. [Katsaris] noted that Ingram contradicted himself in stating that everyone at the camp was working so hard that none of the members of the camp could get away to come to Jonestown to see the visitors. [Katsaris] thought this to be unusual since no one from the camp could come to Jonestown to visit the Concerned Relatives when, in fact, the basketball team from Jonestown could come to Georgetown to play basketball for a couple of months. [Katsaris] at this point, furnished the following description of Lee Ingram:
| Race: | Negro |
| Sex: | Male |
| Age: | Approximately 30 |
| Height: | 5’11” |
| Weight: | 155 pounds |
| Hair: | Black, short |
| Complexion: | Light |
| Miscellaneous: | Has Caucasian features |
Also [Katsaris] at this point, indicated that Steve Jones, during the conversation, told Tim Stoen, who was a member of the Concerned Relatives Group, that “You may be responsible for the death of those people up there” referring to the people at the Jonestown camp. Jones apparently believed that the Concerned Relatives Group would be doing harm to this “beautiful socialist movement.”
[Interview 3]
FD-302
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Date of transcription 12/8/78
[Name deleted] [Steven Katsaris], who resides at [address deleted], California, telephone number [deleted], was interviewed at Roosevelt Roads Naval Hospital, Roosevelt Roads Naval Station, Puerto Rico, where he is [deleted line related to his son, Anthony Katsaris, who was recuperating from] wounds received at Jonestown, Guyana.
He was interviewed in regards to several questions that were put forth to him concerning the People’s Temple and the following is a synopsis of the answers which were provided by [Steven Katsaris] in regards to questions posed to him.
It is his information that numerous gun permits were obtained by the People’s Temple from the Mendocino (phonetic) County sheriff’s office when the Temple maintained itself in that county. He also pointed out that Don Sly, a veteran, is a member of the People’s Temple and is an explosives expert. At one time, Sly was arrested by the Lake County Sheriff’s office, California, but he does not know what charges were filed against him. He noted that he does not know Sly’s whereabouts since Sly returned to the United States from Guyana approximately three months ago. He described Sly as being a very dangerous person.
[Katsaris] had no direct information in regards to a source for firearms funds to People’s Temple. However, he believes that Deborah Layton would have information in regards to this aspect. He also has no direct knowledge regarding firearms training furnished to the People’s Temple but he did recall that the Temple had a paramilitary force the change in the hills located within Redwood Valley, California area.
At this point he noted that [information deleted] related to him that the People’s Temple were furnished instructions in regards to people on an assassination list who would be eliminated if anything happened to Jones or the Temple. [Katsaris] stated that it is his belief that [one line deleted] are prime targets to be assassinated.
SJ 89-123
2
[Katsaris] advised that shotguns, pistols, rifles were stored at the People’s Temple in San Francisco.
In regards to the money matters handled by the People’s Temple, he noted that there were numerous bank accounts in California prior to August 1977. He has no direct knowledge as to where these bank accounts were located. He also noted that there were numerous bank accounts and “front corporations” in the Republic of Panama. The People’s Temple also maintained bank accounts in various locations in Europe. Prior to her detection, Deborah Layton handled most of the money for Jones. He also noted that [his daughter] Maria Katsaris, along with Deborah Touchette, made numerous trips to the following places depositing money:
Barbados, Caracas, Venezuela, Grenada, Panama, and Trinidad.
[Katsaris] believed that Deborah Touchette, who is alive, would have information regarding various bank accounts.
He advised at this point that as far as any contingency plans on moving the Temple, his information is that the Jonestown settlement would move either to the Soviet Union or to Cuba.
[Katsaris] furnished the following list of those persons considered to be strong ex-members of the People’s Temple and their respective locations and descriptions:
James Cobb
Human Freedom Center
Berkeley, California
Race: Negro
Sex: Male
Age: 27
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 190 pounds
Hair: Black and short
SJ 89-123
3
Teresa Cobb
Human Freedom Center
Berkeley, California
Race: Negro
Sex: Female
Age: 30
Height: 5’6″
Weight: 135 pounds
Hair: Black, straight; wears wigWayne Pietela
Petaluma, California
Race: White
Sex: Male
Age: 30
Weight: 175 pounds
Height: 5’10”
Hair: BrownDeborah Layton
Human Freedom Center
Berkeley, California
Race: White
Sex: Female
Age: 25
Height: 5’4″
Weight: 125 pounds
Hair: Black, shortGrace Stoen
Human Freedom Center
Berkeley, California
Race: White
Sex: Female
Age: 33
Height: 5’6″
Weight: 110 pounds
Hair: Black, curly, short
SJ 89-123
4
Tim Stoen
Human Freedom Center
Berkeley, California
Race: White
Sex: Male
Age: 40
Height: 5’7″
Weight: 145 pounds
Hair: Black with grayMickey Touchette
Human Freedom Center
Berkeley, California
Race: White
Sex: Female
Age: 28
Weight: 110 pounds
Height: 5’5″
Hair: Light brown, short
[Katsaris] at this point, stated that Deborah Layton, Tim and Grace Stoen, and Al and Geanie Mills, also known as Mertle, all of which can be located at the Human Freedom Center, Berkeley, California, are extremely strong ex-members of the People’s Temple and should be interviewed.
[Katsaris] further stated that Tim Carter is or was a member of the People’s Temple Planning Commission. He was or is a member of the People’s Temple in Guyana and he has known Carter for about one month. Approximately 3 to 4 weeks ago Carter came to the San Francisco area and made contact with the Concerned Relatives Group. Carter claimed to have defected from the Jonestown camp and had disassociated himself with Jones.
While in the San Francisco area, he continuously was interested in the plans of the Concerned Relatives Group in their intentions regarding the forthcoming trip to Guyana by this group. Carter also said that he wanted to see everyone off at the airport when they departed for Guyana.
SJ 89-123
5
[Katsaris] noted that the day prior to the group’s departure from San Francisco to Guyana, Carter disappeared. Prior to that, he had been staying at an undisclosed hotel in Oakland but the people at the Human Freedom Center in Berkeley do know where he stayed.
[Katsaris] at this point, advised that during the Georgetown conversation with Lee Ingram, Ingram said that he knew nothing of Carter going to San Francisco. [Katsaris] felt that since Carter was seen back in Georgetown, Guyana later, that in fact, Carter had been sent there by Jones to spy on the Concerned Relatives Group.
[Katsaris] furnished the following persons whom he believes to be members of the “Angels” hit squad:
Chris Lewis
Address unknown
Race: Negro
Sex: Male
Miscellaneous: Ex-convict who was killed several months ago in San FranciscoTom Adams
Currently at the People’s Temple, San Francisco, California
Race: Caucasian
Sex: Male
Age: 35
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 165 pounds
Hair: Black
Miscellaneous: Wears glassesSandra Bradshaw
Currently at the People’s Temple, San Francisco, California
Race: Caucasian
Sex: Female
SJ 89-123
6
Age: 33
Height: 5’6″
Weight: 125 pounds
Hair: Sandy brown
Miscellaneous: Wears glasses
[Katsaris] stated that he is most afraid of Adams and Bradshaw in regards to the propensity for violence.
Tim Carter, Georgetown
Michael Carter, Georgetown
Steve Jones, Georgetown
Clair [Claire] Janaro, Georgetown
Michael Prokes, Georgetown
Deborah Touchette, Georgetown
[Katsaris] also advised that the following San Francisco area members are “Angels”:
Don Beck
Ukiah, California
(Schoolteacher and very dangerous)FNU [first name unknown] [Michael] Klingman
Tim Clancey
Leona Collier
(Described as extremely dangerous)Jeannie Brown
June Crim (Phonetic) [Crym]
Helen Swinney
SJ 89-123
7
The following is a description of [Steven Katsaris]:
Race: Caucasian
Sex: Male
[remaining information deleted]
[Interview 4]
FD-302
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Date of transcription 12/8/78
[Steven Katsaris], who was interviewed at Roosevelt Roads Naval Hospital, furnish a copy of a “Press Statement” issued by the People’s Temple, Jonestown, Guyana. A copy of the statement is attached. The copy furnished by [Katsaris] is being made a part of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s investigative file, San Juan, Puerto Rico:
Press Statement
The People’s Temple Community at Jonestown is a group of private American citizens who have chosen to come to Guyana as permanent or semi permanent residents. As with private American citizens residing anywhere abroad, they are subject to the laws and regulations of the host country, in this case Guyana. The American Embassy in Georgetown has no official contact with the People’s Temple other than the provision of normal consular services to the individual members of this community on a regular basis. These services include renewal of passports, registration of births, etc. The Embassy has no official authority over the community or its individual members. Except as provided for in the Vienna Convention on Counselor Relations and in the Bilateral Consular Convention that is in force between our two countries, the Embassy does not have any legal right to demand access to any private American citizen in Guyana. In light of this, the Embassy has no authority to require contacts between members of the People’s Temple and persons whom they do not wish to receive. The members of the People’s Temple are protected by the Privacy Act of 1974, as are all American citizens.
11/15/78.