</s>OFFICIAL RECORD FD-1057 (Rev. 5-8-10) UNCLASSIFIED OFFICIALL RECORD FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION electronic Communication cathode to Information Systems. Title: (U) RFK Tape review Electronic Communication Date: 10/25/2012 To: DP-FAVI Date: From: Los ANGELES LA-C-1 Contact: Approved By: Drafted By: SA Case ID #: 89-LA-LA -O-ASSESSA A (U) ASSESSMENT ZERO FILE Synopsis: (US) To send audio tape to FAVIAIU to examine. Enclosure(s): Enclosed are the following items: 1. (U] FBI Reports regarding Stus Pruszynski tape 2. (US] Request to reopen KENSALT Investigation file number LA 56-156 Details: On October 9, 2012, FBI Los Angeles was advised of a request to re-examine evidence in the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy by his son, Robert F, Kennedy, Jr. The basis of the request F. Kenneth by Forensic Scientist and Electrical Engineer Philip Van Praag that his examination of an audio recording of the event revealed thirteen shots, not eight, were fired during Senator Kennedy's assassination. If true, this would necessitate a second gunman is convicted assassin Sirhan Sihan used an eight-shot .22 caliber Ivar Johnson revolver and was unable to reload during the incident. The tape reviewed by Van Praagh was a tape made by Stus Pruzynski,, a reporter for Harper and Row Limited, Publishers, London. Van Praaq obtained a copy of this tape from the State of California Archives in Sacramento, California. Van Prag used a scientific procedure for gun UNCLASSIFIED

Summary:  
The document details an FBI Los Angeles request dated October 25, 2012, to re-examine evidence related to the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy. The request stems from a claim by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who sought to reopen the investigation based on analysis by forensic scientist and electrical engineer Philip Van Praag. Van Praag examined an audio recording of the event, asserting that his Frequency Selective Integrated Loudness Envelope Analysis (FSILAE) revealed thirteen shots were fired, not eight, implying a second shooter. This contradicts the existing conviction of Sirhan Sihan, who used an eight-shot .22 caliber revolver. The tape analyzed by Van Praag was obtained from the State of California Archives and provided by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). The FBI case file LA 56-156, titled "KENSALT," contains evidence including a magnetic tape recording (RCMP Tape) from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), along with filtered copies made by the FBI Laboratory. The RCMP Tape was recorded on a non-standard speed 1/2-track recorder and contains an interfering hum. The FBI Laboratory is requested to review evidence item 1B4 using court-approved techniques to determine if enhanced audio could confirm more than eight shots were fired. The case file LA 56-156 has not been fully migrated to the Sentinel system, necessitating administrative corrections.  

Key People:  
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (initiator of the request)  
- Philip Van Praag (forensic scientist and electrical engineer)  
- Sirhan Sihan (convicted assassin of RFK)  
- Stus Pruszynski (reporter who provided the audio tape)  
- Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)  
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)  

Key Locations:  
- Sacramento, California (State Archives where the tape was stored)  
- Los Angeles, California (FBI and LAPD locations)  
- Quantico, Virginia (FBI-FAVIU Electronic Research Facility destination for evidence)  

Key Events:  
- Request to reopen RFK assassination investigation (October 9, 2012)  
- Analysis of audio tape by Philip Van Praag using FSILAE method  
- FBI Laboratory review of RCMP Tape and filtered copies  
- Chain-of-custody issues with tape copies provided to LAPD and California Archives  
- Attempted migration of case file LA 56-156 to Sentinel system  

Key Organizations:  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)  
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)  
- FBI-FAVIU Electronic Research Facility (Quantico, VA)

RFK Declassified Files

089a-la-156_0000001-0089-la-0-assess_a_0000008.pdf

Document Summary

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