</s>151-664 Vol. 1.6.1.1 DO NOT DESTROY HISTORICAL VALUE NATIONAL ARCHIVES DO NOT DESTROY PRESERVE FOR SELEET COMMITTEE OF ASSASSINATIONS DO NOT DETROY-PENDING UITIGATION 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary:  
The documents consist primarily of FBI Form FD-340 records and related administrative entries referencing James Earl Ray, the individual convicted of assassinating Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. The files include details about laundry samples, thermwood machine serial numbers (e.g., SN 32296, SN 33138), and photographic evidence linked to Ray’s activities. References to the FBI’s investigation note surveillance of individuals, including Minutemen members planning civil strife and targeted killings of civil rights leaders like King, Robert F. Kennedy, and others. The documents also mention the involvement of federal agents, such as Special Agent Francis E. Murphy and RM Kieby, in handling evidence and correspondence. Multiple entries reference declassification under Executive Order 14176 (2025 release), indicating these records were made public for historical research.  

Key People:  
- James Earl Ray: Convicted assassin of MLK Jr., referenced repeatedly in documents.  
- Special Agent Francis E. Murphy: Involved in handling contributor correspondence and evidence.  
- RM Kieby: FBI agent managing photographic evidence related to Ray.  
- Minutemen members: Plotted against civil rights leaders, including King; names like Dr. Convard, George Brown, Thomas Hart, and Joseph Fabiano are noted as Connecticut-based operatives.  

Key Locations:  
- Memphis, Tennessee: Site of MLK Jr.’s assassination (April 4, 1968).  
- New Haven, Connecticut: Mentioned in FBI records regarding surveillance and bomb plots.  
- Kansas City, Missouri: Linked to Minutemen activities and agents Robert B. De Pugh and Frank Belliki.  

Key Events:  
- Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.: Occurred on April 4, 1968, in Memphis.  
- FBI investigation into civil rights leaders’ murders: Included surveillance of individuals and planning by groups like the Minutemen.  
- Bomb plot targeting FBI offices: Planned for New Haven, Connecticut, to cause confusion rather than injury.  
- Evidence handling: Laundry samples, thermwood machine serial numbers, and photographs were collected and analyzed as part of the investigation.  

Key Organizations:  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): Central to the investigation, with agents managing evidence and tracking suspects.  
- Minutemen: A group planning civil strife and targeted killings of civil rights leaders.  
- Missouri Department of Corrections: References to inmate records (e.g., C0416) linked to James Earl Ray’s incarceration.

MLK Declassified Files

157-bs-644_hs1-852666761_178-01-part_1_of_9.pdf

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