</s>0-9 (Rev. 5-22-64) FBI Transmit the following in Date: May 9, 1968 (Type in plaintext or code) Via Airtel (Priority) To: All SACS LEGATS, Mexico City Ottawa From: Director. FBI (44-38861) MURKIN 00: MEMPHIS (44-(44-1987) In order to cover the possibility that subject may have died since commission of the crime, the U. S. Census Bureau and Department of Health, Education and Welfare were contacted and they advised that no central records of unidentified deceased are maintained by those accords of the deceased are not identified by those such a record in their bureau of Vital Statistics or similar agency. There is no known Federal law requiring the maintenance of such information and it is possible that if any received under the dead or maintained, it would only be maintained under police department, it requires, medical facilities, local or the like. Each office covering state capitals should check to ascertain if such records are maintained, and if so, if you should check records for the period from 4-5-68, to date, may not be identified deceased person over that subject may not have any information which might possibly identify period. If there is no central record repository maintained in the various states or nationally in the case of Mexico and Canada, you should, in connection with your contacts with law enforcement agencies on this case of the other Bureau matters, make appropriate inquiries relative to SEARCHED INDEX SENALIZED FILLED MAY 1-1590 FBI-DENVER Sent Via M 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The document outlines an FBI directive dated May 9, 1968, regarding the search for unidentified deceased individuals from April 5, 1968, onward. The Bureau contacted the U.S. Census Bureau and Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, which confirmed no centralized records exist for unidentified deceased persons. Local police departments, medical facilities, or state agencies may maintain such records, and the FBI instructed state capitals to check for records from April 5, 1968, to the present. The document also references an investigation into Carl Ray as a possible look-alike of James Earl Ray, who was suspected in the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Airlines and hotels were checked for reservations or sightings of Carl Ray, with no matches found. Flight crew members aboard Frontier Airlines flights from Albuquerque to Phoenix reported not recognizing anyone matching Carl Ray’s description. The FBI coordinated with SACS (Special Agents in Charge) and LEGATS (Legal Attache) offices in Mexico City and Ottawa to handle inquiries related to unidentified deceased individuals and fingerprint comparisons.  

Key People  
- James Earl Ray: Suspected assassin of Martin Luther King Jr., referenced as the subject of the investigation.  
- Carl Ray: Considered a look-alike of James Earl Ray; no confirmed sightings or reservations linked to him.  
- Catherine Hines: First Class Cabin Stewardess who reported not recognizing Carl Ray on a flight.  
- J. Jackson: Tourist Cabin Stewardess who also did not recognize Carl Ray.  
- SA Boyd D.: Investigator involved in the inquiry.  

Key Locations  
- Albuquerque, New Mexico  
- Denver, Colorado  
- Phoenix, Arizona  
- Memphis, Tennessee (FBI headquarters reference)  
- Mexico City and Ottawa (SACS/LEGATS offices referenced for coordination).  

Key Events  
- FBI directive to check for unidentified deceased individuals from April 5, 1968.  
- Investigation into Carl Ray as a possible look-alike of James Earl Ray.  
- Review of flight records and hotel reservations for Carl Ray’s presence in Albuquerque, Denver, and Phoenix.  
- Coordination with SACS/LEGATS offices to handle fingerprint comparisons and inquiries.  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Special Agents in Charge (SACS)  
- Legal Attache (LEGATS) offices in Mexico City and Ottawa  
- U.S. Census Bureau  
- Department of Health, Education, and Welfare

MLK Declassified Files

157-dn-203_617806_44-01-part_8_of_8.pdf

Document Summary

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