</s>UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUITICE EDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIO 4-23-68 307 HJC WASHINGTON, D.C. 20357 3 The following FBI record, NUMBER 405 942 G, is furnished FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY. Information shown on this Identification Record represents data furnished by FBI by fingerprint contributors, WHERE FINAL DISPOSITION IS NOT SHOWN OR FURTHER EXPLANATION OF CHARGE IS DESIRED, COMMUNICATE WITH AGENCY CONTRIBUTING THOSE FINGERPRINTS. CONTRIBUTION OF NAME AND NUMBER RESERVED OR CHARGE DISPOSITION FINGERPAINTS RECEIVED POLICE DEPARTMEN James Earl Ray October suspicion of Saint Louis, #81071 16, 1959 stealing and fugitive other Missouri authorities State Penitentiary James Earl ray March 17, (ugr) 20 years (20, Jefferson City, #00416 1960 operating motor 7, 5, Missouri public without concurrent) permission of owner roberbery first (2/n DDW) (2 charges) State Hospital Number 1 James EarlRay September Patient #37045 C-5 8, 1966 Fulton, Missouri Notations indicated by . are NOT based on fingerprints in FBI files but are listed only as investigative leads as being possibly identical with subject of this record. John Edgar Hoover Director 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigative records from April 1968 focusing on James Earl Ray’s criminal history and potential involvement in the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Ray was tracked for theft, robbery, and unauthorized vehicle operation, with the FBI monitoring his movements and linking him to multiple locations. The investigation also examined Lon R. Hummel as a possible alias or associate of Ray and Eric Starvo Galt, a fugitive tied to civil rights conspiracy. Coordination occurred between federal agencies, including the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), local police departments, and the Memphis Field Office. A separate case involved Shelby Jean Baldridge, a missing person whose disappearance was linked to Ray via a name similarity. The FBI sought information on stolen vehicles with Georgia license plates, including an Oldsmobile registered to L.C.A. Raiford in Vidalia, Georgia. A newspaper clipping referenced a $1 million bounty for Earl Ray, potentially tied to MLK’s assassination, though this connection remains unconfirmed. Redacted social security numbers and placeholders were noted in the records.  

Key People  
- James Earl Ray (suspected in MLK assassination, wanted for theft, robbery, unauthorized vehicle operation)  
- Lon R. Hummel (investigated as possible alias or associate of Ray)  
- Eric Starvo Galt (fugitive linked to civil rights conspiracy)  
- Sgt. Elbert Baldridge (husband of Shelby Jean Baldridge, military personnel)  
- Shelbey Jean Baldridge (missing person; allegedly connected to Ray via name similarity)  
- H.C. Raiford (owner of a car referenced in stolen vehicle investigation)  
- ASAC Jack Keith, SA David J. Reid, SA Sickness (FBI agents involved in the case)  

Key Locations  
- Jefferson City, Missouri (Ray’s prior incarceration and fingerprint records)  
- El Paso, Texas (investigation into Hummel’s movements; FBI SAC office)  
- Phoenix, Arizona (contact with John Tate, lumber company employee)  
- Fort Bliss, Texas (Baldrige’s military connection)  
- Clarksville, Virginia (Baldrige’s parents’ residence; alleged location of Baldridge)  
- Vidalia, Georgia (car registration details for stolen Oldsmobile)  
- Memphis, Tennessee; Birmingham, Alabama; Richmond, Virginia (FBI field offices mentioned in transmission headers)  

Key Events  
- FBI investigation into James Earl Ray’s criminal history and potential involvement in MLK’s assassination  
- Search for Lon R. Hummel to determine if he was an alias or associate of Ray  
- Coordination with Texas DPS and local police to track stolen vehicles and fugitives  
- Investigation into Shelby Jean Baldridge’s disappearance, linking her to Ray via a prior acquaintance named Earl  
- Verification of vehicle registrations and license plates associated with suspects  
- Reference to a $1 million bounty for Earl Ray in a newspaper clipping, tied to MLK’s assassination (unconfirmed connection)  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – El Paso SAC, Atlanta Office, Savannah Office  
- Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)  
- Local law enforcement agencies (e.g., Georgia police departments, Memphis Field Office)  
- U.S. Department of Justice (implied via FBI operations)

MLK Declassified Files

157-ep-186_hs1-852950407_179-02-part_5_of_7.pdf

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