</s>SI 44-561 On 4-20-68, MELBA MARIE RYAN was interviewed at the Virginia Hotel, 534 North Second Street, Quincy, Ill. MELBA MARYLE RYANN turned the following information to SA ELYON H. DAVIS and ASAC DONALD T. SULLIVAN: MELBAA MARIE RNYAN advised that she is the sister of JAMES ELLYON and DAVIS RAY AND ASAC Donald T. SOULLIVAN; of JAMES ELLYN RAY and admitted a photograph of the JAMES EARL RAY, FBI, FBI and FBI agent identified as a photographer of the same sister. Corrections on 3-17-60 as her brother. She advised that she had only seen on her brother JAMES BARL RAY or four amount of her life in time and that she has spent a considerable amount of time and then she has stated that she she has been in the Jacksonville State Hospital, Jacksonville, 111, on three occasions. RYAN advised That he has been living at the Virginia Hotel since December 1967, and has had no contact with JAMES RAY since she escaped from the Missouri State Pentententenentent. She advised that the last saw JAMES FARL RRAY around 1959 when he was living in St. Louis, Missouri, at a boarding house operated by her mother, LUCIE RAY, at the advised that she was staying with her mother. LUCILLE RYANA, at that time and that JAMES SARL RYAY stayed with them for approximately six months. from JAMES LARL RAV stayed with then for approximately Six present. from JAMIES EARL RAT that she had never received a letter present whereabouts. She advised she that that she was never received as a letter and that her father is approximately 70 years of age. She stated that he was Living in Missouri; however, she stated that she had talked to him on the previous night on the -43 - 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary:  
The documents detail FBI investigations into individuals associated with James Earl Ray, who was linked to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Ruby Smith Carpenter, ex-wife of Ray, provided statements in 1968 regarding her lack of knowledge about Ray’s whereabouts and his family. She mentioned Ray’s father, James Gerald Ray, and his criminal history. The FBI conducted surveillance on Carpenter’s residence in Quincy, Illinois, from May 1 to May 10, 1969, noting no visitors. Records also include Earl Ray’s criminal past, including assaults and incarcerations in Menard, Illinois, dating back to 1925. Investigations into Ray’s relatives, such as William E. Maher (Ray’s uncle) and Frank Fuller (Carpenter’s relative), revealed limited contact and no recent information on Ray’s activities. Walter Terry Rife, an associate of James Earl Ray, had correspondence with various individuals, including his wife and family members, and was incarcerated at Joliet Prison from 1959 to 1964. The documents also reference other associates like Monan Lee Crawford and Darlen Crawford (Rife’s sister and niece), who were reported to have moved away by 1955–1956.  

Key People:  
- Ruby Smith Carpenter (ex-wife of James Earl Ray)  
- James Earl Ray (suspected assassin of MLK Jr.)  
- Earl Ray (father of James Earl Ray, with criminal history)  
- William E. Maher (uncle of James Earl Ray)  
- Frank Fuller (relative of Ruby Carpenter)  
- Walter Terry Rife (associate of James Earl Ray)  
- Monan Lee Crawford and Darlen Crawford (sister and niece of Rife)  

Key Locations:  
- Quincy, Illinois (Carpenter’s residence, FBI surveillance)  
- Menard, Illinois (Earl Ray’s incarceration)  
- Peoria, Illinois (Rife’s correspondence with wife and family)  
- Harrisburg, Illinois (investigations into Crawford family)  

Key Events:  
- FBI surveillance of Ruby Carpenter’s home in Quincy, Illinois (May 1–10, 1969).  
- Earl Ray’s criminal history, including assaults and incarcerations in Menard, Illinois.  
- Investigations into James Earl Ray’s relatives, including William Maher and Frank Fuller.  
- Walter Terry Rife’s incarceration at Joliet Prison (1959–1964) and correspondence with family members.  
- Reports that Monan Lee Crawford and Darlen Crawford moved away by 1955–1956.  

Key Organizations:  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Quincy, Illinois Police Department  
- Menard, Illinois State Prison  
- Peoria County Bar Association  
- Saline County Sheriff’s Office

MLK Declassified Files

157-jn-9586_624938_427d-01-part_2_of_3.pdf

Document Summary

Try AI Search