</s>UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE DEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION 4-23-68 307 HJC WASHINGTON, D.C. 2037 3- The following FBI record, NUMBER 405 942 G is furnished FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY. Information shown on this Identification Record data furnished FBI by fingerprint contributors. WHERE FINAL DISPOSITION IS NOT SHOWN OR FURTHER EXPLANATION OF CHARGE IS DESIRED, COMMUNICATE WITH AGENCY CONTRIBUTING THOSE FINGERPRISENTS. CONTRIBUTOR OF NAME AND NUMBER ARRESCED OR CHARGE DISPOSITION FINGERPAINTS RESCIVED Police Department James Earl Ray October suspected of Saint Louis, #810711 16, 1959 suspecting and Missouri fugitive other authorities State Penitentiary James Earl ray March 17, "UPC" Jefferson City, #00416 1960 20 years (20, operating motor 7, 5, Missouri vehicle without vehicle division of concurrent) owner roberbery first (2) Charges) State Hospital Number 1 James EarlRay September Patient #37045 C-5 3, 1966 Fulton, Missouri Notations indicated by * are NOT based on fingerprints in FBI files but are listed only as investigative leads cs being possibly identical with subject of this record. John Edgar Hoover Director 2023 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14/18

Summary  
The declassified documents detail FBI investigations into the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) in Memphis, Tennessee, focusing on James Earl Ray as a primary suspect. Ray, a fugitive with a history of burglary, robbery, and forgery convictions, was incarcerated at Missouri State Penitentiary before escaping on April 23, 1967. The FBI linked him to MLK’s assassination, noting his aliases (Eric Starvo Galt, James McBride, etc.), physical description (40 years old, 5'10", blue eyes, brown hair, small forehead scar), and behavioral traits as a "loner" and avid dancer. Ray was added to the FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” list on April 20, 1968, following fingerprint comparisons confirming his identity with Galt, who was tied to MLK’s assassination. Investigations included surveillance of dance studios in Connecticut (e.g., Gloria Williams’ West Haven studio, Carol Farrell’s Milford studio), laundries using thermo-seal marking machines, and monitoring media coverage. The FBI also pursued leads on anonymous letters referencing MLK-related activities and a sketch of the killer, though details remained incomplete. Key efforts involved coordinating with agencies like the Memphis Division, New Haven SAC, and credit bureaus to track Ray’s movements and associates.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray** (primary suspect; aliases: Eric Starvo Galt, James McBride, John Willard, etc.)  
- **John Willard** (linked to New Jersey residences and FBI investigations)  
- **Gloria Williams** (owner of Williams Ballroom Studio in West Haven, Connecticut)  
- **Carol Farrell** (dance studio owner in Milford, Connecticut)  
- **Donald Robert Greenspuns** (connected to bank robbery investigations)  
- **John W. Yaglenski** (student in Washington D.C., later employed by Internal Revenue Office)  
- **Walter Lohmeyer** (investigated for potential ties; employed at Perkins-Elmer Corp.)  

Key Locations  
- **Memphis, Tennessee** (site of MLK’s assassination)  
- **Jefferson City, Missouri** (Ray’s escape from Missouri State Penitentiary)  
- **New Haven, Connecticut** (FBI SAC office; central to surveillance and investigations)  
- **Danbury, Connecticut** (laundry facilities checked for thermo-seal marking machines)  
- **Stamford, Connecticut** (dance studios and laundries monitored)  
- **Cleveland, Ohio; Phoenix, Arizona; Wetherfield, Connecticut; Mesa, Arizona** (addresses linked to Ray or associates)  
- **Washington D.C.** (Yaglenski’s prior residence)  

Key Events  
- **April 23, 1967**: James Earl Ray escaped from Missouri State Penitentiary.  
- **April 20, 1968**: FBI added Ray to the “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” list.  
- **April 12, 1968**: Laundry investigation in Danbury, Connecticut, targeting thermo-seal marking machines linked to MLK’s assassination.  
- **April 24–26, 1968**: FBI teletype messages referenced Newark and New Haven; directives prioritized reviewing MLK’s file and locating Ray.  
- **April 1–15, 1968**: Credit bureau and police checks on names like Lowery/Lommer; no direct ties to MLK threats found.  
- **Ongoing surveillance**: Monitoring of dance studios, rooming houses, and media coverage for Ray’s movements.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)** – central agency conducting the investigation.  
- **Memphis Division (FBI)** – involved in fingerprint analysis and suspect tracking.  
- **New Haven SAC (Special Agent in Charge)** – coordinated investigations and surveillance efforts.  
- **Credit Bureaus** – used to verify employment, residences, and financial records.  
- **Stanford Police Department** – checked for records on John Willard.  
- **Perkins-Elmer Corp.** – employer of Walter Lohmeyer (investigated for potential ties).

MLK Declassified Files

157-nh-818_626213_20-01-part_2_of_7.pdf

Document Summary

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