</s>NO 157-10673 IAL - smd LEAD: NEW ORLEANS AT BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA. WILL attempt to identify, locate, and interview Mr. COLB, supposedly owner of the Arthur Murray Studio in 1960, at Lafayette and Baton Rouge, and review any available records to determine if GALT attended these schools. 2* 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigations into the 1968 assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., focusing on James Earl Ray (JER) as a suspect. Ray, identified as Eric Starvo Galt, was linked to the crime through fingerprint and photographic comparisons. The FBI tracked his movements, including his escape from Missouri State Penitentiary in 1967, prior convictions for robbery, and associations with Walter Terry Rife. A suspect named Herman Peter Kackenmester was questioned in Texas but deemed mentally unstable. Other individuals, such as Donald D. Tanner and Scott Nordal, were investigated but ruled out. The FBI coordinated efforts across multiple offices to locate Ray, verify vehicle registrations, and cross-reference fingerprints. In New Orleans, interviews with dance instructors and studio staff were conducted to trace GALT’s associations, while vehicle registration checks and prison records (e.g., Missouri State Pen) were reviewed for potential links to racial motivations or conspiracies related to Dr. King’s assassination. A car with a Mississippi license plate was observed in New Orleans, described as resembling JER, and efforts continued to locate Raymond Hillburn, linked to a Corvair registered under his name.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray (JER)**: Identified as Eric Starvo Galt, a fugitive with a history of robbery convictions and ties to the assassination.  
- **Walter Terry Rife**: Suspected associate of Ray, linked to burglary charges and prior criminal activity.  
- **Herman Peter Kackenmester**: Interviewed in Texas; described as mentally unstable with no direct connection to the assassination.  
- **Dr. Mark O. Freeman**: Psychologist who treated Ray in 1967, noting his employment status and psychological profile.  
- **Raymond Hillburn**: Illinois resident linked to a Corvair registered under his name.  
- **Joseph Clayton Montagne**: Identified as a lookalike of JER, associated with the Corvair.  
- **Maria Hillburn**: Former wife of Raymond Hillburn, provided information about his movements.  
- **Donald D. Tanner** and **Scott Nordal**: Investigated for potential ties to Ray but ruled out.  

Key Locations  
- **New Orleans, Louisiana**: Central to the investigation, including dance studios (Continental Dance Studio, Arthur Murray Studio), bars/clubs (809 Club, Attic), and vehicle registration checks.  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Central to the assassination investigation and Ray’s identification as Galt.  
- **St. Louis, Missouri**: Ray’s alleged birthplace and early criminal history.  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary**: Where Ray was incarcerated prior to his escape in 1967.  
- **Pascagoula, Mississippi**: Site of Montagne’s arrest and vehicle stop.  
- **Chicago, Illinois**: Location of vehicle registration checks and contact with Hillburn.  
- **Montgomery, Alabama**: Contact with Maria Hillburn.  

Key Events  
- **Ray’s escape from Missouri State Penitentiary (April 23, 1967)**: Described as hiding in a bread box during a delivery truck stop.  
- **FBI investigation into Ray’s movements**: Including consultations with Dr. Freeman and vehicle registration checks.  
- **Kackenmester’s interrogation (April 19, 1968)**: Questioned for potential involvement in the assassination but deemed mentally unstable.  
- **Photographic and fingerprint comparisons**: Used to link Ray to Eric Starvo Galt and verify his identity.  
- **Coordination of FBI offices**: Including Los Angeles, Memphis, New Orleans, and Kansas City, to track Ray and associates.  
- **Vehicle registration checks**: For Illinois license DG THREE ONE ZERO NINE (Raymond Hillburn) and Mississippi license G B RIGHT ONE FOUR EIGHT.  
- **Efforts to locate Raymond Hillburn**: Including contact with Maria Hillburn in Montgomery, Alabama.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Led the investigation into Ray’s activities, coordinated with local law enforcement, and analyzed forensic evidence.  
- **U.S. Postal Service**: Involved in tracking stolen money orders linked to Walter Terry Rife’s 1955 burglary conviction.  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary**: Where Ray was incarcerated prior to his escape.  
- **Local law enforcement agencies**: Including the Pascagoula Police Department, New Orleans authorities, and Memphis police, assisting with vehicle and suspect checks.  
- **Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)**: Mentioned in context of ongoing contact efforts but no direct involvement in the investigation.

MLK Declassified Files

157-no-10673_hs1-852666771_122-04-part_3_of_4.pdf

Document Summary

Try AI Search