</s>FD-302 (Rev. 4-15-64) FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION Date 4/12/68 1 SAM N. HUDSON, 3847 Marion Street, Desk Clerk, Rebel Motor Hotel, 3466 Lamar Avenue, advised that he was on duty at the hotel 6:00 am on April 4, 2:00 PM on April 4 at the Hotel 6:30 am on April 4, 2002 PM on April 1, 1968. The stated that he could not remember any- on any automobile that this individual was not driving. He of any automobile this individual would not drive. He could not remember seeing a white busing parked in the lot could not be seen in the parking lot. The parking lot is blocked out on the morning of April 4. 1968, without coming to the desk. No stated that this would be normal if it is individual said for that anyones leaves anything in the hotel rooms He said that if anyone leaves anything if the hotel room after checking out, the maids will bring the objects to him and he tags them as to the room number and occupant's name. He stated them as the room numbers and occupants' names to the maids brought anything to him to be tagged. he stated that anything tohim to be taken. drawn in Memphis, Tennessee, and Birmingham, Alabama, and he stated what neither of these drawings looked familiar to him. 149 4/11/68 at Memphis, Tennessees On 4/1/68 File # ME 44-1987 SA JOHN W. BAUER / oba 4/ 11/68 by Date dictatedated This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is loomed to your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency. 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The document contains a detailed medical autopsy report for Martin Luther King Jr., conducted on April 4, 1968, following his assassination. The primary cause of death was identified as a gunshot wound to the spinal column, specifically the lower cervical and upper thoracic regions, which resulted in severe trauma to the spinal cord, vertebral artery, jugular vein, subclavian artery, and surrounding structures. Additional findings included fractures of the right mandible and T-1 and C-7 vertebrae, lacerations of the spinal cord, intrapulmonary hematoma in the right upper lobe, and submuscular hemorrhage in the larynx. Secondary findings noted fatty changes in the liver, plural adhesions, remote scars, tracheostomy, and venous cut-downs. Laboratory results indicated a blood alcohol level of 0.018%. The report was prepared by pathologists Drs. Sprunt and Francisco, with final certification dated April 11, 1968.  

Key People  
- Martin Luther King Jr. (decedent)  
- Drs. Sprunt and Francisco (pathologists)  
- J.T. Francisco (medical examiner)  
- Phil A. Canals (district attorney general)  

Key Locations  
- Memphis, Tennessee (hospital and autopsy site)  
- Shelby County, Tennessee (county medical examiner office)  

Key Events  
- Autopsy of Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, 1968  
- Identification of gunshot wound as the cause of death  
- Documentation of spinal cord trauma and associated injuries  
- Preparation of final pathological diagnosis and certification  

Key Organizations  
- Shelby County Medical Examiner’s Office  
- Tennessee Department of Public Health  
- Select Committee on Assassinations (note: document marked for preservation by this committee)

MLK Declassified Files

157-no-10673_hs1-852666771_122-06-part_4_of_4.pdf

Document Summary

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