</s>Volume Number - 173-1/ FILE No. Serials THRU 150 - - FICE OF XICO, D.F. FBI - CENTRAL RECORDS CENTER MX-MEXICO CITY Class / Case # Sub Vol. Serial # 0173 1 1 1 150 DO NOT DESTROY PENDING LITIGATION 3/12/3/3777262 BU No. 3/13/3772262 RRP0424ZWYM PRS-SERVE FOR SELECT PRS.SERVE FOLLETE 8.15-7.77" 133-1A 133-A - - REF. DO NOT RESTROY. 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigations into potential suspects linked to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., focusing on Eric Starvo Galt and Claude Chester Mclaren Jr. Galt is described as a white male, 5'11", 175 lbs, with brown hair and blue eyes, born July 28, 1931. His movements are tracked through car records (a 1966 white Mustang with VIN 6077070647), tourist cards processed via Mexican border crossings, and hotel stays in Puerto Vallarta and Mexico City. A Firestone Deluxe Champion tire (size 758×11L, six ply) with Mexican manufacturing markings is examined for connections to Galt’s activities. A key found in Birmingham, Alabama, tied to a Mexico City hotel room (Hotel María Isabel, Room 1131), is noted as potentially relevant. Mclaren, arriving in Mexico City from Honduras on April 8, 1968, was monitored by Mexican authorities and U.S. agents; his passport indicated travel from New Orleans to Honduras on March 30, 1968. The FBI also referenced a rifle purchased by Harvey Lower in Birmingham, Alabama, linked to the assassination. Investigations involved coordination with Mexican immigration authorities, U.S. agencies, and intelligence networks to verify suspect movements and connections.  

Key People  
- **Eric Starvo Galt**: Suspect in MLK’s assassination; described as white male, 5'11", 175 lbs, brown hair, blue eyes, born July 28, 1931.  
- **Claude Chester Mclaren Jr. (MC LAREN)**: Suspect tracked via travel records and passport data; arrived in Mexico City from Honduras on April 8, 1968.  
- **Harvey Lower**: Purchased a rifle in Birmingham, Alabama, linked to the assassination.  
- **John Willard/Willis Vernon/Harvey Lowyer**: Aliases potentially used by Galt.  
- **Edward Gerst**: Mentioned in an anonymous letter as a suspect linked to East Germany; no direct connection to Galt confirmed.  
- **J. A. Sullivan**: Inspector in Memphis involved in tracking Galt’s car.  
- **William Boykin**: Reported MLK’s killer stayed at the Four Winds Hotel in Puerto Vallarta.  
- **Luis García**: Bartender at Hotel Oceana, acquainted with Galt.  
- **Charles J. Stein**: Traveled with Galt in 1967.  
- **Elena Cortez**: Hotel owner at Four Winds Hotel, Puerto Vallarta.  

Key Locations  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Site of MLK’s assassination on April 4, 1968; Galt’s car recovered there.  
- **Mexico City, Mexico**: Mclaren’s arrival point; monitored by Mexican authorities; Hotel María Isabel (Room 1131) linked to key findings.  
- **Tegucigalpa, Honduras**: Mclaren’s origin before traveling to Mexico.  
- **Houston, Texas**: Destination for Mclaren’s flight; U.S. agents investigated his potential connection to the assassination.  
- **Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico**: Hotel Río (October–November 1967), Four Winds Hotel (linked to Galt); tourist cards processed through Nuevo Laredo and Tampico.  
- **Birmingham, Alabama**: Key discovery location; rifle purchase by Harvey Lower linked to the assassination.  

Key Events  
- **April 4, 1968**: Assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis, Tennessee.  
- **April 5–12, 1968**: FBI efforts to track Galt via car records, immigration data, and hotel checks; requested expanded passenger list checks for Atlanta-to-Mexico City flights.  
- **April 8, 1968**: Mclaren arrived in Mexico City from Honduras; Mexican authorities noted his resemblance to police sketches of the alleged assassin.  
- **April 10–11, 1968**: FBI forwarded photographs and sketches of Mclaren to Birmingham and Memphis for witness identification.  
- **March 29, 1968**: Harvey Lower purchased a rifle in Birmingham, Alabama, linked to the assassination.  
- **Galt’s hotel stays**: Hotel Río (Puerto Vallarta) October–November 1967; Hotel Oceana (Puerto Vallarta); Hotel María Isabel (Mexico City).  
- **Tire investigation**: Firestone Deluxe Champion tire (size 758×11L, six ply) with Mexican manufacturing markings examined for connections to Galt’s activities.  
- **April 12, 1968**: Coordination with Mexican authorities to monitor Galt’s movements and verify tourist card records.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Led investigations into Galt, Mclaren, and the assassination; coordinated with Mexican authorities and U.S. agencies.  
- **Mexican Government/Immigration Authorities**: Monitored border crossings, restricted Mclaren’s departure from Mexico, and provided tourist card records.  
- **Pan American Airways/Eastern Airlines**: Transported suspects between Honduras, Mexico City, and Houston; flights monitored for passenger data.  
- **Firestone Tire & Rubber Company**: Examined tire manufacturing and sales records linked to Galt’s activities.  
- **U.S. Embassy/Mexican Legation (Mexico City)**: Provided intelligence on suspect movements and border crossings.  
- **U.S. Department of State/Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)**: Checked visa and immigration records for Edward Gerst.

MLK Declassified Files

173-mx-1_sec_001_ser_1-150-part_1_of_6.pdf

Document Summary

Try AI Search