</s>Volume Number 3 173-1 FILE No. Serials 26 THRU 365 DO NO" -ESTROYA HIS ALUE. NAT L ARCHIVES LARCHIVES the 8th St. 7c by f. 30.10.9 Dondle 7.20.9 - ATTACHE MEXICO, D.F. OFFICE OF FBI - CENTRAL RECORDS CENTER 44.388/ MEXICOO, D F. OFFICE OFF MX- MEXICO CITY Class/Case # Sub: Sub: Vol. Serfal # BUN No. 0173 1 3 261 365 3/12/2413049 COMMITTLE PIR BULLET 8.15.77" F.O.C.V. FOR S.S.ECT. F.0.CV. F.R. S.F .- E.V .- F.C .- C.V D.C V.F .. Dundle 7, 20.9 RFPY04A353 Dundee 7,20.99.9 REF. NOT NOT DESTROY. - 2025 RELEASE UNDER E. O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail U.S. government efforts to investigate James Earl Ray’s alleged involvement in the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., which occurred on April 4, 1968. The investigation spans multiple countries, including Mexico, Canada, and the United Kingdom, with a focus on tracking Ray’s movements and potential connections to criminal networks. Key elements include FBI surveillance operations in Mexico, coded communications, media outreach to locate Ray, and the arrest of Ray in London in June 1968. The documents also reference James Anderson, a man resembling Ray, and his alleged ties to smuggling, narcotics, and anti-Negro extremists. Uncertainties persist regarding direct links between Anderson and King’s assassination, though his suspicious behavior and criminal associations are noted.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray**: Primary suspect in MLK’s assassination; arrested in London in 1968 under the name Ramon George Sneyd.  
- **James Anderson**: Man resembling Ray, linked to smuggling, narcotics, and anti-Negro activities.  
- **Christiansen**: Smuggler with ties to fugitives and criminal networks.  
- **U.S. Officials**: Russell Jean Gray (Vice Consul), Donald J. Yellman (Consul), FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover.  
- **Elisa Arellano Torres**: Mentioned in a Spanish-language police interview; her role remains ambiguous but possibly tied to Ray’s activities.  

Key Locations  
- **Mexico City, Yucatan Peninsula, Bacalar, Quintana Roo, Chetumal**: Sites of FBI surveillance and interviews.  
- **London, England**: Location of Ray’s arrest in June 1968.  
- **Savannah, Georgia**: Home of James Anderson; his family was monitored via telegrams.  

Key Events  
- **May–June 1968**: FBI operations in Mexico to track Ray, including interviews with U.S. officials and monitoring James Anderson’s movements.  
- **June 6, 1968**: Arrest of James Earl Ray in London under maximum security; he was found armed with a loaded pistol.  
- **April 4, 1968**: Assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis, Tennessee.  
- **Media outreach**: FBI distributed photographs of Ray to Mexican newspapers (e.g., *El Imparcial*, *El Heraldo de Baja Cfa.*) to gather tips on his whereabouts.  

Key Organizations  
- **FBI**: Conducted surveillance, coded communications, and cross-border investigations.  
- **U.S. Consular Offices**: Including Mexico City and Savannah, Georgia, involved in tracking suspects.  
- **Mexican Authorities**: Collaborated with U.S. officials to monitor Ray’s movements.

MLK Declassified Files

173-mx-1_sec_003_ser_261-365-part_1_of_6.pdf

Document Summary

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