</s>Ray, James Earl Mo Pen Locksmith XI-49 No records at Belsaw locksmithing. 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary:  
The documents detail investigations into James Earl Ray's prison records, escape attempts, and alleged connections to activities surrounding Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. Ray, identified as a convicted criminal with multiple incarcerations in Missouri and Illinois, is linked through inmate testimonies and prison records to drug trafficking, racial animus, and potential involvement in plots against King. Entries reference his 1967 escape from prison, alleged associations with individuals like Raymond Curtis and Paul Bridgeman, and claims of planning to kill King for financial reward. Some documents mention Ray's activities in St. Louis, Kansas City, Chicago, and Vicksburg, as well as his use of aliases and transient housing. The records also include details about prison drug operations, inmate interactions, and attempts to verify his whereabouts post-escape.  

Key People:  
- **James Earl Ray**: Central figure; convicted criminal with multiple incarcerations, linked to alleged plots against MLK via inmate testimony and prison records.  
- **Raymond Curtis**: Inmate associated with Ray; allegedly planned with Ray to kill King and receive payment from a "Cooley organization."  
- **Paul Bridgeman**: Mentioned as possibly having lived in Kansas City; connected to Ray through prison records.  
- **James W. Brown**: Inmate who claimed Ray expressed intent to kill King for $10,000.  
- **John L. Rays**: Alias used by Ray in Illinois; registered under this name for housing and employment.  
- **Donald Johnson**: Testified about Ray's escape logistics, including a bread box method.  

Key Locations:  
- **St. Louis, Missouri**: Mentioned as a location where Ray was seen with James L. Owens in 1967.  
- **Kansas City, Missouri**: Linked to Ray's prison records and alleged residence; referenced in connection with Paul Bridgeman.  
- **Chicago, Illinois**: Ray used aliases and rented housing under the name John L. Rays.  
- **Vicksburg, Mississippi**: Alleged location of a houseboat where Ray was supposed to meet someone after planning King's murder.  
- **Jackson County Jail, Kansas City, Missouri**: Ray incarcerated from 1955–1955; later escaped in 1967.  

Key Events:  
- **Ray's 1967 prison escape**: Documents detail his escape method, including alleged use of a bread box and assistance from inmates.  
- **Alleged plot to kill MLK**: Multiple inmate accounts suggest Ray discussed plans to assassinate King for financial reward, with ties to the KKK or "Cooley organization."  
- **Drug trafficking in prison**: Ray is linked to drug operations within Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP), including connections to pushers like Jimmy V. Bradley and Neal Abeby.  
- **Ray's transient housing**: Records note his use of aliases, temporary residences in Chicago, and lack of stable employment or social ties.  

Key Organizations:  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP)**: Central location for Ray's incarceration; details about prison drug operations and inmate interactions are provided.  
- **Klan-related groups**: Implied connections to white supremacist organizations through Ray's alleged associations.  
- **Cooley organization**: Mentioned as a potential financier of Ray's plot against MLK, though no further details are given.

MLK Declassified Files

190-hq-43418_bulky_1_sec_002_ser_1_only-part_08_of_63.pdf

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