</s>FBI - CENTRAL RECORDS CENTER HQ - HEADQUARTERS PART OF 4 OF 5 WRITTEN ON THE Class/Case # Sub Vol Serial# 0150 702 5 231 ONLY 8/19/35/1241 RRPQA/0107J 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail the FBI’s investigation into the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., focusing on James Earl Ray’s involvement. Ray was identified through fingerprint analysis of a 30-06 Rowington rifle found at the crime scene in Memphis, Tennessee, which had been purchased in Birmingham, Alabama. Latent fingerprints on the weapon and binoculars matched Ray’s left thumbprint, linking him to the murder. Ray, who had escaped from Missouri State Penitentiary in 1967, used a forged Canadian passport under the name Ramon George Snyder to flee to London, where he was arrested on June 8, 1968. He pleaded guilty to murder in Tennessee state court on March 10, 1969, receiving a 99-year sentence. Federal conspiracy charges against Ray remained pending, though no evidence of a broader plot was found. The FBI also addressed media requests and public information releases, including considerations for sharing details with publications like *Reader’s Digest*. In 1970, approximately 200 pages of investigative materials were released to Harold Weisberg, an author who had filed a civil action against federal agencies, following legal authorization to prevent prejudice to ongoing FBI work.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray**: Confessed assassin of MLK Jr., identified through fingerprint evidence and linked to the murder weapon.  
- **Martin Luther King Jr.**: Killed on April 4, 1968, at the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis.  
- **John Willard**: Owner of a rooming house near the crime scene where evidence was recovered.  
- **Ramon George Snyder**: Alias used by Ray for his Canadian passport.  
- **Harold Weisberg**: Author who filed a civil action demanding access to investigative materials.  
- **William D. Ruckelshaus** and **Jerriss Leonard**: Assistant Attorneys General involved in legal proceedings.  
- **FBI agents (e.g., Lyndall & Sheaneyfelt, George A. Bonnebeke, Robert A. Frazier)**: Provided affidavits and forensic analysis.  

Key Locations  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Site of MLK Jr.’s assassination and the Lorraine Hotel where he was shot.  
- **Birmingham, Alabama**: Location where the rifle used in the assassination was purchased.  
- **John Willard’s Rooming House**: Near the hotel where evidence was found.  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary**: Where Ray’s fingerprints were linked to his criminal record.  
- **London, UK**: Site of Ray’s arrest in 1968.  
- **Washington, D.C.**: Headquarters for legal and administrative actions.  

Key Events  
- **April 4, 1968**: MLK Jr. assassinated at the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis.  
- **June 8, 1968**: James Earl Ray arrested in London under the alias Ramon George Snyder.  
- **March 10, 1969**: Ray pleaded guilty to murder and received a 99-year sentence.  
- **Release of 200 pages of documents**: Shared with Harold Weisberg and the press on June 24, 1970, following legal authorization.  
- **FBI fingerprint comparison**: Identification of Ray through latent prints on crime scene evidence.  
- **Forensic analysis**: Involving ballistics, autopsy reports, and fingerprint examinations to link Ray to the assassination.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Led the investigation into MLK Jr.’s assassination and provided forensic evidence.  
- **Department of Justice**: Managed legal proceedings and document releases related to the case.  
- **United States Department of State**: Involved in extradition processes and international inquiries.  
- **Memphis Police Department**: Provided physical evidence and witness statements.

MLK Declassified Files

190-hq-709_bulky_231_sec_005_ser_231_only-part_01_of_12.pdf

Document Summary

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