</s>Mr. Mohr 9/17/68 N. P. Callahan MURKIN - COST DATA In connection with our investigation concerning the death of Martin Luther King, Jr ., there is set forth below the estimated cost to the Bureau through the close of business August 31, 1988. The total estimated cost is $1,278,989. A peak of 3,075 field agents was assigned to this case and 5,380 hours of unpaid overtime have been performed. Bureau and personally owned automobiles have been driven an estimated 476,950 miles. ACTION: None: informational. 1 - Mr. DeLoach (sent direct) 1 -Mr.Mohr (sent Direct) 1 - Mrs. Rosen (sent director) 1 -Mrs. Callahan (Sent direct) 1 - M. Mashindale (sent directed) WCJ-big (10) 44-38861 25L1 1 5H 8H 88 LBT LONG HEC.D - CIA WIAHLE? 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents provide detailed cost data for the FBI’s investigation into the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., covering April–August 1968. Total costs by August 31, 1968, reached $1,278,989, with cumulative figures at $1,271,178 (July 31) and $1,253,245 (June 30). The investigation involved 3,075 field agents, 5,380 unpaid overtime hours, and 476,950 miles driven. Expenses included per diem ($6,698), communications ($4,052.03), photography ($1,884.68), travel (plane fares: $837; hotel rooms: $59.48), and miscellaneous items ($14,203.65). Some entries noted no activity due to lack of leads or case closure. Additional cost reports from April–May 1968 detail man hours, mileage, and expenses across FBI offices (Memphis, London, Tokyo, Rome, Paris, New Haven), with peak agent numbers at 3,075 in April and 1,492 in May. A separate entry references a Departmental Review of MLK’s files in 1975, noting manpower hours but no monetary expenditures.  

Key People  
- Martin Luther King Jr. (subject of investigation)  
- Special Agents: Martindale, Zeiss, Bounds, Bonebrake, Sullivan, Heather, Mumford, Gallagher, O’Connell, Walsh, Lawn, Pittz  
- FBI Personnel: Mr. DeLoach, Mr. Mohr, Mr. Rosen, Mrs. Callahan, Mrs. Bishop, J. S. Peelman  

Key Locations  
- Memphis, Tennessee (central to investigation)  
- London, United Kingdom (Legat)  
- Tokyo, Japan (Legat)  
- Rome, Italy (Legat)  
- Paris, France (Legat)  
- New Haven, Connecticut (SAC office)  
- Washington, D.C. (Administrative Division)  
- Lisbon, Madrid, Santo Domingo, Hong Kong, Buenos Aires  

Key Events  
- FBI cost data reporting for the MURKIN case (MLK assassination investigation) from April–August 1968  
- Discontinuation of monthly cost reports after June 30, 1968, due to case closure or lack of activity  
- Tracking of man hours, mileage, and expenses across FBI divisions  
- Departmental Review of MLK’s files in 1975 with manpower hours but no monetary expenditures  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- FBI Administrative Division  
- Special Agent in Charge (SAC) offices (Memphis, London, Tokyo, Rome, Paris, New Haven)  
- Budget and Accounting Section (Administrative Division)  
- Foreign Liaison Offices (e.g., Legats in London, Tokyo, Rome, Paris)

MLK Declassified Files

190-hq-709_bulky_231_sec_005_ser_231_only-part_05_of_12.pdf

Document Summary

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