Summary  
The documents detail an FBI investigation into the 1968 assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., focusing on James Earl Ray as the primary suspect. Ray’s movements between 1967 and 1968 are tracked across multiple locations, including Memphis, Birmingham, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Kansas City, and Mexico. The Bureau examines allegations of conspiracy involving individuals such as Levi, Eddie Wilburn, William Pierce, and Frank Brickley, with financial transactions like money orders and Keno payoffs under scrutiny. Claims about Ray’s activities prior to and after the assassination are investigated, including discrepancies in Bob’s accounts (e.g., missing rifles, nonexistent locations). The FBI also explores potential media collaboration with "The Reader's Digest" for an article on Ray, referencing past successes in apprehending fugitives through such partnerships. Additional documents reference John Larry Ray, a separate suspect with ties to bank robberies and drug trafficking while incarcerated, and his alleged escape from Missouri State Penitentiary in April 1967. Anonymous letters alleging Ray’s presence in Mexico or Canada are noted but deemed unreliable. Legal motions regarding Ray’s 1959 armed robbery conviction are discussed, including Judge John C. Casey’s consideration of overturning the case. A body found in Acapulco on May 10, 1968, was ruled not to match Ray’s fingerprints, and a plane burn near Caborca, Mexico, is linked to potential movements but yields no evidence.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray**: Primary suspect in MLK Jr.’s assassination; alleged connections to Levi, Eddie Wilburn, William Pierce, Frank Brickley, Raymond Andrew Young, Leamont White, and John Paul Valenti.  
- **Bob**: Alleged informant with claims about Ray’s activities, including hotel registrations and getaway car details, which contain discrepancies.  
- **Levi**: Alleged accomplice; financial transactions involving money orders and Keno payoffs are under investigation.  
- **Eddie Wilburn**: Suspected associate of Ray; linked to potential conspiracies.  
- **William Pierce**: Alleged contact with Ray, possibly tied to the Communist Party of Colombia.  
- **Frank Brickley**: Prisoner with Ray; mentioned in context of Ray’s movements.  
- **Raymond Andrew Young**: Identified as a man in Los Angeles allegedly connected to Ray.  
- **Leamont White**: Western Union employee; financial transactions involving Ray are under review.  
- **John Larry Ray**: Separate suspect with criminal history, including 1959 bank robbery and drug trafficking while incarcerated.  
- **James L. Owens**: Former inmate who participated in the 1959 robbery with John Larry Ray; denied contact post-release.  
- **Kenneth Lee Wade**: Former Missouri State Penitentiary inmate alleged to have sold drugs in prison, interviewed for potential ties to Ray.  
- **John Eugene Gavron**: Close associate of Ray; made unreliable allegations about his activities after escape.  
- **Jerry Raynes (Raynes)**: Subject’s father, noted as an alcoholic with memory issues, reportedly mentioned Ray’s possible presence in Chicago in 1967.  
- **Marie Martin**: Traded television sets with Ray in Los Angeles around January 8, 1968; received a $50 check from Louis Lomax deemed worthless.  
- **Louis Lomax**: Provided $50 check to Marie Martin.  
- **James H. Carpenter**: Ex-convict who claimed Ray escaped Missouri State Penitentiary by walking out with visitors or wearing a guard’s uniform.  
- **John Paul Valenti**: Lived with Ray’s mother; alleged Ray was taught burglary.  
- **Judge John C. Casey**: Considered overturning Ray’s 1959 armed robbery conviction.  

Key Locations  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Site of MLK Jr.’s assassination and FBI investigation; Memphis Police Department received anonymous letters about Ray’s whereabouts.  
- **Belle Glade, Florida**: Mentioned in context of Ray’s movements.  
- **Kansas City, Missouri**: Tracked as part of Ray’s 1967–1968 travel route.  
- **Los Angeles, California**: Site of Ray’s alleged residence (St. Francis Hotel) and interactions with Marie Martin and Bob Bickley.  
- **Atlanta, Georgia**, **Birmingham, Alabama**, **New Orleans, Louisiana**: Locations referenced in Ray’s movements.  
- **Mexico City, Mexico**: Alleged location referenced in anonymous letters about Ray’s burial site.  
- **Acapulco, Mexico**: Site of a body found on May 10, 1968; determined not to match Ray’s fingerprints.  
- **Caborca, Mexico**: Location of a plane burn linked to potential movements but yielding no evidence.  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary**: Site of John Larry Ray’s incarceration and escape in April 1967.  
- **St. Louis, Missouri**: Home to Ray’s brother and the Grapevine Tavern; site of alleged interactions between Ray and Owens.  

Key Events  
- **FBI investigation into James Earl Ray’s movements and alleged conspiracy** (1967–1968), including financial transactions, Keno payoffs, and connections to the Communist Party of Colombia.  
- **Examination of Bob’s claims about Ray’s activities**, including discrepancies in hotel registrations, getaway car details, and missing rifles.  
- **Anonymous letters alleging Ray’s presence in Mexico or Canada** (e.g., Calleucio near Mexico City), deemed unreliable by investigators.  
- **Legal motions to overturn James Earl Ray’s 1959 armed robbery conviction**, with Judge John C. Casey considering the case.  
- **Investigation into a body found in Acapulco on May 10, 1968**, ruled not to match Ray’s fingerprints.  
- **Plane burn near Caborca, Mexico**, linked to potential movements but yielding no evidence.  
- **John Larry Ray’s escape from Missouri State Penitentiary (April 1967)**, alleged to have fled with funds from illicit activities and possibly traveled to Mexico.  
- **Interviews and polygraph recommendations** for John Larry Ray’s brother and associate John Eugene Gavron due to potential knowledge of his whereabouts.  
- **Marie Martin’s testimony about Ray’s financial needs**, including a $50 check from Louis Lomax deemed worthless, and his alleged package delivery in New Orleans on May 21, 1968.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Led investigations into MLK Jr.’s assassination, Ray’s movements, financial transactions, and media collaboration with "The Reader's Digest."  
- **Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)**: Mentioned in context of potential involvement in the investigation.  
- **"The Reader's Digest"**: Discussed as a potential media outlet for an article on Ray, referencing past successes in apprehending fugitives through media partnerships.  
- **Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)**: Mentioned in administrative documents but with little substantive content.  
- **Western Union**: Involved in financial transactions related to Ray’s activities.  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary**: Site of John Larry Ray’s incarceration and escape.  
- **Local police departments in Mexico and St. Louis**: Conducted investigations into Ray’s whereabouts, including anonymous letters and body findings.  
- **Courts (including Judge John C. Casey)**: Handled legal motions regarding Ray’s 1959 armed robbery conviction.

MLK Declassified Files

190-hq-709_sec_011_ser_231_only-part_3_of_7.pdf

Document Summary

Try AI Search