Summary  
The documents detail FBI records and internal communications related to the investigation into Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. James Earl Ray (FBI No. 405,932 G) is identified as a suspect, with physical descriptions including height (5 ft. 8–11 in.), weight (150–17, lbs.), dark hair, and blue or green eyes. Evidence includes laundry tags from the Textile Marking Machine Company of Syracuse, New York, marked "TO TWO B" or "D TWO B DASH Six," linked to clothing worn by Ray under the alias Eric Starvo Galt. The FBI sought information on individuals such as Harvey Loweyor/Lommyer (a rifle purchaser) and Artie McMinn (a former motel manager in Ruidoso, New Mexico), whose husband Henry McMinne was also investigated. A separate FBI communication from April 10, 1968, references Eric Stavo Gali (likely a variant of Starvo Galt) as a prime suspect, noting his white 1966 Mustang with VIN 6TERO SEVEN ONE NINE ZERO SIX FOUR SEVEN and license plate "ALBAMA LICENSE ONE - THREE EIGHT NINE NINE THREE." The investigation emphasized discreet handling to avoid public disclosure.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray** (FBI No. 405,932 G): Suspect linked to the assassination, described as a white male with dark hair and blue/green eyes.  
- **Eric Starvo Galt**: Alias used by Ray; associated with laundry tags found at the crime scene.  
- **Harvey Loweyor/Lommyer**: Name under which a rifle was purchased, possibly connected to the assassination.  
- **Artie McMinn**: Former motel manager in Ruidoso, New Mexico, whose husband (Henry McMinne) was investigated as a potential suspect.  
- **Joe Wesley Irvine**: Radical informant checked for information on racial activity and King’s murder.  

Key Locations  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Site of MLK Jr.’s assassination.  
- **Syracuse, New York**: Manufacturer of laundry tags found at the crime scene.  
- **Ruidoso, New Mexico**: Home to Artie McMinn and her husband Henry McMinne.  
- **Birmingham, Alabama**: Mentioned in an unrelated FBI investigation (April 4, 1968).  
- **Albuquerque, New Mexico**: FBI office involved in tracking suspects and coordinating investigations.  

Key Events  
- **April 4, 1968**: Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis, Tennessee.  
- **April 8–10, 1968**: FBI directives to investigate suspects like Harvey Loweyor/Lommyer and Eric Starvo Galt, including checks of drivers’ licenses, credit records, and criminal histories.  
- **May 1, 1968**: FBI request for information on individuals associated with the assassination, including potential bombers and civil rights conspiracies.  
- **April 10, 1968**: FBI communication referencing Eric Stavo Gali (likely Starvo Galt) as a prime suspect, noting his vehicle details and license plate.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Central agency conducting the investigation, coordinating with SACs in Memphis, Birmingham, Houston, and other locations.  
- **Textile Marking Machine Company**: Syracuse, New York-based company that manufactured laundry tags found at the crime scene.  
- **Local law enforcement agencies**: Including police departments in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Memphis, Tennessee; and Ruidoso, New Mexico, involved in suspect tracking and evidence collection.

MLK Declassified Files

44-aq-715_v1-part_4_of_9.pdf

Document Summary

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