</s>FD: 245 (Rev. 4:13-40) H. S. Department of Justice (MATERIAL MUST NOT BE REMOVED FROM OR ADDED TO THIS FILED TODA REPUBLIST, DO NOT DISPOSAL ASSASSINATION 5 YEAR ROSE, SENTIAL SENTENT, SEE FOR 10.00 FATLANTA FEDERAL BUREAO not INVESTIGATION ENTIRE FILE REVIEWED 44-38FEXHISTORICAL DECLASSIFICATION Vacation Number: ALL INFORMATION IN CONTAINED DECLASSSIFICATION HEREI RULINGO ST.Poy 2298-1333 See also Nos. DO NOT DESTROY. PRESERVE FOR SELECT COMMITE ON ASSASSINTATIONS Clevel 9/8/75 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary:  
The documents detail FBI communications and internal investigations related to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) in 1968. In June 1975, FBI agents confirmed no active investigation into MLK’s murder was underway, citing prior handling of the case by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in April 1971. Public Safety Commissioner A. Reginald Eaves of Atlanta provided information to FBI agents about an alleged potential conspiracy involving MLK’s assassination, though details remained confidential. A package containing materials from Eaves was delivered to FBI agent Wilburn K. DeBruler by Patrolman W. H. Tillman. Media inquiries, including from Newsweek reporter VERN SMITH, were addressed by the FBI, which emphasized no new information or active investigation existed. The DOJ was noted as the authority for further action on the case.  

In another June 1975 communication, Atlanta Police Detective Phil Sullivan reported that Eaves had received information about a potential conspiracy related to MLK’s assassination from an unnamed source. This information allegedly included claims by Robert Byron Watson, a man incarcerated in federal prison for drug offenses, who stated he overheard two individuals in 1968 discussing plans to assassinate MLK using methods similar to the JFK assassination plot. Watson claimed he reported this to FBI agents, Governor Lynwood Maddox, and attorney Bernard Fensterwald, who were investigating potential conspiracies involving MLK, the Kennedy brothers, and others. Sullivan expressed concerns about disseminating Watson’s statement due to its speculative nature and questioned whether the FBI had already investigated it. The document also includes administrative records with redacted social security numbers (not included in the summary) and unrelated names.  

Key People:  
- A. Reginald Eaves (Public Safety Commissioner, Atlanta; provided information about potential conspiracy)  
- Wilburn K. DeBruler (FBI agent, SAC, Atlanta Field Office)  
- Richard Hamilton (FBI agent, SAC)  
- VERN SMITH (Newsweek Magazine representative; media inquiry addressed by FBI)  
- Robert Byron Watson (in federal prison for drug offenses; alleged overheard assassination plot discussions)  
- Phil Sullivan (Detective, Atlanta Police Department; involved in investigation)  
- Bernard Fensterwald (attorney in Washington, D.C.; allegedly handled Watson’s report)  
- Lynwood Maddox (Governor of Georgia; mentioned as recipient of Watson’s report)  

Key Locations:  
- Atlanta, Georgia (central to the investigation and Eaves’ office)  
- FBI Atlanta Field Office  
- U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.  
- Ashland, Kentucky (Watson’s prison location)  
- Washington, D.C. (involvement of attorneys and federal agencies)  

Key Events:  
- June 1975: FBI agents confirmed no active investigation into MLK’s assassination; media inquiries addressed by the FBI.  
- April 1971: Information about the case was previously submitted to the DOJ.  
- June 20–25, 1975: Communications with media outlets and internal FBI reviews of information provided by Eaves.  
- Package delivery: Confidential materials from Eaves to DeBruler on June 20, 1975.  
- Alleged 1968 overheard conversation about assassination plans for MLK, referencing JFK assassination methods.  
- Watson’s submission of a detailed statement to authorities, claiming he reported the plot to FBI agents and others.  
- Commissioner Eaves’ handling of information on a "need-to-know" basis, with secrecy around details.  
- FBI consideration of disseminating Watson’s statement but concerns about its reliability and prior investigations.  

Key Organizations:  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- U.S. Department of Justice  
- Atlanta Police Department (APD)  
- Sigma Delta Chi Fraternity (mentioned in context of media interactions)  
- Civil Disturbance Unit (Atlanta)

MLK Declassified Files

44-at-2386_hs1-852715321_164-01-part_1_of_6.pdf

Document Summary

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