</s>FD. 245 (REV. 4.13.60) l. S. Department of Justice (MATERIAL MUST NOT BE REMOVED FROM OR ADDED TO THIS FILED DO NOT DESTROY-8-1-8/2-3/4-5/8 Auco 1-28/27 AuCO 1-8.1/2/3/5/6/7 DO NOT S.A.S.A-S.S-A-B-S-C-CITIRE FILE REVIEWED FOR HISTORICAL FEDERAL BUREAU DECLASSIFICATION DO NOT DISTROY-PRESERVE FOR SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS INVESTIGATION ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED BUREAU JB UNCLASSIFIED BUREAL JB UNCASSINATED DATE/12/4/2.3/2,4/3.5/4.5 Bureau File Number: 44-3881 Do Not Destroy-8,1-B.R.D. Volume Number: Serial: DO NOT DESTROY-9-1.8/12-2/2 PENDING LITIGATION See serial's 94/66/9X See also Nos. R/S 2/24/19/6 Lue 8/15/6 D. Davio 1130/16 Ric. 8-9/7/6 HURSTON 9/7-7/4 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The document details forensic analysis of fibers found in an abandoned Mustang linked to James Earl Ray, a suspect in the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Fibers from the car were compared to a bedspread discovered on South Main Street, Memphis, on April 4, 1968 (the day of MLK’s assassination). The FBI concluded the fibers matched those from the bedspread. A laundry report mentions a unit associated with Avalon Avenue in Los Angeles and a laundry named GALT, which was assigned number #203-3. Brown and green cotton fibers were found in the Mustang, and the FBI Laboratory compared them to the Memphis bedspread.  

Key People  
- James Earl Ray: Suspect linked to MLK’s assassination; his handwriting was analyzed in documents dated October 24, 1966, and April 4, 1959.  
- JAMES EARL RAY (repeatedly referenced): Subject of the investigation; relatives include JERRY JONES (father), JOHN LARRY RAT (brother), JERRY WILLIAM RAY (brother), FRANK DELANO RYAN (deceased brother), CAROL PEPPER (sister), MELBA MARIE RYAN (sister), and others.  
- PETERS: Witness who identified a photograph of James Earl Ray as resembling a suspect.  

Key Locations  
- Memphis, Tennessee: Site of the bedspread found on South Main Street, linked to MLK’s assassination.  
- Los Angeles, California: Mentioned in laundry reports (Avalon Avenue and 5662 Hollywood Boulevard).  
- Kansas City, Missouri: Location of a U.S. Penitentiary where James Earl Ray was incarcerated.  
- St. Louis, Missouri: Home to the Grapevine Tavern operated by CAROL PEPPER.  

Key Events  
- April 4, 1968: Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis; fibers from his bedspread were analyzed.  
- December 15, 1967: Laundry items associated with GALT were brought into the investigation.  
- April 5, 1968: James Earl Ray was last reported seen by PETERS at a laundry pick-up station.  
- Handwriting analysis conducted by FBI Laboratory on documents attributed to James Earl Ray and others.  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): Conducted forensic analysis of fibers, handwriting, and prison records.  
- Missouri State Penitentiary: Site of incarceration for James Earl Ray and other inmates.  
- U.S. Probation Officer, Kansas City, Missouri: Provided documents related to James Earl Ray’s criminal history.

MLK Declassified Files

44-ba-669_729218_1-03-part_1_of_5.pdf

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