</s>FD-36 (Hev. 5-22-54) F.B.I Date: Transmit the following in (Type in plaintext or code) Via (Priority) PAGE TWO OF ERIC STARVO GALT AND IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY RECORDED CREWMAN NAMED GALT, IT IS SUGGESTED NO FURTHER INVESTIGATION BE CONDUCTED TO LOCATE THIS INDIVIDUAL, AIR MAIL COPIES TO BIRMINGHAM, CHICAGO, HOUSTON, MOBILE, NEW YORK AND WFO, ARMED AND DANGEROUS. P. P. Approved: Sent M Per Special Agent in Charge 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary:  
The documents detail an FBI investigation into the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., focusing on James Earl Ray, a suspect linked to the crime. Key elements include:  
- A 30.06 rifle purchased in Birmingham, Alabama, on March 30, 1968, was found near the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis, where King stayed. The rifle and its telescopic sight were traced back to the same dealer.  
- Eric Stanyo Galt (alias: John Willard, Harvey Lawyer) is implicated as a conspirator. He owned a 1966 white Mustang, later found abandoned in Atlanta, which had traveled extensively across the U.S., including Memphis on April 3, 1968.  
- The FBI sought to identify Galt through his aliases, vehicle records, and travel patterns, noting his alleged employment as a cook and merchant seaman.  
- Thermo-seal laundry tapes found in the Mustang were analyzed for forensic clues, linking them to marking machines used by laundries.  
- Investigations involved multiple FBI offices (Birmingham, Memphis, Miami) and included tracking license plates, handwriting samples, and vehicle registrations.  

Key People:  
- **James Earl Ray**: Suspected of shooting King; linked to the 30.06 rifle and Mustang.  
- **Eric Stanyo Galt**: Accused conspirator with aliases (John Willard, Harvey Lawyer); owner of the Mustang tied to Memphis.  
- **Walter Terry Rife**: Mentioned in family records but not directly connected to the assassination.  
- **Kathleen Deininger**: Provided license plate information for a stolen vehicle.  
- **Samuel Rivera**: Reported sightings of a suspect in Miami.  

Key Locations:  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Site of King’s assassination; Lorraine Hotel where he stayed.  
- **Birmingham, Alabama**: Rifle and Mustang purchased here; key FBI office involved.  
- **Atlanta, Georgia**: Abandoned Mustang found here; linked to Galt’s travel.  
- **Miami, Florida**: Suspect sightings and license plate tracking.  
- **Montgomery, Alabama**: License plate registration details provided by the Department of Revenue.  

Key Events:  
- **March 30, 1968**: Rifle purchase in Birmingham; traced to Memphis via forensic analysis.  
- **April 3, 1968**: Galt allegedly in Memphis before fleeing to Atlanta.  
- **April 1968**: FBI launched nationwide search for Galt, using vehicle records and aliases.  
- **Thermo-seal tape analysis**: Forensic examination of laundry tapes found in the Mustang linked to marking machines.  
- **License plate tracking**: Investigation into stolen vehicles (e.g., ALA license plates) connected to suspects.  

Key Organizations:  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Central to the investigation, coordinating efforts across offices and agencies.  
- **Department of Revenue (Alabama)**: Provided license plate registration details.  
- **Laundromat Industries**: Analyzed thermo-seal tapes for forensic evidence.  

Notes:  
- Documents include administrative forms (e.g., FD-36) and teletype communications between FBI offices.  
- References to "thermo-seal" markings suggest attempts to link the Mustang’s contents to specific laundromats or manufacturers.  
- The investigation highlights cross-state collaboration, vehicle tracking, and forensic analysis in the search for Galt.

MLK Declassified Files

44-bh-1740_729219_06-01-part_2_of_5.pdf

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