</s>MM 44-1854 XV. INVESTIGATION REGARDING TERRENCE ALVIN SMITH AND DONALD JACKSON CARPENTER WHO JOKINGLY TOLD HAZEL PEACOCK, A GIRL FRIEND OF CARPENER, THAT THEY HAD KILLED MARVIN LUTHER KING 73 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigations into individuals and events potentially linked to Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination in 1968. On May 3, 1968, Hazel V. Peacock of Okeechobee, Florida, reported that Donald Jackson Carpenter and Terrence Alvin Smith had jokingly claimed they killed MLK, with Carpenter stating plans to receive $100,000 as payment. Smith and Carpenter were alleged members of an unknown secret organization. The Atlanta FBI Office noted Carpenter was in Gray, Georgia, on April 4, 1966, while Lee Williams Nursery confirmed Smith was in Augusta, Georgia, on April 3, 1966. Terrence V. Smith later denied the claims. The Miami FBI Office investigated James Earl Ray’s movements, contacting hippy hangouts and psychedelic shops but found no matches. A December 15–17, 1967, phone call from Texas to Florida involving JAMES BARL RAY (possibly a typo for James Earl Ray) traveling with Charles Stein was examined. In 1966, Donald Stout allegedly threatened to kill MLK in the presence of Stewart Lindh. James Harvey White of Ft. Lauderdale inquired about paying to kill MLK from the United Klans of America but denied making such inquiries during an FBI interview. Paula Simone Galt’s immigration records were reviewed, with her file transferred to Miami, Florida, in November 1967.  

Additional investigations focused on David Hawkins, described as a white male with sandy hair last seen in Florida around December 1967; Thomas Rood, an insurance adjuster from Vero Beach, Florida, questioned about his activities and described as 5'8" tall with reddish-brown hair; and Robert Plumblee, who denied involvement in MLK’s death. A 1967 Ford Mustang with Iowa license plates was linked to J. Conard Morgan, a man resembling the suspect fleeing the assassination scene. An anonymous note referenced Tommy Nash Jr. in LeGrange, Georgia, as a potential suspect. A note found in stationery tied to George Charles Gray was examined, and individuals like John Edwards provided suspect descriptions. FBI observations included sightings of individuals at Miami International Airport resembling Eric Starvo Galt (possibly a typo for "GALT").  

The FBI also investigated EARL, a bellboy at the Sun Castle Club in Pompano Beach, Florida, potentially linked to James Earl Ray. Daniel S. Kelly reported encountering a bellboy resembling Raymond (possibly James Earl Ray) at the club operated by Ernest Cashley or James Earl May. Earl B. Shields of Randolph, Massachusetts, was identified as EARL but showed physical differences from a photo of James Earl Ray. Credit and criminal checks on Shields yielded negative results. Social security numbers present in original records were redacted.  

Key People  
- Hazel V. Peacock (Okeechobee, Florida)  
- Donald Jackson Carpenter (Birmingham, Alabama; Gray, Georgia, 1966)  
- Terrence Alvin Smith (unknown location; Augusta, Georgia, 1966)  
- James Earl Ray (suspected assassin of MLK; Texas to Florida phone call, December 1967)  
- Stewart Lindh (hitchhiker present during alleged threat by Donald Stout)  
- James Harvey White (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida)  
- Paula Simone Galt (immigration records reviewed in Miami, Florida, November 1967)  
- David Hawkins (white male with sandy hair; last seen in Florida, December 1967)  
- Thomas Rood (insurance adjuster from Vero Beach, Florida; divorced in 1967, unemployed since December 1967)  
- Robert Plumblee (denied involvement in MLK’s assassination; described as 6'2" tall with light brown eyes)  
- J. Conard Morgan (linked to suspect fleeing assassination scene; employed at Burger Chef in Memphis)  
- John Edwards (firearms salesman who reported Morgan’s purchase of a 22-caliber rifle)  
- Tommy Nash Jr. (named in anonymous note as potential suspect in King’s killing)  
- Earl B. Shields (identified as EARL; Randolph, Massachusetts; Pompano Beach, Florida)  
- Daniel S. Kelly (reported encounter with bellboy resembling Raymond at Sun Castle Club)  
- Herb Blonstrom (assistant manager at Sun Castle Motel)  
- Ernest Cashley (possibly associated with Sun Castle Club)  
- James Earl May (possibly associated with Sun Castle Club)  

Key Locations  
- Okeechobee, Florida  
- Birmingham, Alabama  
- Gray, Georgia  
- Augusta, Georgia  
- Miami, Florida (immigration records review; Miami International Airport observations)  
- Texas (Vidor, Interstate 10; phone call to Florida, December 15–17, 1967)  
- Ft. Lauderdale, Florida  
- Vero Beach, Florida (Thomas Rood’s residence; sightings and interviews)  
- Memphis, Tennessee (J. Conard Morgan’s employment; assassination scene)  
- New York State (Thomas Rood’s former residence and divorce proceedings)  
- LeGrange, Georgia (location referenced in anonymous note about Tommy Nash Jr.)  
- Pompano Beach, Florida (Sun Castle Club/Motel operations)  
- Randolph, Massachusetts (Earl B. Shields’ residence)  

Key Events  
- Joking claims by Carpenter and Smith about killing MLK (May 1968)  
- FBI investigation into James Earl Ray’s movements (April 1968)  
- Phone call from Texas to Florida on December 15–17, 1967, involving JAMES BARL RAY  
- Alleged threat by Donald Stout to kill MLK in 1966  
- Inquiry by James Harvey White about paying to kill MLK (1966)  
- Immigration records review for Paula Simone Galt (1967)  
- Investigation into David Hawkins’ movements and potential connection to MLK’s assassination  
- Examination of a 1967 Ford Mustang with Iowa license plates tied to J. Conard Morgan  
- Interviewing Thomas Rood regarding his activities in Florida, including library visits and rental of an adding machine  
- Analysis of an anonymous note implicating Tommy Nash Jr. in MLK’s killing  
- Review of a note found in stationery linked to George Charles Gray, referencing MLK’s death  
- Observations of individuals resembling Eric Starvo GALT at Miami International Airport  
- FBI investigation into potential links between EARL and MLK assassination  
- Employment verification of Earl B. Shields at Sun Castle Club/Motel (March 28, 1968)  
- Physical comparison analysis between Shields and a photo of James Earl Ray  
- Credit and criminal checks on Shields yielding negative results  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – conducted multiple investigations, interviews, and surveillance  
- United Klans of America – referenced in inquiry by James Harvey White about paying to kill MLK  
- U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) – reviewed Paula Simone Galt’s immigration records  
- Salvation Army – contacted for look-alike checks  
- Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company (PPC) – involved in stationery note investigation  
- Hartford Insurance Group – Thomas Rood’s former employer  
- Broward County Auto Tag Agency – provided information on license plate registrations  
- Sun Castle Club/Motel operations – linked to EARL and potential connections to MLK assassination

MLK Declassified Files

44-bh-1740_729219_08-01-part_8_of_9.pdf

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