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Summary  
The document contains fragmented records from multiple FBI and local law enforcement investigations into individuals connected to Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination or related inquiries. It includes military and personal background checks on suspects such as David Ernest Hawkins, Thomas Robert Henderson, Robert Dean James (Jesse James Jr.), Aaron Isaac Lopton, Robert L. Plunk, and Joseph M. Pritchett. These records detail their service histories, arrests, mental health claims, and interactions with law enforcement or religious figures. Some individuals claimed to have met MLK or expressed intentions related to his assassination, but these statements are not corroborated by the documents. The text also references investigations into liquor licenses, business leases, and transportation checks at St. Louis Lambert Airport, as well as inquiries into James Earl Ray's family connections in Elsberry, Mississippi. Reverend Floyd Brower’s public statements about the assassination are noted as based on media reports rather than direct knowledge.  

Key People  
- **David Ernest Hawkins**: Served in the U.S. Army (1951–1957), convicted of absence without authority, no mental health records noted.  
- **Thomas Robert Henderson**: Claimed to have met MLK in Atlanta, expressed intentions to kill him, had a history of drug use and arrests, alleged FBI/Mafia wanted status.  
- **Robert Dean James (Jesse James Jr.)**: Described as a look-alike for James Earl Ray; denied involvement in MLK’s assassination.  
- **Aaron Isaac Lopton**: Served in the U.S. Army Reserve, no criminal record noted, listed as an interior decorator.  
- **Robert L. Plunk**: Suspected of being the assassin, served in the U.S. Air Force, treated for tuberculosis and neuropsychiatric issues at VA hospitals.  
- **Joseph M. Pritchett**: Served in the U.S. Navy, dishonorably discharged, had disciplinary actions for disrespect toward superiors.  
- **James Earl Ray**: Central figure in MLK assassination investigation; referenced in family connections (Bill Ray, Vesta Meadors) and FBI inquiries.  
- **John Ray**: Linked to Grapevine Tavern lease and business leases in St. Louis, Missouri.  
- **Delano Elmer Walker, Benny K. Pinkston, Lawrence D. Stouf**: Subjects of FBI investigations for alleged threats against MLK.  
- **Reverend Floyd Brower**: Made public statements about the assassination based on media reports; residence in Poplar Bluff, Missouri.  

Key Locations  
- **St. Louis, Missouri**: Headquarters for FBI investigations, business leases (Grapevine Tavern), VA hospital records, and transportation checks at Lambert Airport.  
- **Elsberry, Mississippi**: Inquiries into James Earl Ray’s relatives.  
- **Kennett, Missouri**: Site of funeral services for Willard Benfield Jr. on April 5, 1968.  
- **Alabama**: Mentioned as a location for Donnie Leon Harden’s military service and family connections.  
- **Texas**: Linked to Harden’s residence and employment history.  
- **Fort Devens, Massachusetts**: Security clearance records for Aaron Isaac Lopton.  

Key Events  
- **April 1968 investigations**: FBI and local agencies reviewed suspects’ military records, criminal histories, and alleged connections to MLK.  
- **Thomas Henderson’s claims**: Alleged meeting with MLK, possession of counterfeit checks, and admission to being an assassin.  
- **Robert Plunk’s VA hospital records**: Documented his Air Force service and treatment for tuberculosis/neuropsychiatric issues.  
- **Jesse James Jr.’s denial**: Mrs. Martin stated he was not in town on the day of MLK’s assassination.  
- **Liquor license investigations**: Focus on business leases and ownership of Grapevine Tavern (1967–1968).  
- **Transportation check at St. Louis Lambert Airport**: Conducted during April 1968.  
- **Funeral investigation for Willard Benfield Jr.**: Held in Kennett, Missouri, on April 5, 1968.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted multiple investigations into suspects linked to MLK’s assassination.  
- **U.S. Army and Navy Records Centers**: Provided service histories for Hawkins, Lopton, Pritchett, and others.  
- **Veterans Administration Hospitals**: Recorded medical treatment for Plunk and others.  
- **Local Police Departments**: Involved in witness interviews, license plate checks, and administrative inquiries.  
- **State Liquor Control Officials (Missouri)**: Monitored liquor licenses and business leases.  
- **Religious institutions**: Churches in St. Louis (e.g., Christian Methodist Episcopal Church) were sites of suspect interactions.

MLK Declassified Files

44-bh-1740_729219_08-02-part_8_of_9.pdf

Document Summary

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