</s>FED. 145 (REV. 4:13:80) U. S. Department of Justice (MATERIAL MUST NOT BE REMOVED FROM OR ADDED TO THIS FILE) MATERIAI MUST NOT DE REMOVEO FROM OR ADDREDTO THIS FILE FEDERAL BUREAU ENTIRE FILE REVIEWED OF DISTROITISH ENTIRE FILIRE REVIEWEO OF DECLASSIFICATION of INVESTIGATION DO NOT DESY-Y-PENDING LITIGATION Bureau File Number 1947-4-4a-6a-4.0067/1/17/07/04 Volume Number: Gmb. 8/29/22K Sarities ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED FOR SELECT HEREIN IS INCLASSPHERED DATE 11/01/01 SP. 1/22/17 See also No. NATIONAL ARCHIVES. HISTORICAL VALUE. HISTORYAL VALUE X HISTOCRICAL VALUES. 2023 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The FBI conducted extensive investigations into the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., which occurred in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968. The inquiry focused on identifying suspects through flight records, witness accounts, and logistical data. Key individuals under scrutiny included Vincent De Palma (a former Minuteman), William J. Lemneyer (with flight connections to Memphis and Chicago), Alfred C. Sperring (linked to an anonymous call referencing a suspect in Memphis), Cecil Ray McAffee (an inmate allegedly discussing payment for the assassination), and Jesse Willard Edwards (a white male described as a marksman with a history of violence). The FBI coordinated efforts across multiple field offices, including Chicago, Memphis, Birmingham, and Minneapolis, requesting cross-referencing of airline reservations, hotel contacts, and photographic evidence. Investigations also examined potential KKK affiliations, such as Donald R. Heath and Richard Stanton (former Chicago PD officers), and explored connections to Delta Airlines flight records, Avis car rentals, and latent fingerprints from the crime scene.  

Key People  
- **Vincent De Palma** (suspected assassin, former Minuteman; informant Edward Baugardner provided details)  
- **William J. Lemneyer** (individual under investigation with flight records to Memphis and Chicago)  
- **Alfred C. Sperring** (linked to an anonymous call referencing a suspect in Memphis; associated with Avis car rentals)  
- **Cecil Ray McAffee** (inmate who allegedly discussed receiving payment to kill King; fingerprint comparisons conducted)  
- **Jesse Willard Edwards** (suspect described as a marksman with criminal history, last seen driving a 1964 Jeep in Georgia)  
- **Donald R. Heath** (former Chicago PD officer affiliated with KKK)  
- **Richard Stanton** (former Chicago PD officer with U.S. Navy service record; KKK ties examined)  
- **Robert Owen Sheridan** (arrested in Holly Springs, Mississippi; investigated for travel patterns and vehicle details)  
- **Andrew Wilson De Core** (interviewed about James Earl Ray’s association; described as a casual acquaintance)  

Key Locations  
- **Memphis, Tennessee** (site of assassination; FBI SAC location)  
- **Birmingham, Alabama** (investigation coordination; Delta Airlines data processing center in Atlanta)  
- **Chicago, Illinois** (FBI field office; Chicago PD records; KKK affiliations)  
- **Minneapolis, Minnesota** (flight route focus; investigation coordination)  
- **Trumbull, Connecticut** (Sperring’s residence)  
- **Holly Springs, Mississippi** (Sheridan’s arrest location)  
- **Columbus, Georgia** (Edwards’ last known residence; Columbus PD records)  
- **Menard, Illinois** (Illinois state prison where Harvey E. Lohmeyer was incarcerated)  

Key Events  
- Investigation into Delta Flight 595 standby passenger Lemmeyer with no confirmed flight status.  
- Anonymous call to *Daily Defender* referencing Sperring in Memphis, matching the assassin’s physical traits.  
- FBI cross-referenced KKK-affiliated individuals (Heath, Stanton) with assassination case details.  
- Mrs. Roach identified Webb (Athens Hospital employee) as resembling the assassin.  
- Sheridan’s arrest and investigation into his travel patterns and vehicle rental at Memphis Metropolitan Airport.  
- McAffee’s alleged involvement in a plot to kill King prompted fingerprint comparisons with latent prints from the crime scene.  
- Anonymous complaint about Edwards’ potential role, including his history of violence and firearms expertise.  
- FBI requested identification, fingerprint comparisons, and background checks for multiple suspects.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)** (Chicago and Memphis divisions; latent fingerprint analysis)  
- **Delta Airlines** (flight records; data processing center in Atlanta)  
- **Klu Klux Klan (KKK)** (affiliation of Heath and Stanton; investigated for potential connections)  
- **Chicago Police Department (PD)** (former officers linked to KKK; records examined)  
- **Avis Car Rental** (Sperring’s vehicle rental activity)  
- **Columbus, Georgia Police Department (PD)** (records on Edwards’ criminal history)  
- **Illinois State Penitentiary at Menard** (Lohmeyer’s incarceration; FBI sought verification of his identity against latent fingerprints)

MLK Declassified Files

44-cg-1114_738662_01-01-part_1_of_5.pdf

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