</s>CG 44-1114 GHB:prk On August 6, 1968, My. LOUIS O'SHEA, Record Office, 11- 1 lincoln State Penitentiary (ISP), St. Stevieville Branch, Joliet, Illinois, made available to Special Agent (SA) GEORGE H. BENJIGNT the inmate jacket) of burglary-violation mail (GEORGE H, BENIGNT H. Ilinois was re- ceivved at ISP on May 12, 1967, from Kane County, Illinois on May 9, charge of burglary/violation Mail being sentenced on May 7, 1967, to a term of 2-5 years. and he is due to appear before the parole board on December 28, 1970, His file jacket disclosed that no dealers have been placed against his file jacket closed that no detainers have been placed against The following background and descriptive information JAMES ROBERT WILLETT Name Number 6107 Sex Male White Dance of Birth Number 9, 1935 Place of Birth Huntsville, Alabama Height 5.6g" Weight Brown Heyes Brown Eyes Federal Bureau of Numerous tattoos on both arms Federal Bureau Of Investigation Number 277341 B Nationality English Maine Status 1958, Kennett, Missouri Children Divorced 1964 1964 One Social Security Number One Society Construction Brothers Two Brothers Three Sisters Three Religion Education Three Baptist Six years Education 322 Highland, Elgin Illinois Mrs. GENE (MARTHA WILLETT, mother Carpentersville, Illinois Mrs. GENE BOYD, sister 322 H.H.HAND, Eglin, Illinois HIGHAND, SISTER INFINELED 44-114-70 FILED 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14178

Summary  
The document contains records from multiple FBI investigations spanning August–September 1968, focusing on criminal activities linked to James Earl Ray and other individuals suspected of involvement in the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Key findings include a latent fingerprint match between James Earl Ray (FBI #405942G) and a payroll check (Q404) from Indian Trail Restaurant, Inc., which was part of an inquiry into potential connections to MLK’s assassination. An informant reported that TURNTIDE (a Holiday Inn supervisor in San Antonio, Texas) received a telephone call from Memphis, Tennessee, stating MLK would be assassinated in three days. FBI agents sought assistance locating TURNTIDE and the unnamed source. Investigations also targeted Robert Louis Stanton, Harold Richard Covington, Delmar Grindstaff, and Willie Lee, with efforts to link them to bank robberies in Alton, Illinois, and other crimes. The FBI coordinated with local law enforcement agencies in Springfield, St. Louis, Memphis, Chicago, and Edwardsville to gather evidence, including fingerprint and handwriting analysis.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray**: Identified via latent fingerprint on payroll check Q404; linked to Indian Trail Restaurant, Inc., and investigated for potential ties to MLK’s assassination.  
- **TURNTIDE** (also referred to as TURNITIDE): Supervisor at Holiday Inn motels in San Antonio, Texas; allegedly received a call about MLK’s assassination from Memphis, Tennessee.  
- **Robert Louis Stanton**: Suspected of criminal ties in Alton, Illinois; under investigation for potential connections to bank robberies.  
- **Harold Richard Covington**: Subject of FBI investigations, including monitoring by PCI Larry R. MANNs.  
- **Delmar Grindstaff**: Suspected in Bank of Alton robbery; linked to other criminal activities.  
- **Willie Lee**: Fled Illinois and presumed to have returned to California for burglary charges.  
- **Larry R. MANNs**: Person of Interest (PCI) assigned to develop information on Covington and Grindstaff.  
- **CARAWAY**: Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Narcotics, San Antonio, Texas; reported informant’s claim about TURNTIDE receiving an assassination call.  

Key Locations  
- **San Antonio, Texas**: Site of motel construction where TURNTIDE was working; location of FBI Bureau of Narcotics office.  
- **Chicago, Illinois**: Reported employment location for TURNTIDE; home to public defender Robert Trone.  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Source of alleged assassination call to TURNTIDE; linked to James Earl Ray’s activities.  
- **Alton, Illinois**: Center of investigations involving Stanton, Covington, Grindstaff, and the Bank of Alton robbery.  
- **Edwardsville, Illinois**: Location of public defender’s office contacted by FBI for information on Willie Lee.  
- **Springfield, Illinois**: FBI SAC office involved in coordinating investigations.  

Key Events  
- **August 26, 1968**: Informant reported TURNTIDE received a call from Memphis stating MLK would be assassinated in three days; FBI requested assistance locating TURNTIDE and the unnamed source.  
- **August 30, 1968**: Latent fingerprint on payroll check Q404 matched James Earl Ray (FBI #405942G); document linked to Indian Trail Restaurant, Inc., and investigated for potential ties to MLK’s assassination.  
- **September 3, 1968**: Updates indicated Willie Lee fled Illinois and was presumed in California; Robert Louis Stanton released from Madison County Jail on bond.  
- **Ongoing investigations**: FBI coordinated with local law enforcement agencies to gather evidence, including fingerprint and handwriting analysis, on suspects linked to bank robberies and potential connections to MLK’s assassination.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Narcotics (FBN)**: Conducted investigations into TURNTIDE, James Earl Ray, and other suspects; coordinated with local law enforcement.  
- **Person of Interest (PCI) Program**: Monitored individuals like Larry R. MANNs, Harold Richard Covington, and Robert Louis Stanton for potential criminal ties.  
- **Laboratory Examination Units**: Analyzed handwriting and fingerprints on documents linked to James Earl Ray and other suspects.  
- **Local law enforcement agencies**: Including Memphis Police Department, Springfield, St. Louis, Chicago, and Edwardsville offices; assisted in fingerprint examinations and evidence collection.

MLK Declassified Files

44-cg-1114_738662_03-02-part_3_of_8.pdf

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