</s>(REV. 4:15:00) (MATERIAL MUST NOT BE REMOVED FROM OR ADDED TO THIS FILED (MATEURAL MUST NOT BEREMOVED TO: DO NOT DESIT. ENDING LITIGATION DUpte 11/11 (197-4-2/4-4/4A 0.4007 PETA 4/4/19) FEDERAL BUREAU NATIONAL ARCHIVES! NATIONAL ARCAL VALUE. HISTORICAL VALUE, HISTORTAL ARCHIVE. HISTORYAL ARGHIVES. NATIONAL ANCHIVES. HISTORYAL ARCHAVE. HISTorical DESIGN. NO. DO, NO. NO, NO, INVESTIGATION Volume Number: Bureau File Number Schedules: Bureau Files Number. See also Nos. ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED HERE'S UNCLASSIFIED.

The declassified government documents detail an FBI investigation into James Earl Ray’s alleged involvement in the 1968 assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. The files include surveillance reports, interviews with associates, and background checks on individuals linked to Ray. Key elements focus on Ray’s criminal history, his flight from authorities, and connections to other suspects like Albert Pepper, Carol Pepper, and John Ray. The investigation also references threats against MLK, property ownership inquiries, and reviews of military records, employment histories, and liquor licenses. Administrative notes highlight FBI file numbers (e.g., SL 44-775) and locations in Missouri, Tennessee, and Alabama.  

Key People:  
- **James Earl Ray**: Central suspect; documents note his alleged flight to avoid arrest, criminal record (forgery, theft), and ties to criminal networks.  
- **Albert Pepper**: Married Carol Pepper (Ray’s sister); linked to burglaries and liquor violations.  
- **Carol Pepper**: Uncooperative during investigations; associated with the Grapevine Tavern and liquor law infractions.  
- **John Ray**: Possibly a relative or associate of James Earl Ray; mentioned in connection with criminal activities.  
- **Jack GAWRON (likely GARWON)**: St. Louis resident interviewed by FBI; provided information about Ray’s family and associates.  
- **Delano Elmer Walker, Benny K. Pinkston, Lawrence Donald Stout**: Individuals linked to prior threats against MLK.  

Key Locations:  
- St. Louis, Missouri (including 2023 Park Avenue, Lambert Field)  
- Memphis, Tennessee  
- Montgomery County, Missouri  
- Hannibal, Missouri  
- Portageville and Wardell, Missouri  
- Wyoming and Hickory Street addresses  
- Alabama (Aeromarine Supply Co., Memphis Motel)  

Key Events:  
- FBI interviews with GAWRON, Carol Pepper, and John Ray in St. Louis (May 1968).  
- Surveillance of Ray’s family and associates; checks on phone records and movements.  
- Investigation into the **Browning .243 caliber rifle** (serial #4474425) linked to Memphis, Alabama, and Aeromarine Supply Co.  
- Review of threats against MLK by Delano Walker, Pinkston, and Stout.  
- Property ownership checks for Ray’s residences and Pepper’s tavern.  
- Military records review for Ray’s Air Force service (1945–1947).  

Key Organizations:  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- U.S. Probation Office  
- Internal Revenue Service (Alcohol, Tobacco, and Tax Unit)  
- State Liquor Control Offices  
- Seafarers International Union  
- Veterans Administration Records Center  
- General Motors Acceptance Corporation (GMAC)  
- St. Louis Police Department  

The documents emphasize Ray’s flight to avoid arrest and his alleged ties to criminal networks but lack direct evidence linking him to MLK’s assassination. The FBI deemed him a "dangerous" suspect due to his criminal past, though the case remains controversial due to gaps in evidence and unresolved conspiracy questions.

MLK Declassified Files

44-cg-1114_738662_05-01-part_1_of_5.pdf

Document Summary

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