</s>SI 44-561 had had a baby in 2-68, it had been necessary for him to work long hours and to also be at home on a regular basis to take care of the RIPF's three other children. He stated that members of the Quincy Police Force could again that RIPF had been in Quincy on a daily basis insmashily that RIPE checked the Virginia Hotel every night. RIPE advised that he would be available for inter- views by the FBI at any time that in the event that he was not working at or at home 214 Lynn Street Quincy, Illinois working at home and Lynn Street, Quincy, would know of his exact whereabouts, and RIPE could be reached in a short period of time. RIFE advised that the could not remember anyone in the Quincy area who was who chose to be subject and could not think of anyone who might have any information concerning RAY RIPE advises that he did not feel that MELBA MARIE RYAN, the sister of the subject, has had any contact with RAY and he certainly is aware of the fact that MBLBA MARIE Ryan has had serious mental problems and that any information that she would furnish could not be relied on. -94- 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary:  
The documents detail FBI investigations into James Earl Ray’s activities, focusing on his connections to Walter Terry Rife, Mary Jan Rife, and other individuals linked to his criminal history. Rife, who operated a restaurant at the Virginia Hotel in Quincy, Illinois, was interviewed multiple times between April and May 1968. He claimed last contact with Ray occurred in 1957 during their incarceration at Leavenworth Penitentiary and denied any involvement in crimes related to Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination. The FBI sought information about Ray’s whereabouts, noting that MELBA MARIE RYAN (Ray’s sister) resided at the Virginia Hotel but was deemed unreliable due to mental health issues. Interviews with hotel staff confirmed Rife’s frequent presence at the hotel and his routine work hours. Rife’s criminal history includes arrests for theft and burglary in Illinois and Missouri, with prior associations linked to Katherine Doris Buskirk, who was later connected to Ray’s 1968 arrest in Hannibal, Missouri. The documents also reference Ray’s incarceration at Pontiac State Penitentiary from July 7, 1952, and his alleged criminal activities involving theft of postal money orders and burglaries.  

Key People:  
- Walter Terry Rife (operator of the Virginia Hotel restaurant)  
- Mary Jan Rife (Rife’s wife, interviewed about her husband’s activities)  
- James Earl Ray (subject of investigation, alleged connection to MLK assassination)  
- MELBA MARIE RYAN (Ray’s sister, resided at Virginia Hotel)  
- Katherine Doris Buskirk (linked to Ray’s 1968 arrest in Hannibal, Missouri)  
- Joseph Elmer Austin (incarcerated in Illinois and Tennessee, linked to a 1957 kidnapping)  
- Milton Dean Batchelder ("Bucky") (transferred to Joliet State Penitentiary in 1966)  
- Wilbur Connors (arrested with Walter Riff in Hannibal, Missouri)  
- Laura Conners (owner of the Virginia Hotel in Quincy, Illinois)  
- Reverend David Bliss (Baptist Rescue Mission, East St. Louis)  

Key Locations:  
- Quincy, Illinois (Rife’s residence and business location; Virginia Hotel at 534 North Second Street)  
- Leavenworth Penitentiary, Kansas (where Rife and Ray were incarcerated in 1957)  
- Hannibal, Missouri (site of Ray’s 1968 arrest and prior arrests involving Walter Riff and Katherine Doris Buskirk)  
- Pontiac State Penitentiary, Illinois (Ray’s incarceration from July 7, 1952)  
- Joliet State Penitentiary, Illinois  
- Menard Branch, Illinois State Penitentiary  
- Missouri State Penitentiary, Jefferson City  
- Springfield, Illinois (parole supervision records)  
- East St. Louis, Illinois (Baptist Rescue Mission)  

Key Events:  
- FBI interviews with Walter Terry Rife and Mary Jan Rife regarding James Earl Ray’s activities (April–May 1968)  
- Investigation into Ray’s alleged criminal history, including theft of postal money orders and burglaries  
- Confirmation that MELBA MARIE RYAN resided at the Virginia Hotel but was deemed unreliable due to mental health issues  
- Examination of Rife’s work schedule and hotel presence, with police confirming his daily routine  
- Reference to Ray’s alleged connection to Katherine Doris Buskirk during their 1968 arrest in Hannibal, Missouri  
- Joseph Elmer Austin’s 1957 kidnapping in Tennessee and subsequent hospitalization  
- Milton Dean Batchelder’s transfer to Joliet State Penitentiary in 1966  
- Wilbur Connors and Katherine Doris Buskirk’s arrest with Walter Riff in Hannibal, Missouri (1955)  
- Walter Riff’s employment at the Virginia Hotel in Quincy, Illinois (1962–1968)  
- James Earl Ray’s incarceration at Pontiac State Penitentiary from July 7, 1952  

Key Organizations:  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Illinois State Penitentiary (Menard Branch, Joliet)  
- Missouri State Penitentiary  
- Division of Supervision of Paroles (Springfield, Illinois)  
- Baptist Rescue Mission (East St. Louis, Illinois)  
- Virginia Hotel management and staff  
- Quincy Police Department (Illinois)  
- Illinois State Police

MLK Declassified Files

44-cg-1114_738662_06-02-part_3_of_5.pdf

Document Summary

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