</s>SI 44-561 FRED M. PETRAKIS Pontiac Number 185616 Route 1 Pontiac Illinois Poria, Illinois Palo Santo Street, Palo San Antonio, Illinois) KENNETH FOSDICK, Pontiac number 19128 Route 1 Bushnell, Illinois; DWIGHT ROWE Pontiac Name 19086 Pontiac Number Vine, 432 South Vine, Kewance, Illinois. - 144 - 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigations into potential suspects linked to Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, including interviews with inmates at Pontiac Penitentiary and Illinois State Penitentiary Honor Farm regarding James Earl Ray’s possible incarceration. Fred Petrakis recalled working at the Pontiac Honor Farm in 1953 and mentioned Norman Dean, a barber who denied recognizing Ray in a 1955 photograph. Charles Reed, an inmate at Pontiac State Farm in 1952, claimed no knowledge of Ray’s whereabouts. Kenneth Fosdick, an FBI file holder with a criminal record, alleged he saw Ray at the Illinois State Penitentiary Honor Farm in 1964 but could not confirm his identity. Dwight Rowe’s connections were investigated, though his status was unclear. Benny Pinkston, linked to Missouri and Arkansas, was noted for racial separatist activities but no direct threats against MLK Jr. were confirmed. Billy Ray King, a Memphis resident, claimed presence at the Trailway Bus Depot during post-assassination riots but denied involvement. Other suspects like Allen Richard Thayer and William Lohmeyer lacked direct ties to the case. A separate government file (SI 44-561) includes fragmented entries on potential suspects, including Robert L. Plunk described as resembling Dr. King’s assassin, Leonard Kormonry (manager of Lipsett Steel Products Company), D.L. Peterson (linked to leasing companies in Illinois and Maryland), Richard Galt (with maritime ties and Saskatchewan International Union affiliations), Joseph Clayton Montagne (driver of a white Corvair linked to a suspect description), and Raymond Hillburn (connected to license plate records). The file references vehicle registrations, license plates (e.g., CC 6333, B291617), cross-referencing with composite photos, employment records, and license validity checks. Investigations involved federal agencies like the FBI, Illinois Motor Vehicle Bureau, and Springfield Drivers License Section.  

Key People  
- **Fred Petrakis**: Former Pontiac Penitentiary inmate who worked at the Honor Farm in 1953; mentioned Norman Dean’s potential involvement in his father’s death.  
- **Norman Dean**: Barber who denied recognizing James Earl Ray in a 1955 photograph and claimed no knowledge of Ray’s incarceration.  
- **Charles Reed**: Inmate at Pontiac State Farm in 1952, described as having a crippled right leg; stated he had no information about Ray’s whereabouts.  
- **Kenneth Fosdick**: FBI file holder with a criminal record; claimed to have seen Ray at the Illinois State Penitentiary Honor Farm in 1964 but could not confirm his identity.  
- **Dwight Rowe**: Investigated for potential connections to James Earl Ray, though his residence and status were unclear.  
- **Benny Pinkston**: Alleged operator in Missouri/Arkansas with ties to racial separatism; no direct threats against MLK Jr. confirmed.  
- **Billy Ray King**: Suspect linked to Memphis during the 1968 riots; denied involvement in MLK’s assassination.  
- **Allen Richard Thayer**: Arrested for fraud, claimed no connection to MLK’s murder.  
- **William Lohmeyer**: Farmer in Strawn, Illinois; no direct ties to the investigation.  
- **Robert L. Plunk**: Described as resembling Dr. King’s assassin; Korean War veteran with mobility issues due to medical conditions.  
- **Leonard Kormonry**: Manager of Lipsett Steel Products Company.  
- **D.L. Peterson**: Linked to leasing companies in Illinois and Maryland.  
- **Richard Galt**: Suspect with ties to maritime work and the Saskatchewan International Union.  
- **Joseph Clayton Montagne**: Driver of a white Corvair linked to a suspect description.  
- **Raymond Hillburn**: Connected to license plate records.  

Key Locations  
- **Pontiac Penitentiary** (Illinois): Site of interviews with inmates potentially connected to James Earl Ray.  
- **Illinois State Penitentiary Honor Farm**: Mentioned as a location where Kenneth Fosdick claimed to have seen Ray.  
- **Trailway Bus Depot, Memphis, Tennessee**: Where Billy Ray King was allegedly present during riots following MLK’s assassination.  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Site of MLK’s assassination and associated unrest.  
- **St. Louis, Missouri**  
- **Jacksonville, Illinois**  
- **Corinth, Mississippi**  
- **Springfield, Illinois**  
- **Chicago, Illinois**  
- **Mobile, Alabama**  
- **New Orleans, Louisiana**  

Key Events  
- **Interviews with inmates** at Pontiac Penitentiary regarding James Earl Ray’s potential incarceration.  
- **Investigation into prior threats against MLK Jr.**, including Benny Pinkston’s alleged activities in Missouri/Arkansas.  
- **Riots at Trailway Bus Depot, Memphis**, following the assassination of MLK, involving Billy Ray King.  
- **Arrests and interrogations** of suspects like Allen Richard Thayer for unrelated offenses.  
- **Interview of Robert L. Plunk** on April 11, 1968.  
- **Investigation into vehicle registrations and license plates** (e.g., CC 6333, B291617).  
- **Cross-referencing suspect descriptions with composite photos and witness accounts**.  
- **Examination of employment records for Richard Galt and others**.  
- **License suspension and validity checks for drivers**.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted interviews and investigations into potential connections to James Earl Ray.  
- **Illinois State Penitentiary**: Site of inmate interviews and alleged incarceration of James Earl Ray.  
- **Rock Island Police Department**: Involved in the interrogation of Billy Ray King following an anonymous tip about a potential assassination plot.  
- **Illinois Motor Vehicle Bureau**  
- **Springfield, Illinois, Drivers License Section**  
- **Veterans Administration Hospital (Vah)**  
- **Saskatchewan International Union** (mentioned in context of Richard Galt’s affiliations)

MLK Declassified Files

44-cg-1114_738662_06-02-part_4_of_5.pdf

Document Summary

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