</s>SI 44-561 Re: JOHN LARRY RAY: Service case for subject's brother, JOHN LARREY Service case also for subject' s brother,JOHN LARRY RAVNS, also known as Jack Rayns,also known as John. Larry Ray, a review of the file was made by SA WILLIAM ROBERTS, III and the only new information developed was- the name of an aunt of the subject HILDRED MAHER, listed address as 11110 East-74th Street, Alton, Illinois. -1-1.1-2-1 -1-3-1 -1/1-4-1 -1 1-1 -- 1-2.1 -- 2-3.1 -3-4.1.2-5-4 -- 4-5.5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-20-21-22-23-24-25-26-27-28-29-30-31-32-33-34-35-36-37-38-39-40-41-42-43-44-45-46-47-48-50-51-52-53-54-55-56-57-58-59-60-61-62-63-64-65-66-67-68-69-70-71-72-73-74-75-76-77-78-79-80-81-82-83-84-85-86-87-88-89-90-91-92-93-94-95-96-97-98-99-100-101-102-104-105-106-107-108-110-112-113-114-115-116-117-118-119-120-121-122-123-124-125-126-127-128-129-130-134-135-136-137-138-139-140-130.130-140.140-150-170-175-176

Summary  
The document contains FBI records from May 1968 detailing investigations into James Earl Ray’s connections to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, 1968. Interviews with family members, associates, and witnesses were conducted to trace Ray’s movements and potential involvement in the crime. Key figures include Ruby Carpenter, a former spouse of James Gerald Ray (Ray’s brother), who denied knowledge of his activities or involvement in MLK’s assassination. Walter Terry Rife, a convicted burglar associated with Ray, provided statements about their 1955 arrests for stolen postal money orders and travel across the U.S. to cash stolen funds. Melba Marie Ryan, Ray’s sister, was noted for her alleged mental health issues and family ties to MLK’s assassination. The FBI also investigated Earl Everett Ray (Ray’s uncle), who had multiple incarcerations at Menard State Prison for assault and battery offenses. Records include Rife’s claim of not knowing Ray’s return to Quincy, Illinois, or his involvement in the assassination, as well as details about Joseph Elmer Austin, a former inmate at Illinois State Penitentiary, and his family connections.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray**: Subject of investigation; alleged assassin of MLK.  
- **Ruby Carpenter**: Former spouse of James Gerald Ray; denied knowledge of Ray’s activities or involvement in MLK’s assassination.  
- **Walter Terry Rife**: Convicted burglar associated with Ray; operated the Virginia Hotel in Quincy, Illinois.  
- **Melba Marie Ryan**: Ray’s sister; reportedly mentally ill and connected to MLK’s assassination via family ties.  
- **Earl Everett Ray**: Ray’s uncle; incarcerated at Menard State Prison for assault and battery offenses.  
- **Frank Fuller**: Ray’s cousin; resided in Quincy, Illinois.  
- **William Maher**: Ray’s uncle; interviewed in Alton, Illinois.  
- **Joseph Elmer Austin**: Former inmate at Illinois State Penitentiary; family connections to Ray.  
- **Charles Austin**: Brother of Joseph Elmer Austin.  

Key Locations  
- **Quincy, Illinois**: Residences of Frank Fuller and Walter Terry Rife; location of the Virginia Hotel.  
- **Alton, Illinois**: William Maher’s residence.  
- **Menard State Prison, Illinois**: Site of incarceration for Earl Everett Ray and other family members.  
- **Leavenworth, Kansas**: Federal Penitentiary where Ray was incarcerated in 1967.  
- **Chicago, Illinois**: Residence of Joseph Elmer Austin; location of parole records.  
- **Waverly, Illinois**: Location of Charles Austin.  
- **St. Louis, Missouri; New Orleans, Louisiana; Kansas City, Missouri; Florida**: Travel routes mentioned in Rife’s statements.  

Key Events  
- FBI interviews with Ruby Carpenter (May 1968) regarding James Earl Ray’s whereabouts and activities.  
- Interviews with Walter Terry Rife about his past interactions with Ray, including arrests in 1955 for stolen postal money orders.  
- Investigation into Melba Marie Ryan’s mental health status and family ties to MLK’s assassination.  
- Surveillance of residences in Quincy and Alton to monitor Ray’s associates.  
- Documentation of Joseph Elmer Austin’s criminal history and family connections to Ray.  
- Rife’s statement that he had no knowledge of Ray’s return to Quincy, Illinois, or his involvement in MLK’s assassination.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted interviews, surveillance, and investigations into James Earl Ray’s associates and activities.  
- **Illinois State Penitentiary (Menard Branch)**: Site of incarceration for Earl Everett Ray and Joseph Elmer Austin.  
- **Quincy Police Department**: Provided information on local residents and activities.  
- **Illinois State Board of Probation and Parole**: Documented Earl Everett Ray’s incarceration history.  
- **Credit Bureau of Quincy, Inc.**: Provided financial records for Frank Fuller.  
- **Parole Office, Chicago, Illinois**: Maintained records on Joseph Elmer Austin’s parole status.

MLK Declassified Files

44-ho-1509_sec_006_ser_402-430-part_5_of_8.pdf

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