</s>44-38861-5920 ENTIRE FILE REVIEWED FOR HISTORICAL DECLASSIFICATION ELEXIH INFORMATION CONTAINERED TURREH IS UNCLASSIFIED DATE/J/22-01 BY SP/C/L/S//0/0 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary:  
The documents detail FBI investigations from 1965–1968 focusing on James Earl Ray, a suspect linked to the 1968 assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Key elements include forensic analysis of handwriting and fingerprints, passport fraud inquiries, travel records, and surveillance notes. The FBI compared handwriting from hotel registration cards (e.g., *CANDLELIGHT INN*) and employment applications (e.g., Scott Nordal’s) to Ray’s known signatures and fingerprints (RBI #4558776). Fingerprint comparisons were requested between Ray, Walter Terry Rife, and individuals associated with hotels in New Orleans. The FBI sought to return items to the *Court of Two Sisters* after analysis. References to flights (e.g., TIA Flight 709) and airport surveillance suggest tracking suspect movements.  

Key People:  
- James Earl Ray (suspect in MLK’s assassination)  
- Scott Nordal (subject of handwriting/fingerprint comparisons)  
- Walter Terry Rife (individual compared to suspects)  
- FBI agents: Mr. Conrad, W.D. Griffith, and others (e.g., SAC New Orleans).  

Key Locations:  
- Memphis, Tennessee (FBI office)  
- New Orleans, Louisiana (*Court of Two Sisters*, *CANDLELIGHT INN*, *Chamelette Hotel*)  
- San Diego (initial teletype reference).  

Key Events:  
- Handwriting and fingerprint comparisons between suspects and documents.  
- Review of hotel registration cards and employment records.  
- Requests to return items to the *Court of Two Sisters* after analysis.  

Key Organizations:  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- FBI Laboratory (conducting forensic analyses).  

Notes:  
- Social Security numbers were present in forms but redacted per instructions.  
- Some documents contained errors or unclear data (e.g., garbled text, inconsistent dates).  
- The focus was on linking suspects to MLK’s assassination through document analysis rather than direct evidence of the crime.

MLK Declassified Files

44-hq-38861-bulky_hs1-233652821_74-08-part_1_of_3.pdf

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