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Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigative activities related to James Earl Ray’s alleged involvement in the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., along with associated individuals and evidence analysis. Ivan Dale Underwood, a former Missouri State Penitentiary inmate, reported that Ray briefly worked with Ralph Renfro in Joplin, Missouri, during the late 1950s. Renfro operated a furnace business and allegedly used his connections to access establishments for potential criminal activity. The FBI sought to verify Renfro’s employment of Ray and his knowledge of Ray’s background. David L. Wilson, a Phoenix resident, was investigated for an anonymous phone call to the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office on April 20, 1968, claiming he had been informed of an assassination plot in May 1958 (likely a date error). The FBI aimed to confirm Wilson’s denial of involvement and his potential communication with Phoenix police officer Robert Jackson.  

Handwriting analysis concluded that the signature on Q341 did not match James Earl Ray’s known handwriting, as compared to specimens K171, K111, and K257. A fingerprint examination request dated May 15, 1968, compared signatures of "William A. Marshall" on documents Q344 and Q345 with Ray’s handwriting, noting significant differences. Soil samples from locations including the Rebel Hotel area, 488 South Main Street, and a bathroom window were collected for analysis. Evidence items, such as twenty-dollar bills, a bathroom board, and soil samples, were returned to the Memphis Police Department on April 26, 1968. The FBI requested latent fingerprint comparisons on hotel registration cards from the William Len Hotel in Memphis, linked to suspects Vincent Walker and Lawrence Rand. Dolores Evans, wife of dentist D.F. Evans in Los Angeles, was identified as a potential informant due to her association with MLK.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray** (suspect in MLK’s assassination; FBI #405-942)  
- **Ralph Renfro** (alleged associate of Ray in Joplin, Missouri)  
- **Ivan Dale Underwood** (former inmate providing information on Ray)  
- **David L. Wilson** (investigated for alleged involvement in an assassination plot)  
- **Robert Jackson** (Phoenix police officer connected to Wilson)  
- **William A. Marshall** (individual whose signatures were analyzed)  
- **Dolores Evans** (potential informant linked to MLK)  
- **Vincent Walker** (suspect associated with hotel registration cards)  
- **Lawrence Rand** (suspect linked to hotel registration cards)  
- **John Edgar Hoover** (FBI Director)  
- **Robert Ponder** (FBI SAC, Memphis)  

Key Locations  
- **Joplin, Missouri** (Renfro’s business and Ray’s alleged association)  
- **Memphis, Tennessee** (FBI office; Rebel Hotel area; 488 South Main Street; William Len Hotel)  
- **Phoenix, Arizona** (Wilson’s residence and interview location)  
- **Chula Vista, California** (bank location referenced in documents)  
- **Woodland Motor Court** (registration linked to "Richard B. McGinnis")  

Key Events  
- FBI efforts to locate Ralph Renfro and verify his employment of James Earl Ray  
- Investigation into David L. Wilson’s potential involvement in an assassination plot (date discrepancy noted)  
- Handwriting analysis concluding Q341 did not match Ray’s handwriting  
- Fingerprint examination comparing "William A. Marshall" signatures on Q344/Q345 to Ray’s known handwriting  
- Return of evidence items to Memphis Police Department on April 26, 1968  
- Hotel registration card examination for Vincent Walker and Lawrence Rand  
- Identification of Dolores Evans as a potential informant due to her connection to MLK  
- FBI internal communications and administrative records  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)** (central agency conducting investigations)  
- **FBI Laboratory** (San Diego, Memphis; conducted handwriting and fingerprint analysis)  
- **FBI SAC (Special Agent in Charge), Memphis** (Robert Ponder)  
- **FBI Latent Fingerprint Section** (involved in evidence analysis)  
- **Coconino County Sheriff’s Office** (target of anonymous phone call linked to Wilson)  
- **News Week representatives** (mentioned in context of informant outreach)

MLK Declassified Files

44-hq-38861_hs1-233652821_13-02-part_7_of_7.pdf

Document Summary

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