Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigations into the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., focusing on tracking suspects, verifying identities, and cross-referencing financial records. Key elements include inquiries into James Earl Ray’s movements, including his alleged escape from Missouri State Penitentiary in 1968, and efforts to locate him via Canadian passport checks with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). The FBI also investigated William A. Marshall, a suspect linked to financial fraud, fake documents, and a stolen Plymouth car recovered in California. The case involves missing persons reports, such as that of James Ford Hedgeman, and connections to individuals like Fitz (possibly an alias for Ray) and James Harden. The FBI coordinated with local law enforcement, including the Covina Police Department, to track vehicles and suspects. Additional records from June 3–4, 1968, include fragmented administrative logs referencing rental agreements, credit card activity, employment details, and operational notes involving SACs in Memphis, New York, and other locations. Mentions of "Ray" and Harold B. Carver (noted with a social security number) appear in coded teletype messages, though no direct confirmation of Carver’s link to the MLK assassination investigation is provided.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray**: Suspected assassin of MLK Jr., investigated for escape from Missouri State Penitentiary and passport activities in Canada.  
- **William A. Marshall**: Escrow marshal linked to fake financial claims, promissory notes, and a stolen Plymouth car recovered in California.  
- **Harold B. Carver**: Suspect resembling "Ray," noted with a social security number (redacted).  
- **Fitz**: Alleged alias for James Earl Ray, associated with James Harden and sightings in Los Angeles.  
- **James Harden**: Individual reportedly contacted by Fitz, linked to Ray’s movements.  
- **Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)**: Conducted passport checks for Ray’s potential presence in Canada.  
- **Covina Police Department**: Provided information on recovered stolen vehicles.  

Key Locations  
- **Decatur, Illinois**: Church where a car and individual matching Ray’s description were observed.  
- **Frankfort, Kentucky**: State capital where driver’s license records are stored.  
- **Louisville, Kentucky**: FBI office conducting investigations into Ray’s driver’s license history.  
- **Detroit, Michigan**: FBI field office involved in tracking suspects.  
- **California (Covina, Chula Vista)**: Sites of stolen car recovery and financial fraud investigations.  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary**: Location of Ray’s alleged escape.  
- **Toronto, Canada**: Passport application and RCMP investigation site for Ray.  
- **Savannah, Georgia**: Business and bank associated with James H. Anderson.  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: FBI SAC office referenced in operational notes.  
- **Ottawa, Canada**: Passport office interaction mentioned in administrative records.  
- **Butte, Montana**: Location tied to Carver’s investigation.  

Key Events  
- **Stolen Plymouth car** recovered in Covina, California, linked to William A. Marshall.  
- **James Earl Ray’s passport checks** with the RCMP in Canada, including a 1968 application by Ramon George Shaye.  
- **Financial fraud investigation** into Marshall’s fake escrow contract and promissory notes.  
- **Missing persons report** for James Ford Hedgeman, tentatively identified as a recovered body.  
- **Coordination with local law enforcement** to track suspects and verify identities via phone records and addresses.  
- **Rental agreement fingerprint analysis** (June 3, 1968) not matching James Sarl.  
- **Credit card activity review** for James H. Anderson.  
- **FBI teletype messages** about suspect tracking and operational directives.  
- **Administrative notes** on handling sensitive information under Executive Order 14176.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Central agency conducting the investigation, coordinating with SACs in Detroit, Pittsburgh, Memphis, New York, and other locations.  
- **Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)**: Assisted in passport checks for Ray’s potential presence in Canada.  
- **Covina Police Department**: Provided information on recovered stolen vehicles.  
- **U.S. Department of Justice**: Involved in administrative coordination of the investigation.  
- **Kentucky Department of Public Safety**: Provided information on driver’s license record-keeping.  
- **Passport Office, Ottawa, Canada**: Referenced in administrative records.

MLK Declassified Files

44-hq-38861_hs1-233652821_16-01-part_2_of_8.pdf

Document Summary

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