Summary  
The documents detail FBI forensic investigations into the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., focusing on physical evidence recovered from locations in Memphis, Tennessee. A Remington Model 760 rifle (serial number 46176) with a Redfield telescopic sight was found near the Lorraine Hotel crime scene and linked to Harvey Loweyor, who had purchased a .243 Winchester caliber rifle in 1966 and later exchanged it for a .30-06 Springfield model. Latent fingerprint analysis of items, including the rifle’s black box, a zippered bag containing personal belongings (e.g., binoculars, maps, toiletries), and cartridges, did not match known suspects. John Willard, identified as a tenant at a rooming house near the hotel, was noted as a suspect due to his rental of Room 5B on April 4, 1968. The FBI and Memphis police examined recovered items, including a bullet from King’s body, clothing with laundry tags, and other forensic evidence. Additional findings included a Remington Gamemaster rifle (serial number 414716) found at Canfield Amusement Co., a .50 caliber bullet matching the rifle’s characteristics, and personal items such as Schlitz beer cans and newspapers. The FBI requested fingerprint analysis of $20 bills linked to Bessie Ruth Brewer, who allegedly provided funds to the suspect, and submitted evidence for soil and fiber comparison.  

Key People  
- **Martin Luther King Jr.** (victim)  
- **John Willard** (suspect, tenant at rooming house near hotel)  
- **Harvey Loweyor** (individual linked to rifle purchase in 1966)  
- **Bessie Ruth Brewer** (associated with financial transactions and $20 bills)  
- **Manuel Lovin** and **Alex J. Hurber** (arrested suspects later released by SCLC)  
- **Inspector N. E. Zachary** (Memphis Police Department)  
- **SAC, MEHRIKIS** (FBI field office or personnel)  

Key Locations  
- **Lorraine Hotel, Memphis, Tennessee** (scene of the assassination)  
- **Rooming house at 422 1/2 South Main Street** (Willard’s rental location)  
- **Canfield Amusement Co., Memphis, Tennessee** (location of black box and blanket)  
- **Memphis Police Department** (recovered evidence from crime scene)  
- **FBI Laboratory** (conducted latent print and ballistic analyses)  
- **Flop house** (where suspect stayed and Bessie Ruth Brewer was present)  

Key Events  
- **April 4, 1968**: Martin Luther King Jr. was shot and killed on the balcony of the Lorraine Hotel.  
- **April 5, 1968**: Memphis police recovered a zippered bag containing the Remington rifle, cartridges, personal items, and a bullet from King’s body.  
- **Latent print analysis**: Fingerprints on the rifle, black box, and zippered bag were compared to suspects but did not match known individuals.  
- **Firearms investigation**: The .30-06 Springfield caliber Remington rifle (serial number 46176) was traced to a transfer involving Harvey Loweyor; another Remington Gamemaster rifle (serial number 414716) was found at Canfield Amusement Co.  
- **Ballistic evidence**: A .50 caliber bullet from King’s body matched the characteristics of the Remington rifle.  
- **Personal items recovery**: Toiletries, maps, newspapers, Schlitz beer cans, and a green herringbone blanket with mud stains were found at the crime scene.  
- **Financial link**: $20 bills linked to Bessie Ruth Brewer were submitted for latent print analysis; Brewer reportedly received payment from the suspect shortly after 3:00 P.M.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)** (led latent print, ballistic, and forensic analyses)  
- **Memphis Police Department** (recovered physical evidence from the scene)  
- **Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)** (involved in checking suspects like Lovin and Hurber)  
- **Department of Defense** (received submitted evidence for examination)

MLK Declassified Files

44-hq-38861_hs1-233652821_31-05-part_5_of_6.pdf

Document Summary

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