</s>UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIOATIC 4-23-68 307 HJC I-Bureau WASHINGTON, D.C. 2037 405 42 G The following FBI record, NUMBER is furnished FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY. Information shown on this Identification Record represents data furnished FBI by fingerprint contributors. WHERE FINAL DISPOSITION IS NOT SHOWN OR FURTHER EXPLANATION OF CHARGE IS DESIRED, COMMUNICATE WITH AGENCY CONTRIBUTING THOSE FINGERPRISES. CONTRIBUTIONS NAME AND NUMBER RESISTED OR CHANGE DISPOSITION PINGERPOINT RECEIVED WANTED BY BUREA! James Earl Ray, also known as, James McBride, James Walton, W.C Herron, James O'Conner, for unlawful flight to avoid custody-robery first Fugitive Index #112426 Bureau file #98-4130 Office of Origin Kansas City information received July 27, 1967. CAUTION: ARMED AND DANGEROUS Alias: James Walton WANTEED BY BURAU! Eric Starvo Galt, also know as. Harvey Lowyer, John Willard, Civil Rights-Conspiracy Fugitive Index#2570 Bureau #44-8861 Office of Origin Memphis. #Information received April 19, 1968. CAUTION. ARMED and DANGEREOUS THIS PAD SHOULD NOT BE LISSEMINATED OUTSIDE FEDERAL BUREAI OF INVESTRATION. Notations Indicated by . are NOT based on fingerprint in F1 files but are listed only as investigative leads cs being possibly identical with subject of this record. John Edgar Hoover Director 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The text details FBI surveillance and investigative activities related to James Earl Ray’s movements and alleged involvement in the 1968 assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Key elements include Ray’s criminal history, his escape from Missouri State Penitentiary in April 1967, and the FBI’s efforts to track him post-escape. The documents reference coded language, internal FBI references (e.g., "IP 44-563"), and geographic locations such as Memphis, St. Louis, Indianapolis, and Los Angeles. Ray is described as a fugitive labeled "armed and extremely dangerous," with physical details including a scar on his forehead and right palm. The investigation also notes tangential connections, such as a laundry mark linked to Eugene Coffman in Indiana and Donald Stout’s ties to National Car Rentals in Chicago, though these appear unrelated to the assassination itself.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray**: Suspect in MLK’s assassination; 40-year-old white male with criminal record (burglary, armed robbery, forgery). Escaped from Missouri State Penitentiary in April 1967.  
- **Eugene Coffman**: Mentioned in connection to a laundry mark "20R-3" found in East Chicago, Indiana.  
- **Donald Stout**: Linked to Robert Gundy at National Car Rentals in Chicago; investigated for potential ties to Ray’s movements.  

Key Locations  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Site of MLK’s assassination (April 4, 1968).  
- **St. Louis, Missouri**: Ray’s known connection; referenced in FBI tracking efforts.  
- **Indianapolis, Indiana**: Location of the laundry mark "20R-3" tied to Coffman.  
- **Los Angeles, California**: Mentioned as part of FBI surveillance scope.  

Key Events  
- **April 4, 1968**: Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis.  
- **April 1967**: James Earl Ray’s escape from Missouri State Penitentiary.  
- **FBI surveillance efforts**: Tracking Ray’s movements via bus routes, hotels, and associates; coordination across multiple states (e.g., Indiana, Illinois, California).  
- **Fingerprint comparisons**: Conducted to link Ray to latent prints collected post-escape.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Central agency conducting surveillance, tracking suspects, and coordinating interagency efforts.  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary**: Institution from which Ray escaped in April 1967.  
- **National Car Rentals**: Mentioned as a business associated with Donald Stout’s activities.

MLK Declassified Files

44-ip-563_404058_167-01-part_7_of_8.pdf

Document Summary

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