</s>FD . 245 (REV. 413-60) H. S. Department of Justice (MATERIAL MUST NOT BE REMOVED FROM OR ADDED TO THIS FILE) DO NOT DESTROY FEDERAL BUREAU ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS UNCLASIFIED DATE/DATE BY 30/12/19/80 of DO NOT STRIP INVESTIGATION Volume Number Bureau File Number ENTIRE FILE REVIEWED DO NOT DISTROY FOR HISTORICAL PRESERVE FOR SELECT DECLASSIFICATION COMMITTEE ON ASSINATION See also Not. 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

The documents detail FBI investigations into James Earl Ray (JER) as a suspect in the 1968 assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK). Key elements include:  
- JER’s alleged criminal history, including smuggling activities in Mexico, financial transactions via prison intermediaries, and associations with prison inmates and drug networks.  
- FBI efforts to track JER’s movements, focusing on his connections to Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP) inmates like Cecil Lillibridge and Benjamin O. Goodin, as well as alleged ties to the John Birch Society.  
- Investigations into stolen vehicles, cross-state travel patterns, and potential conspirators such as William Howard Jamison, Beverly Hebert, and Michael St. Pierre.  
- Analysis of an anonymous 1963 letter referencing a paid killer (the Comales) linked to MLK’s assassination, with requests for forensic examination of the document.  
- Mention of JER’s alleged brother in St. Louis, use of a Chevrolet for trips to Mexico, and interactions with a fishing boat operator.  
- References to social security numbers noted but not included in the summaries.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray (JER)**: Suspected assassin of MLK; linked to smuggling, prison financial transactions, and drug networks.  
- **Cecil Lillibridge**: Former MSP inmate who reported on JER’s finances and movements.  
- **John Hurt (Kenneth Hurt)**: Inmate connected to JER’s prison money transfers via intermediaries.  
- **LEO BARNETT (FBI #27368)**: Inmate in Florida State Prison; provided information on JER’s mental state and drug use.  
- **William Howard Jamison**: Suspect linked to the Gaslight district in St. Louis; investigated for potential ties to MLK threats.  
- **Beverly Hebert**: Arkansas resident connected to conversations involving Bill Sorrels and Bob Nelson, potentially tied to Memphis.  
- **Michael St. Pierre**: Miami-based individual with alleged ties to JER and Shell credit card transactions.  

Key Locations  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP)**: Central to investigations of JER’s prison associations and financial activities.  
- **St. Louis, Missouri**: Home to the Gaslight district, JER’s alleged brother, and parolee contacts.  
- **Campeche, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico**: Alleged hiding place for JER during smuggling activities.  
- **Kansas City, Missouri**: Hub for FBI investigations, including prison records checks and suspect tracking.  
- **Arkansas (Fort Smith, Little Rock)**: Locations tied to Beverly Hebert’s interactions with Bill Sorrels and Bob Nelson.  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Mentioned in context of potential conspirators and cross-state travel patterns.  

Key Events  
- **Prison Financial Transactions**: JER allegedly used intermediaries like John Hurt to transfer money from prison funds to St. Louis stationery companies.  
- **Investigations into MLK Threats**: FBI divisions prioritized leads on individuals with prior threats against MLK, including checks on safety deposit boxes and airline records.  
- **Cross-State Travel Patterns**: Surveillance of suspects like Sorrels and Nelson, allegedly traveling between Memphis, Arkansas, and Oklahoma.  
- **Anonymous Letter Analysis**: FBI requested forensic examination of a 1963 letter referencing the Comales as a paid killer linked to MLK’s assassination.  
- **Smuggling and Narcotics Networks**: Investigations into JER’s alleged smuggling activities in Mexico and ties to narcotics operations.  

Key Organizations  
- **FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation)**: Central agency conducting investigations into MLK threats, JER’s whereabouts, and related conspiracies.  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary**: Site of JER’s incarceration and financial activities involving intermediaries like Lillibridge and Hurt.  
- **Phillips Petroleum Company**: Mentioned in context of individuals like William Gilmore Sorrels.  
- **Delta Airlines**: Referenced in tracking cross-state travel patterns.  
- **U.S. Department of Corrections**: Involved in parole history checks for LEO BARNETT.  
- **John Birch Society**: Tied to William Howard Jamison’s alleged associations.

MLK Declassified Files

44-kc-760_404058_170-01-part_1_of_8.pdf

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