</s>PD - 245 (REV. 4:13-60) H. S. Repartement of Justice (MATERIAL MUST NOT BE REMOVED FROM OR ADDED TO THIS FILED DO NOT DESTROY FEDERAL BUREAU DO NOT STRIP of INVESTIGATION DO NOT DISTROY - PENDING LITIGATION 44-3886/ Volume Number Serial: 1/352 tall Bureau File Number ENTIRE FILE REVIEWED DO NOT DESTROY FOR HISTORICAL DO NOT SELECT DECLASSIFICATION PRESERVE FOR SELECT COMMITTEC ON ASSINATIONS See also Nos. 1A Cohitts See also A orig. 302's

Summary  
The document details FBI investigations into connections between individuals associated with the 1968 assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) and incarcerated persons such as Leslie Allen Achter, William Simpson, and Alfred Martinez. Achter, an inmate attorney at Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP), requested an FBI interview in May 1976 regarding James Earl Ray, the convicted assassin of MLK. The FBI reviewed Achter’s criminal history and legal theories about Ray’s activities, including alleged drug dealings and escape plans. Investigations also examined William Simpson, a federal prisoner incarcerated in Salt Lake City County Jail who died in July 1968, and Alfred Martinez, his former inmate who claimed to have written letters for Simpson to individuals named James Ray and Earl Ray. The FBI concluded no direct link between Simpson/Martinez and MLK’s assassination due to timeline discrepancies and lack of corroborating evidence. Martinez later contacted the Sacramento FBI office in December 1976, detailing his incarceration with Simpson and alleged plans involving Memphis, though he admitted uncertainty about whether James Ray or Earl Ray corresponded to the convicted killer.  

Key People  
- **Leslie Allen Achter**: Inmate attorney at MSP; provided information on James Earl Ray’s activities, including alleged drug dealings and escape attempts.  
- **James Earl Ray**: Convicted assassin of MLK; referenced by Achter and Martinez as a suspect in various contexts.  
- **William Simpson**: Federal prisoner incarcerated in Salt Lake City County Jail (1966–1968); died July 14, 1968.  
- **Alfred Martinez**: Former inmate of Simpson’s; claimed to have written letters for Simpson to James Ray and Earl Ray, referencing plans involving Memphis.  
- **Jimmie W. Ray**: Mentioned as an acquaintance of Simpson; no direct link established to James Earl Ray.  

Key Locations  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP)**: Site of Achter’s incarceration and FBI interviews.  
- **Salt Lake City County Jail**: Where William Simpson was incarcerated; records indicated no prisoner correspondence during relevant periods.  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Address referenced in Martinez’s claims as a destination for letters written on Simpson’s behalf.  
- **Sacramento, California**: Location of Martinez’s interview with the FBI and his workplace (Delk-Lakemex Company).  
- **Canyon City, Colorado**: Martinez’s arrest location for burglary in 1967.  

Key Events  
- **May 1976**: Achter requested an FBI interview about James Earl Ray; prior interactions were reviewed.  
- **April–December 1976**: FBI investigated Simpson’s death and potential ties to MLK’s assassination, reviewing prison records and correspondence.  
- **July 14, 1968**: William Simpson died at the Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Missouri; cause of death listed as acute respiratory illness.  
- **December 2, 1976**: Alfred Martinez contacted the Sacramento FBI office with information about his incarceration and alleged connections to James Earl Ray.  
- **May 28, 1967–late 1967**: Martinez arrested in Canyon City, Colorado, for burglary; incarcerated at Colorado State Prison.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted investigations into Achter’s claims, Simpson’s death, and Martinez’s alleged connections to James Earl Ray.  
- **Missouri Division of Corrections**: Managed Achter’s incarceration and provided records for FBI review.  
- **Salt Lake City County Sheriff’s Office**: Provided records on William Simpson’s incarceration and correspondence.  
- **Federal Records Center, Kansas City**: Managed Simpson’s file.  
- **Medical Center for Federal Prisoners (MCPF)**: Institution where Simpson was incarcerated.

MLK Declassified Files

44-kc-760_404058_173-04-part_1_of_5.pdf

Document Summary

Try AI Search