</s>UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION In Reply, Please Refer to St. Louis, Missouri File No. April 22, 1968 JAMES RAIL RAY, Also known As W.C. Horron, Harvey Loyer, James Kefricko, JAMES Kefricks, James Walton James Walcyn, John Wallard Jim J. A Federal warrant was issued April 17, 1963, at Birmingham, Alabama, charging the above individual with conspirating to Interstate with a constitutional right of a citizens. The state of Missouri is not a part of the country, at Jefferson City, Missouri, charging this individual with interstate flight to avoid confinement for the crime of robbery. Ray's sister, Helba Harle Ryan, has advised that friend his military duty in Germany, and had a girl to Germany. A review of his Army service record on April 22, 1968, disclosed that was assigned as follows in Germany. Army Serial Number 163 123. 53rd Quartermaster Base Depot, APO 124, Nuremberg, Germany, one Cay, August 1, 1946; 623th Quartermaster Refrigeration Company (C.H.) APO 162, Nuremberg; Germany, August 2, 1949; December, 1945; PROPERTY OF FBI This information and its contents are loaned to you by the FBI, and notith nor it's contents are to be distributed. 2025 RELEASE UNDER E. 1478

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigations into the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., focusing on James Earl Ray (also known as Eric Starvo Galt) and related suspects. Ray was added to the FBI’s "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" list on April 20, 1968, following his alleged involvement in MLK’s murder. A fingerprint comparison confirmed Galt and Ray were identical individuals. Ray faced charges of conspiring to interfere with constitutional rights and unlawful interstate flight after a robbery conviction. His military service records from World War II include assignments in Germany (Nuremberg, Bremerhaven) as a quartermaster. The FBI noted his physical description: white male, 5'10", blue eyes, brown hair, small forehead scar, and right-hand palm scar. Ray was described as armed and extremely dangerous.  

Additional entries reference FBI efforts to track Ray’s movements, including fingerprint comparisons with latent prints obtained after his escape from Missouri State Penitentiary in 1967. A man resembling Ray was observed in Knoxville, Tennessee, associated with a washing machine dispute. The FBI sought information on Carol Sartain (Ray’s ex-wife) and her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Willard Sartain, who were believed to be caring for Ray’s son Michael in Whitesburg, Tennessee. Requests included tracking case hours, mileage, and costs, as well as interviews with individuals in Whitesburg. A photo of Ray was taken in Mexico in 1967.  

The investigation also involved Thurmon, a subject of inquiry in Chattanooga, Tennessee, who claimed to have attended an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting but provided inconsistent information. Curtis Neely, an employee of Tennessee Eastman Company, was verified as working during relevant dates. License plate and vehicle tracking efforts linked Ray to Georgia and Tennessee, including abandoned cars and stolen status checks. FBI agents coordinated with the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) and local law enforcement agencies.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray** (alias Eric Starvo Galt): Suspected assassin of MLK; fugitive with a criminal record including armed robbery, burglary, and forgery.  
- **Carol Sartain**: Ex-wife of Jerry Ray; believed to be caring for Michael Ray in Whitesburg, Tennessee.  
- **Mr. and Mrs. Willard Sartain**: Parents of Carol Sartain, residing in Whitesburg, Tennessee.  
- **Thurmon**: Subject of investigation; claimed attendance at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in Chattanooga, Tennessee.  
- **Curtis Neely**: Employee of Tennessee Eastman Company, verified to work during relevant dates.  
- **JAMES C. BULL** and **RALPH CARROLL**: Individuals linked to Oak Ridge, Tennessee, with connections to Ray’s associates.  
- **SA DAVE J. COOK**, **SA ROBERT B. STROM**, **SA RICHARD A. LORAH**, and **SA HENRY A. QUINN, JR.**: FBI agents involved in tracking suspects and coordinating investigations.  

Key Locations  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Site of MLK’s assassination on April 4, 1968; FBI office location.  
- **Whitesburg, Tennessee**: Location where Carol Sartain and her parents were believed to reside.  
- **Chattanooga, Tennessee**: Site of Alcoholics Anonymous meeting and attempted contact with Thurmon.  
- **Knoxville, Tennessee**: FBI office; location of washing machine dispute observation.  
- **Mexico**: Where Ray was photographed in 1967.  
- **Germany** (Nuremberg, Bremerhaven): Ray’s military service assignments during World War II.  
- **Georgia**: Mentioned in relation to stolen vehicles and license plates linked to Ray’s activities.  
- **Oak Ridge, Tennessee**: Home of JAMES C. BULL and RALPH CARROLL; tied to Ray’s associates.  

Key Events  
- **April 4, 1968**: Assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis, Tennessee.  
- **April 20, 1968**: FBI added James Earl Ray to the "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" list.  
- **April 17, 1968**: Federal warrant issued charging Ray with conspiring to interfere with constitutional rights.  
- **April 18, 1968**: FBI confirmed James Earl Ray (Eric Starvo Galt) was in custody during the period he was allegedly involved in MLK’s assassination.  
- **April 26, 1968**: Tennessee Eastman Company records verified Curtis Neely’s employment dates.  
- **April 29–30, 1968**: FBI coordinated efforts to track license plates and vehicles associated with Ray, including abandoned cars in Georgia and Tennessee.  
- **April 6–7, 1968**: Attempts to locate Thurmon in Chattanooga failed despite his claimed meeting schedule.  
- **April 19, 1968**: Identification of RALPH CARROLL as a suspect linked to JAMES C. BULL; photographs reviewed for verification.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted fingerprint comparisons, surveillance, and investigations into Ray’s movements and criminal history; coordinated with local law enforcement and the Tennessee Highway Patrol.  
- **Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP)**: Provided license plate and vehicle registration data for tracking stolen or abandoned vehicles.  
- **Tennessee Eastman Company**: Furnished employment records for Curtis Neely during the investigation.  
- **Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)**: Mentioned as a location where Thurmon was allegedly attending meetings in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

MLK Declassified Files

44-kx-696_742347_01-02-part_3_of_8.pdf

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