</s>Rev. RALPH ABERNATHY Dr. King's associate 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail Gary Lee Kraut’s alleged involvement in the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) and his criminal history, including multiple convictions for kidnapping, armed robbery, and theft. Kraut, a federal prisoner serving a 50-year sentence for kidnapping, allegedly confessed to shooting MLK during an FBI interview in 1979. He claimed the rifle used in the assassination was obtained from Betty, his wife, who was previously married to James Earl Ray, a suspect in MLK’s murder. Kraut also referenced a jewelry box containing names of conspirators and mentioned his son Bobby, who died in a 1974 police shootout. FBI records highlight Kraut’s criminal past, including prior convictions for theft, robbery, and assault, as well as his prison transfers and psychological evaluations. The documents reference congressional hearings on MLK’s assassination and discussions about potential conspiracies involving figures like David Ray and Rep. Richardson.  

Key People  
- **Gary Lee Kraut**: Federal prisoner convicted of kidnapping; allegedly confessed to shooting MLK, with ties to James Earl Ray and Betty (his wife).  
- **James Earl Ray**: Suspect in MLK’s assassination; mentioned as a potential conspirator by Kraut.  
- **Betty**: Wife of Gary Lee Kraut, described as having connections to MLK’s assassination through her marriage to Ray.  
- **Bobby**: Son of Kraut and Betty, allegedly involved in the conspiracy, later killed in a police shootout.  
- **Vern Adler**: Confidential source in California prison, provided testimony about Kraut’s alleged role in MLK’s assassination.  
- **Eldridge Cleaver**: Black Panther leader, allegedly connected to Kraut and Bobby.  

Key Locations  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Site of MLK’s assassination.  
- **California Men’s Colony (CNC), San Luis Obispo**: Prison where Vern Adler was incarcerated.  
- **Marion, Illinois**: Location of federal prison where Kraut served time.  
- **Socorro, New Mexico**: Site of a 1974 kidnapping incident involving George Salome.  
- **El Paso, Texas**: Where Kraut was involved in an armed robbery with Archie Capo.  

Key Events  
- **April 4, 1968**: MLK’s assassination in Memphis, Tennessee.  
- **Confidential testimony by Vern Adler (May 1979)**: Claims that Gary Lee Kraut confessed to shooting MLK.  
- **FBI records on Gary Lee Kraut**: Detail his criminal history, including kidnapping convictions and prison transfers.  
- **Congressional hearings**: Discussions about conspiracy theories surrounding MLK’s assassination, involving figures like David Ray and Rep. Richardson.  
- **1974 shootout**: Bobby, Kraut’s son, was killed in a police confrontation linked to Kraut’s criminal activities.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted interviews and investigations into Kraut’s claims about MLK’s assassination and his connections to James Earl Ray.  
- **U.S. Department of Justice**: Administered the FBI investigation and maintained records on suspects.  
- **California Prison System**: Where Vern Adler and Gary Lee Kraut were incarcerated.  
- **U.S. Bureau of Prisons**: Managed Kraut’s incarceration and parole status.

MLK Declassified Files

44-la-1574_742142_005-01-part_6_of_7.pdf

Document Summary

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