</s>FBI LOUISVILLE THE SAVANNAH 481PM URGENT 4/5/68 MPH TO LOUI SILLE. FROM SAVANNAH /44-1768/ 3P MORKIN . 001 MEMPHIS. RE SAVANAH TEL TO MEMPHIIS APRIL SEVEN LAST. RETL TO MEMMHIIS SET FORTH NEGATIVE CHECK OF ALL CAR RENTAL AGENCIES IN SAVAVANHAH UNDER THE NAMES JOHN WILLARD, HARVEY LOWEYER AND GILLIAM J. LEHEMEYER. THOMAS A. BRENNAN, MANAGER, HENTZ RENT-A-CARS SAVAANAH, GA. SUBSECUENTLY ADVISED THAT WHILE HIS RECORDS CONTAINED NO INDICATION OF A RENTALS UNDER THE ABOVE MENTIONED NAMES. HE WAS SUSPICIOUS CONCERNING A WHITE MALE. APPROXIMATELY AGE FORTY, NEAR SIX FEET, BLOND RECEDING HAIR, USING THE NAME WILLIAM A. KEUHN, WHO RENTED A NINTEEN SIXTEENTEIGHT GOLD CHEVROLET IMPALA TO-DOOR HARDTOP, SIXTYSEVEN GEORGIA LICENSE THREE J ONE EIGHT FIVE NINE FOUR. VIN ONE SIX FOUR EIGHT. SEVEN FIGHT D ONE ONE TWO FIVE NEINE SIX, ON MARCH TWENTYONE LAST. HE SAID THAT THIS INDIVIDUAL END PAGE ONE SEARCHED UNPENSED SERIALSALLED AFR3 1968 FBI-LOUISVILLA 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail investigative efforts related to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., focusing on identifying suspects through various leads. A primary suspect identified is LYNN EARL DE VILBISS, described as a white male, 5'8" (160 pounds), born July 18, 1939, with ties to San Antonio, Texas. He was a voluntary patient at the National Institute of Mental Health in Texas and had prior custody records from Bear County, Texas. A photograph of De Vilbiss was prepared for comparison with potential witnesses in Memphis and Birmingham.  

Other investigations centered on RUSSELL PEACOCK, a garbage truck operator in Shepherdville, Kentucky, linked to sightings matching an artist’s sketch of an individual associated with the assassination. Sheriff LEONARD LIGHT of Bullitt County noted Peacock’s appearance and behavior did not match the sketch. CLAUDE FOX, who worked with Peacock, confirmed his presence in Shepherdville on April 4, 1968.  

Additional inquiries involved checking credit card records for gasoline purchases at Arnold’s Truck Stop in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, during March–April 1968, linked to a white Mustang with Arkansas tags. The Standard Oil Company of Kentucky reported inability to trace the purchaser due to mixed transaction data.  

Key People  
- LYNN EARL DE VILBISS (suspect)  
- RUSSELL PEACOCK (garbage truck operator, suspect)  
- CLAUDE FOX (colleague of Peacock)  
- LEONARD LIGHT (Bullitt County Sheriff)  
- F. G. GLAZE (Standard Oil Company credit card department)  

Key Locations  
- San Antonio, Texas  
- Memphis, Tennessee  
- Birmingham, Alabama  
- Shepherdville, Kentucky  
- Tuscaloosa, Alabama  
- Louisville, Kentucky  
- Bear County, Texas  
- National Institute of Mental Health (Texas)  

Key Events  
- Identification of De Vilbiss as a suspect based on physical description and mental health records.  
- Investigation into Peacock’s activities in Shepherdville, including his appearance and garbage truck operations.  
- Credit card transaction review for gasoline purchases linked to the assassination investigation.  
- Coordination between FBI offices (Louisville, Memphis, Birmingham) to cross-reference witness accounts and suspects.  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- National Institute of Mental Health  
- Standard Oil Company of Kentucky  
- Bullitt County Sheriff’s Office  
- Louisville FBI SAC (Special Agent in Charge)

MLK Declassified Files

44-ls-947_sec_001_ser_1-75-part_2_of_9.pdf

Document Summary

Try AI Search