</s>ME 44-1987 3 mentioning Vera Cruz, Acapulco, Nogales, and Mexico City, He reportedly had to leave Mexico City when he struck a man in the head with a pistol as the man came at him with a knife. OWENS learned from other inmates that RAY sold pills, believed to be bennies, and had a 3 for 2 loan business at the Missouri State Penitentiary where they were both incarcerated. OWENS was in Menard Prison prior to the second escape attempt by JAMES EARL RAY. He last saw him at the Missouri State Penentiary and has not contacted or corresponded with him since that time. 62 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The declassified documents detail statements from inmates, prison staff, and associates of James Earl Ray, who was later identified as the assassin of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The accounts focus on Ray’s behavior during incarceration, his alleged connections to organized crime, and potential motives for the assassination. Key themes include Ray’s racist views, financial activities, and interactions with other prisoners. While no direct evidence of involvement in the assassination is provided by these individuals, several statements imply Ray’s possible ties to criminal networks or anti-Black sentiment that could have influenced his actions. The documents also reference a Remington Model 760 rifle linked to the crime scene, as well as Ray’s escape attempts and alleged drug trafficking activities within prison.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray**: Primary subject; incarcerated at Missouri State Penitentiary and Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary. Described as racist with anti-Black views.  
- **Walter Terry Rife**: Fellow inmate at Leavenworth who denied any threats or organized affiliations with Ray.  
- **Kenneth Lee Wade**: Prisonmate alleging Ray sold amphetamines and operated a criminal network involving other inmates.  
- **Charles Calvin Bookman**: Leavenworth inmate who claimed to receive a phone call from Ray in 1968, describing himself as “hotter than a cow marshal’s pistol.”  
- **Donna Dennis**: Los Angeles hotel worker who encountered a man resembling Ray in 1968.  

Key Locations  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary** (Jefferson City, Missouri): Where Ray was incarcerated.  
- **Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary** (Kansas): Another facility where Ray was held.  
- **Los Angeles, California**: Location of Donna Dennis’s encounter with a man resembling Ray.  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Site of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination at the Lorraine Motel.  

Key Events  
- **Ray’s escape attempts** (including one in April 1967): Inmates noted frequent efforts to flee incarceration.  
- **Alleged drug trafficking network**: Ray allegedly sold amphetamines in prison, with profits estimated at $1,000/month.  
- **Phone call from Ray in 1968**: Bookman claimed Ray asked for money and described himself as “hotter than a cow marshal’s pistol.”  
- **Rumors of bounty on MLK’s life**: A prisonmate mentioned Ray sought a bounty on MLK’s life, though no evidence is provided.  
- **Connection to the assassination**: The Remington Model 760 rifle used in MLK’s assassination was allegedly purchased by Ray in Alabama (March 30, 1968).  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Implied through investigative actions and documentation.  
- **U.S. Department of Justice**: Involved in legal proceedings related to Ray’s charges.  
- **Shelby County Grand Jury** (Memphis, Tennessee): Indicted Ray for first-degree murder in connection with MLK’s assassination.

MLK Declassified Files

44-ls-947_sec_004_ser_297-344-part_5_of_8.pdf

Document Summary

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