</s>CE 44-1365 PAGE THREE SHE WOULD HAVE KNOWN. SHE DESCRIBED DUNSTON AS UNRELIABLE AND DOES NOT BELIEVE ANY INFORMATION OTAINED FROM HIM TO 3E RELIABLABLE OR VALUE. JOHN W. BENNETT, BROTHER OF HENRY BENNETTI, ADVISED TODAY. THAT DUNTON AND HENNY BENNETTT, BROTHERS OF HENNRY BENNETT, AND HAVE SEEN DRINKING HEAVILY FOR THE PAST FOR FOUR OR FIVE DAYS. HE HAVE BEEN ANY INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM DUNSTON OR HIS BROTHER WOULD NOT BE TRUTHFUL AS BOTH HAVE BEER DRINKING OR HIS BREARLABLE. POLICE OFFICERS, WHITEVILLE, NC, WHO AND HAD BEEN ALERTED TO ATTEMPT TO LOCATE UNKNOWN WHITE MALE, WHO HAD SEEN NOT NOT SEEN ANYONE RESEMBLING THIS PERSON AND ALSO HAD NOT SEEN THE NINETEEN SIXTYWO FORD GALAXIE DESCRED BY DUNISTON. POLICE OFFICERS CHARACTERIZED DUSTON AS DRUNK WHO IS EXTREMELY UNRELIABILE. .NO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RECERIVED CONCERNING UNKNOWN WHITE MALE. WHO ALLEGEDLY CONTACTED DUNTON APRIL EIGHT LAST. IN VIEW OF STATEMENTS MADE BY SARAH MOORE TO EFFECT THAT NO WHITE MALE WAS SEEN AT HER RESIDENCE WITH DUNESTON ON APRIL EIGHTH LAST, FACT THAT UNKNOWN MALE NOT OSSERVED BY POLICE, AND FACT THAT DUSTION IS DRUNKNOWN MALLE NOT OBSERVEO BY POLICY, NO FURTHER EFFORTS BEING MADE TO LOCATÉ UNKNOWN UNRELIBLABLE, UAC3, END PAGE THREE 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14178

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigations into potential suspects linked to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) in April 1968. Fredrick Dunston, a resident of Whiteville, North Carolina, was identified as an unreliable informant due to alcoholism and prior arrests for public intoxication and theft. Dunston claimed an unknown white male visited him on April 8, 1968, describing the man as having tattoos and a gun who stated he had killed MLK. Law enforcement noted Dunston’s unreliability and lack of credibility due to his drinking habits. John Clinton Millsaps, a nephew of William Clyde Millsaps, was investigated for allegedly discussing plans to purchase a high-powered rifle to target Black individuals. Millsaps was last seen in Richmond, Virginia, prior to MLK’s assassination, and his movements were tracked. Other suspects included DONNIE LEON HARDEN, WALTER PATRICK PEYSON, ROBERT BOLIVAR DE PUGH, and Donald Walter Pacco, who was investigated for contacting a Tuscaloosa minister about killing MLK and associating with the KKK. The FBI coordinated across offices in Memphis, Birmingham, Dallas, and New York to track suspects, including fingerprint checks, military record reviews, and employment history analyses. A passenger on Flight 26 from Dallas to Louisville (March 28, 1968) was noted for allegedly stating MLK had been "shot and killed," though the passenger’s identity remains unresolved.  

Key People  
- **Fredrick Dunston**: Whiteville, North Carolina resident; arrested multiple times for public intoxication; claimed an unknown white male visited him on April 8, 1968, describing the man as having tattoos and a gun.  
- **John Clinton Millsaps**: Nephew of William Clyde Millsaps; allegedly discussed purchasing a high-powered rifle to shoot Black individuals; last seen in Richmond, Virginia, prior to MLK’s assassination.  
- **William Clyde Millsaps**: Provided information about his nephew’s activities; stated the nephew was discharged from the U.S. Army in 1967 and had financial independence.  
- **DONNIE LEON HARDEN**: Subject of military record review; alleged abuse by wife, potential connection to MLK assassination.  
- **WALTER PATRICK PEYSON** and **ROBERT BOLIVAR DE PUGH**: Suspects with fingerprint checks pending.  
- **Donald Walter Pacco**: Contacted Tuscaloosa minister about killing MLK; denied threats but under investigation for KKK association.  
- **Percy D. Strickland**: Resided in Prattville, Alabama; employed by Southern Telephone Co.; investigated for potential ties to assassination.  
- **Theral Burns Lyman** (also known as David Joseph Jiron): Fugitive with prior arrests for forgery and firearm possession; alleged threats against MLK.  
- **Lacy Harlan** and **Rex Watkins**: Eliminated as suspects based on lack of corroborating evidence.  

Key Locations  
- **Whiteville, North Carolina**: Site of Dunston’s residence and police investigations; where Dunston was arrested for public intoxication.  
- **Richmond, Virginia**: Location where John Clinton Millsaps was last seen prior to MLK’s assassination.  
- **Salt Lake City, Utah**: Residence of John Clinton Millsaps’ wife; referenced in reports about his alleged activities.  
- **Columbus County Jail, North Carolina**: Where Dunston was detained after being arrested for public intoxication.  
- **Prattville, Alabama**: Strickland’s residence and place of employment.  
- **Memphis, Birmingham, Dallas, and New York**: FBI offices involved in tracking suspects.  
- **Tuscaloosa, Alabama**: Location of minister contacted by Pacco.  
- **Dallas, Texas** and **Louisville, Kentucky**: Flight routes mentioned in the passenger report.  

Key Events  
- **April 8–10, 1968**: Dunston claimed an unknown white male visited him; he was arrested for public intoxication in Whiteville, North Carolina.  
- **April 10, 1968**: FBI records indicate John Clinton Millsaps’ activities were under investigation for potential links to MLK’s assassination.  
- **April 4, 1968**: MLK’s assassination; FBI began tracking suspects linked to the event.  
- **Fingerprint checks** on DONNIE LEON HARDEN, WALTER PATRICK PEYSON, and ROBERT BOLIVAR DE PUGH.  
- **Military record review** of DONNIE LEON HARDEN, including service in U.S. Army Reserve and National Guard.  
- **Alleged threats by PACCO**: Contact with Tuscaloosa minister about killing MLK and KKK association.  
- **Review of flight records** for passenger on Flight 26 from Dallas to Louisville (March 28, 1968) who allegedly confirmed MLK’s death.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted investigations across multiple offices (Memphis, Birmingham, Dallas).  
- **U.S. Army Reserve/National Guard**: Mentioned in HARDEN’s military service records.  
- **Southern Telephone Co.**: Employed Percy D. Strickland.  
- **California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)**: Provided vehicle registration details for suspects.  
- **State Department of Health (Alabama)**: Recorded health information for Percy D. Strickland.  
- **Selective Service System**: Referenced in HARDEN’s registration details.

MLK Declassified Files

44-me-1987_hs1-852611265_75-01-part_2_of_4.pdf

Document Summary

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