</s>FBI MEMPHIS FBI SPRINGFLD 1131PM URGENTIA-10-68 DJK TO DIRECTOR (44-38861), BIRMINGHAM (44+1740) AND MEMPHIs (44–1987) FROM SPRINGFIELD (44~561) IP MURKIN RE BIRMINGHAM TEL TO DIRECTOR AND ALL SACS. TODAY. MOTOR VEHICLE BUREAU, SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, RECORDS NEGATIVE REGARDING SIXTYSIX MUSTANG DESCRIBED RETEL, AND REGARDING SUBJECT. SPRINGFIELD INDICES NEGATIVE RE VEHICLE, LICENSE AND SUSPECT. P. END 6 HOLD PLS CAF FBI MEMPHS SEARNED INDEXED. SERIALIZED, FILLED.D. APR 10 1968 FBI -- MEMPHIIS 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigations from April 1968 involving multiple suspects linked to potential connections to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK). Key figures include Franklin Frederick Albert Bulteymer, who was approached by an FBI agent on April 10, 1968, and subjected to fingerprint checks against latent prints from the MLK case. James Gants is noted as having allegedly stated he had a "bullet for King," with physical descriptions provided. Other suspects include George Wilbur Breece, Eric Starvo Galt, Robert L. Plunk (linked to a train passenger matching an artist’s sketch of the assassin), William Leo Beier (with no identification and claims of prior criminal history), and Lester Clifford Lee (marked as armed and dangerous). The FBI conducted background checks, fingerprint comparisons, and location verifications across states including Indiana, Tennessee, Florida, Texas, and Ohio. Some documents reference unrelated cases or administrative records but include details about suspects under investigation for potential ties to the MLK assassination.  

Key People  
- **Franklin Frederick Albert Bulteymer**: Subject of FBI investigation; approached by Agent James W. Norment on April 10, 1968; born May 29, 1954; described as white, 5 feet 11 inches tall, 180 pounds, with blond hair and a circular scar on the left cheek.  
- **James Gants**: White, 35–37 years old, 5 feet 9 inches tall, 170 pounds, married, employed at a Texaco service station in Memphis; allegedly stated he had a "bullet for King."  
- **Robert L. Plunk**: White male, 34 years old, 5 feet 10 inches tall, 160 pounds, with receding dark brown hair; linked to a train passenger matching an artist’s sketch of MLK’s assassin.  
- **William Leo Beier**: Arrested in April 1968 for investigation; described as white, 6 feet 1 inch tall, 152 pounds, with gray hair and a tattoo "ELLA" on his right arm; no identification provided.  
- **Lester Clifford Lee**: Marked as armed and dangerous; last known address in Columbus, Ohio; weighed over 200 pounds at last observation.  

Key Locations  
- **Washington D.C.**: Bulteymer was apprehended and fingerprinted by FBI agents.  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Central hub for FBI investigations; multiple reports reference Memphis SAC (Special Agent in Charge) and location checks.  
- **Fort Wayne, Indiana**: Bulteymer’s former residence (1954); also mentioned as birthplace of another suspect.  
- **Columbus, Ohio**: Lee’s last known address; Plunk’s connection to a train route passing through.  
- **Jacksonville, Florida**: Plunk boarded a train from Corinth, Mississippi, and was linked to a motel in Weatherford, Oklahoma.  

Key Events  
- **April 10–11, 1968**: FBI agents conducted investigations into suspects connected to MLK’s assassination, including Bulteymer, Gants, and Plunk.  
- **Fingerprint Comparisons**: Latent prints from the MLK case were compared against suspects’ fingerprints; none matched.  
- **Background Checks**: Suspects’ residences, employment histories, and travel records were verified across multiple states.  
- **Arrests and Surveillance**: Beier was arrested in April 1968 for investigation; Plunk’s movements were tracked via train routes and motel records.  
- **Administrative Notes**: Documents include FBI case numbers (e.g., 44-703, 44-1987), redactions for sensitive information, and references to declassification under Executive Order 14176.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Central agency conducting investigations; multiple SACs (Special Agent in Charge) are referenced, including Memphis, Washington D.C., and others.  
- **U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs**: Mentioned in Plunk’s case regarding a disability claim letter.  
- **Local Law Enforcement Agencies**: Including police departments in Memphis, Knoxville, and other cities involved in suspect tracking and verification.

MLK Declassified Files

44-me-1987_hs1-852611265_75-01-part_3_of_4.pdf

Document Summary

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