</s>See Next Station 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14178

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigative activities from April to May 1968, focusing on tracking James Earl Ray as a suspect in Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. Key efforts include surveillance reports from Memphis, Atlanta, Birmingham, and Chicago, noting observations of individuals matching Ray’s physical description at locations such as a rooming house in Atlanta, O'Hare International Airport, and restaurants. The FBI coordinated across multiple cities to verify movements, cross-reference vehicle registration records (e.g., a 1966 Mustang in Tennessee), and investigate associates like Larry Simpson of Missouri and Johnny Valenti. License plate tracking (e.g., BL794 in Louisiana) and parole records from Missouri State Penitentiary were examined. Investigations also included flight tracking for American Airlines Flight 333, interviews with witnesses such as Lydia Davra at O'Hare Airport, and follow-up actions involving military personnel and locations like Aberdeen Proving Grounds. The FBI documented inconsistencies in Ray’s reported whereabouts, including alleged presence in Bennington, Vermont, and Birmingham, Alabama.  

Key People  
- James Earl Ray (suspected assassin of MLK Jr.)  
- Bobby Joe Faulkner (witness in Atlanta)  
- Larry Simpson (individual with anti-King sentiments in Missouri)  
- Vick Parker (rented car linked to Louisiana license plate)  
- Jerry Freeland (associated with Vick Parker at an apartment complex)  
- Hugh Talley (individual with restaurant encounter details)  
- Lydia Davra (waitress at O'Hare Airport)  
- Norman Gadue (Vermont police officer who issued speeding ticket to Ray)  
- Johnny Valenti (alleged associate of Ray)  
- James W. Brown (former inmate with knowledge of Ray’s activities)  
- Paul I. Reid (SSN redacted; interviewed at Aberdeen Proving Grounds)  
- Douglas L. Law, Mrs. Morrison, Mrs. Webb, Mrs. Rose Teersekro (individuals under investigation)  

Key Locations  
- Memphis, Tennessee (FBI offices and vehicle registration checks)  
- Atlanta, Georgia (rooming house where Ray was allegedly observed)  
- Birmingham, Alabama (parole records and prison interviews)  
- O'Hare International Airport, Chicago (surveillance of suspect resembling Ray)  
- Baton Rouge, Louisiana (license plate lease information)  
- Bennington, Vermont (speeding ticket incident)  
- Missouri State Penitentiary (prison records and associate investigations)  
- El Paso, Texas (telephone calls and interviews)  
- Baltimore, Maryland (FBI field office and Aberdeen Proving Grounds)  
- Fort Bliss, Texas (military personnel tracking)  
- New York City, Dallas, Texas (flight and travel-related inquiries)  

Key Events  
- Surveillance reports from April–May 1968 detailing observations of individuals matching Ray’s description.  
- Verification of Ray’s 1966 Mustang ownership in Tennessee via vehicle registration records.  
- Cross-referencing parole and prison records (e.g., Missouri State Penitentiary) to investigate associates.  
- Interviews with witnesses at O'Hare Airport and restaurants describing Ray’s appearance.  
- Investigation into Ray’s alleged presence in Bennington, Vermont, and Birmingham, Alabama.  
- FBI coordination across Memphis, Chicago, Kansas City, and Savannah to confirm Ray’s whereabouts.  
- Flight tracking for American Airlines Flight 333 and investigation of a passenger resembling Ray.  
- Follow-up actions including telephone calls to Albuquerque, Norfolk, and Newark.  
- Search for military personnel traveling with Paul I. Reid on a flight to Dallas.  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – central authority conducting investigations and coordinating across offices.  
- Missouri State Penitentiary – provided parole and prison records.  
- American Airlines – involved in tracking flight records and passenger movements.  
- Aberdeen Proving Grounds (military facility) – associated with Paul I. Reid’s interview.  
- U.S. Army units at Fort Stewart, Georgia – conducted vehicle registration checks.  
- Local police departments in Vermont, Alabama, Tennessee, and Texas – provided witness statements and traffic records.

MLK Declassified Files

44-me-1987_hs1-852611265_77-06-part_1_of_4.pdf

Document Summary

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