</s>H. 3. Beparturnt of Justire MATERIAL MUST NOT BE REMOVED FROM OR ADDED TO THIS FILE PENDING (SECTION DO NOT DESTROY FIELD OFFICE FILE FORPA PROCESSED FEDERAL BUREAU ENTIRE FILE REVIEWED FOR HISTORICAL of DECLASSIFICATION MES INFORMATION CONTACTATION SECRETES IS UNLIMITED DATE 10/2-01-0-1 INVESTIGATION DO NOT DESTROY. Bureau File Number HISTORIAL VALUE "DO NOT DESTROY. NATIONAL ARCHIVES HISTOALAL ATUIE NATIONAL ALILIVES" See also No. SEE LITIGATIONS INSIDE. 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail an FBI investigation into JAY WALLIS VERNON (also known as JEROME WALLIS VERNON), a white male born in Pampa, Texas, linked to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK). Vernon’s military service with the U.S. Air Force includes disciplinary actions such as court-martial for absence without leave (AVOL) and disorderly conduct, resulting in his dishonorable discharge in 1964 due to unsuitability, physical disability, and misconduct. FBI records note his last known address in Hollywood, California, associated with the Home Service Laundry, and seek information on his current location, associations, and ties to Memphis, Birmingham, Alabama, and other Southern locations. A laundromat machine used for tagging clothing is linked to suspect garments, prompting analysis of laundry records. Fingerprint comparisons between Vernon and latent prints from the Memphis investigation yielded no matches. The FBI requested travel records, vehicle details, and connections to racist organizations like the KKK. References to "WILLIAM J. VERNOM" and "RAY, JAMES EARL" suggest potential aliases or related individuals, though details remain unclear.  

Key People  
- JAY WALLIS VERNON (JEROME WALLIS VERNON)  
- WILLIAM J. VERNOM (possibly an alias or related individual)  
- RAY, JAMES EARL (coded reference, possibly linked to the case)  
- SAC LOS ANGELES (44-1574)  
- SAC MEMPHIS (44-1987)  
- SAC BIRMINGHAM (44-1740)  
- FBI Director (44-38861)  

Key Locations  
- Hollywood, California (Home Service Laundry)  
- Memphis, Tennessee  
- Birmingham, Alabama  
- San Antonio, Texas (Air Force records)  
- Travis Air Force Base, California  
- Fort Ord, California  
- Fort Campbell, Kentucky  
- Baton Rouge, Louisiana  
- Mobile-Pascagoula, Alabama/Mississippi  
- New Orleans, Louisiana  

Key Events  
- Vernon’s dishonorable discharge from the U.S. Air Force in 1964 due to misconduct and physical disability  
- FBI investigation into his current whereabouts, associations, and ties to racist organizations (e.g., KKK)  
- Analysis of laundromat machine tags linked to suspect clothing  
- Fingerprint comparison between Vernon and latent prints from the Memphis investigation yielding no matches  
- Request for travel records, vehicle details, and laundry records from Los Angeles  
- Examination of coded references involving "RAY, JAMES EARL" and other unclear data  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- U.S. Air Force  
- Los Angeles Police Department (LA PD)  
- Memphis Field Office  
- Birmingham Division  
- FBI Laboratory (involved in fingerprint analysis)

MLK Declassified Files

44-me-1987_hs1-852611265_78-07.pdf

Document Summary

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