</s>KC 44-760 RH:1cm 1 The following investigation was conducted by SA RAY HOMESLEY: Sergeant R. N. STANBURNSBURY, Jackson County Sheriff's Office, Kansas City, Missouri, advised an inmate by the name of GLEN BUCKLEY indicated he served time with RAY at Missouri State Prison and can help locate RAY. GLEN JEFFERSON BUCKLEYS, inmate, Jackson County Sheriff's Office, Kansas CITY, Missouri; advised an attorney by the Name GLEN BECKLEY indicated him served time time with Ray at Missouri 1968, that office, Kansas city, Missouri), advised on May 3, first part of 1965 until October, 1967, he was on a bad check charge from Liberty, Missouri. But he believes he is to be released on a bench parole by judge BRADY. BUCKLES said he is in the FBI on a hill, him released early. He believes he could locate JIMMY RAY." BUCKLEY said LARRY RAY was the "tender" of C Hall at MSP where he both the BUCKLY RAY and JIMMYRAY were assigned for a while. BUCKEY said he got to know LARRY and JMMY pretty well and traded reddies, watches and miscellaneous items with well and trade reddies. Watch and miscellaneous items with on larry charge at Springfield, Missouri , and had a deterior filled against him at Topeka, Kansas. He said LARY RAY as or larryy charge at Springfield. Missouri, and had had a bad RAY in Topeka, Kansas, BUCKLETK both both LARRY & JIMNY RAY had Negroes and spoke the KKK as being a good organization. He said JIMKY RAY also talked about about Jackson, Mississippi, and he believed RAY has spent some time in Jacksonville, Mississippi. he said JMMYY RAY said also talkedabout about Jackson. Mississippi, BUCKLESY stated JIMNEY RAY WAS was in the hospital at the time he escaped from the hospital and on the back of the truck. The said he said he was out on Sunday that is the day the back gates are not locked to allow the trash truck to get out. He led me learned this information truck that he was not allowed to carry out. BUCKLEY also named inmates HOWARD NUNN (phonetic) (phonic) (detail. MC CLELLAN (photonetic) as being assigned to C Hall at the same time as was LARRY AND JIMY RAY). 137 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The document contains investigative records from U.S. federal and local agencies regarding individuals associated with James Earl Ray (JER), a suspect in the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Inmate Glen Buckley provided information about JER’s alleged connections to other inmates, including Larry Ray and Jimmy Ray, at Missouri State Prison (MSP). Buckley claimed JER had ties to the KKK, engaged in illicit activities such as trading stolen goods, and was released from prison on May 5–6, 1968. Investigations by SA RAY HOMESLEY and others focused on verifying JER’s movements, including hotel registrations at the Blackstone Hotel in Kansas City (no records found), vehicle license checks (no record of JER), and attempts to track Delta Flight #55 passengers. Walter Terry Rife’s prison records were reviewed, noting his parole violations and correspondence with family members. Reverend Billy Max Wuelner identified Lynn Ray Cleveland as a person of interest, who had items like a library card, religious pamphlets, and fingerprints taken on April 10, 1968. Cleveland was linked to Springfield, Missouri, and had a history of transient behavior.  

Lynn Ray Cleveland was arrested in Joplin, Missouri, on April 9, 1968, due to his resemblance to an artist’s conception of MLK’s assassin published in local media. During questioning, he denied being in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968, the date of MLK’s assassination, and stated he had no knowledge of the crime. His movements during March–April 1968 included travel through Arizona, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, and Alabama, with stays at locations such as Springfield, Missouri; Kingman, Arizona; and the Queen City Truck Stop. Cleveland reported being a traveling Baptist minister and evangelist, relying on hitchhiking and assistance from ministers for sustenance. He provided names of contacts in Springfield, including Reverend Barclay, Reverend Tom Gears, and Richard Ruble. His personal belongings included identification cards, religious materials, and a key potentially linked to a Greyhound Bus Station locker. Cleveland’s father, Garland Cleveland, confirmed his son had no permanent employment or stable residence and noted he had been institutionalized at Terrill State Hospital in Texas in 1965–1966. The FBI concluded there was no evidence connecting Cleveland to MLK’s assassination, though he remained under investigation for "Hold for Investigation - Homicide Other Cities."  

The document also includes an entry from April 9, 1968, detailing an encounter at the Corral Motel in Joplin, Missouri, where Lynn Ray Cleveland asked about the funeral procession for Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. and made remarks regarding religious leaders. Mrs. Virginia L. Uhlerr, the motel owner, noted Cleveland’s appearance resembled the artist’s conception but found no reason to suspect him of involvement in MLK’s murder. Other entries reference telephonic inquiries into Jerry Raynes’ marital status, verification of marriage records under different spellings (RAYNES/RAYNE), and investigations into Eric S. Galt’s travel to Rhodesia and potential ties to the John Birch Society.  

Key People  
- **Glen Buckley**: Inmate in Jackson County Jail, provided information about JER’s alleged activities and whereabouts.  
- **James Earl Ray (JER)**: Suspect in MLK assassination; mentioned as having ties to KKK, illicit trading, and possible residence in Mississippi.  
- **Larry Ray & Jimmy Ray**: Inmates at MSP allegedly associated with JER.  
- **Walter Terry Rife**: Prisoner with parole violations; linked to JER via alleged post office burglary.  
- **Lynn Ray Cleveland**: Arrested in Joplin, Missouri, on April 9, 1968; claimed no involvement in MLK’s assassination.  
- **Garland Cleveland**: Father of Lynn Ray Cleveland; stated his son had no stable residence or employment.  
- **Reverend Billy Max Wuelner**: Identified Lynn Ray Cleveland as a person of interest.  
- **Mrs. Virginia L. Uhlerr**: Motel owner in Joplin, Missouri, who noted Cleveland’s resemblance to MLK’s assassin.  
- **David Wilson**: Truck driver with DWI charge; records reviewed by Missouri law enforcement.  
- **Jerry Raynes**: Subject of marital record verification.  
- **Eric S. Galt**: Inquired about travel to Rhodesia and potential ties to the John Birch Society.  

Key Locations  
- **Missouri State Prison (MSP)**: Site of JER’s alleged incarceration and inmate interactions.  
- **Kansas City, Missouri**: Blackstone Hotel, Jackson County Jail, and addresses linked to Mary L. Porter and Robert Dale Porter.  
- **Springfield, Missouri**: Mentioned as a location where JER allegedly spent time; Cleveland’s reported stay locations.  
- **Jackson, Mississippi**: Alleged residence of JER.  
- **Joplin, Missouri**: Site of Lynn Ray Cleveland’s arrest and motel encounter.  
- **Corral Motel, Joplin, Missouri**: Location of Cleveland’s interaction with Mrs. Uhlerr.  
- **Kingman, Arizona**: Mentioned as a stopping point in March 1968.  
- **Terrill State Hospital, Texas**: Institutionalized Cleveland in 1965–1966.  

Key Events  
- **April 1968 Investigations**: FBI and local agencies checked hotel registrations, vehicle records, and prison files for JER.  
- **Parole Violations**: Walter Terry Rife’s parole violations and correspondence with family members.  
- **Fingerprinting of Lynn Ray Cleveland**: Conducted on April 10, 1968, at the Joplin, Missouri Police Department.  
- **Delta Flight #55 Tracking**: Attempt to identify passenger SLATTERY linked to JER.  
- **April 9, 1968**: Lynn Ray Cleveland arrested in Joplin, Missouri, due to resemblance to MLK’s assassin.  
- **April 4, 1968**: Date of MLK’s assassination; Cleveland claimed he was not in Memphis, Tennessee, on this date.  
- **Encounter at Corral Motel**: Cleveland asked about MLK’s funeral procession and made remarks regarding religious leaders.  
- **Investigation into Cleveland’s whereabouts**: Included questioning about his movements, contacts, and possession of religious materials and identification cards.  
- **Verification of Jerry Raynes’ marriage records**: Under different spellings (RAYNES/RAYNE).  
- **Inquiry into Eric S. Galt’s travel to Rhodesia**: Potential ties to the John Birch Society.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted multiple investigations into JER and related individuals.  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP)**: Institutional records reviewed for Walter Terry Rife.  
- **Kansas City Police Department**: Provided information on inmates and residents.  
- **Motor Vehicle Department, Missouri**: Checked license records for JER.  
- **John Birch Society**: Mentioned in connection to Eric S. Galt’s travel inquiries.

MLK Declassified Files

44-me-1987_hs1-852611265_81-03-part_9_of_9.pdf

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