</s>MM 44-1854 XXI. CHECKING VIN FOR RE-REGISTRATION FOR 1967 WHITE MUSTANG 94 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail FBI and local law enforcement investigations into potential connections to the 1968 assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., focusing on James Earl Ray as the primary suspect. Key inquiries include vehicle registration checks for a 1967 white Mustang (VIN 67070C190647) registered to Eric Starvo Galt, which was examined for re-registration in other states. Investigations into Ray’s movements involved contacting Salvation Army centers, welfare agencies, and hotels in Miami, Florida, as well as Memphis, Tennessee. Witnesses such as Mary Elliott reported seeing an individual resembling Ray at West Palm Beach Airport on April 5, 1968, describing his physical traits (sandy-brown hair, scar, slight knock-knees) and alleged involvement in "making things bad" in Memphis. FBI efforts also included tracking license plates (e.g., 10W series), flight records, and hotel stays, with leads involving individuals like Carl Null, Joseph Luncefond, and Rudy Jesse Smith. Additional reports reference Henry J. Sherrill’s stay at the Provincial Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana, in December 1967, and connections to George Charles Gray via stationery supplies ordered by the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray**: Suspected assassin of MLK; described by witnesses as having sandy-brown hair, a scar, and slight knock-knees.  
- **Eric Starvo Galt**: Registered owner of a 1967 Mustang under investigation for re-registration.  
- **Mary Elliott**: Witness who reported seeing an individual resembling Ray at West Palm Beach Airport on April 5, 1968.  
- **Carl Null**: Investigated for potential connections to MLK’s assassination; noted for missing fingers.  
- **George Charles Gray**: Linked to an anonymous note tied to stationery supplies ordered by the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company.  
- **Henry J. Sherrill**: Stayed at the Provincial Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana, in December 1967.  
- **William Cockin**: Manager of the Buena Vista Hotel in West Palm Beach who confirmed a guest named Rudy Jesse Smith was not Ray.  

Key Locations  
- **Miami, Florida**: Sites of FBI and local police investigations into Ray’s movements, including Salvation Army centers and hotels.  
- **West Palm Beach, Florida**: Location where Mary Elliott reported seeing an individual resembling Ray at the airport; also involved in hotel inquiries.  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Origin of the individual described by Mary Elliott as having ties to MLK’s assassination.  
- **New Orleans, Louisiana**: Provincial Hotel where Henry J. Sherrill and others stayed in December 1967.  
- **Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania**: Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company linked to stationery supplies connected to George Charles Gray.  

Key Events  
- **April 5, 1968**: Mary Elliott reported an individual resembling James Earl Ray arriving at West Palm Beach Airport from Memphis.  
- **April 16, 1968**: FBI noted a photo in *Jet Magazine* of a man resembling the suspect in MLK’s assassination.  
- **April 24–29, 1968**: FBI investigated flight records and license plates (e.g., 10W series) for potential connections to Ray.  
- **May 6, 1968**: Carolynn Crowley reported a guest at the Buena Vista Hotel matching Ray’s description.  
- **December 17, 1967**: Mrs. Henry J. Sernrl registered at the Provincial Hotel in New Orleans; Elmore Sonniier provided information about his daughter’s stay.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted primary investigations into Ray’s movements, vehicle registrations, and connections to MLK’s assassination.  
- **Miami Police Department (Communication Division)**: Collaborated with FBI on inquiries in Miami.  
- **Salvation Army and welfare agencies (Miami Division)**: Searched for individuals resembling Ray.  
- **Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company**: Linked to stationery supply chain investigation involving George Charles Gray.  
- **Sun Castle Club, Pompano Beach, Florida**: Site of witness accounts involving a bellboy named Earl potentially linked to Ray.  
- **Broward County Auto Tag Agency**: Provided license plate records for investigative purposes.

MLK Declassified Files

44-me-1987_hs1-852611265_82-01-part_9_of_9.pdf

Document Summary

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