</s>SI 44-561 On 4-20-68, MELBA MARIE RYAN was interviewed at the Virginia Hotel, 534 North Second Street, Quincy, Ill. MELBA MARYE RYANA furnished the following information to SA ELYON H. DAVIS & ASAC DONALD T. SULLIVAN. MELBIA MARIE RANDYAN advised that she is the sister of JAMES BARL RAY and identified a photograph of the JAMES EARL RAY, FBI FBI RAY AND identified a photographer of JAMES EARL Corrections on 3-17-60, as her brother. She advised that she had only seen on her brother JAMES BARL RRAY or four times during life time and that she has spent a considerable has had only been in Jacksonville, Mississippi State Hospital, she asked that she has been in the Jacksonville State Hospital. She asked that She 111, on three occasions. RYAN advised That he has been living at the Virginia Hotel since December, 1967, and has had no contact with JAMES RAY since his escape from the Missouri State Pentententen EARL RAV since his Escape from the Mississippi State 1959 when he advised that the last saw JAMES LARL RAT around house operated by their mother, Louis, Missouri, at a boarding she was staying with her mother, LUCILLE RAYAN, at the advised time and that JAMES ARL RY stayed with them for approximately six months. She advised that he has never received a letter from JAMES FARL RRY in her life and had no idea as to his present where she was in her wife and had had no ideas to his She advised she that her mother is presently deceased and that her father is approximately 70 years of age. She stated that he was living in Missouri; however, she stated that she had talked to him on the previous night on the -43 - 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The document contains FBI records from 1968 detailing interviews with MELBA MARIE RYAN, sister of JAMES EARL RAY, a suspect in the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The text includes her statements about Ray’s whereabouts, family members, and interactions, noting he resided at the Virginia Hotel in Quincy, Illinois, since December 1967. Ray had been living in Illinois since his escape from Mississippi State Hospital in 1959. MELBA RYAN provided details about her father, mother (LUCILLE RAYAN), and siblings JOHN RAY, JACK RAY, and FRANKLIN RAY. The records also include arrest histories for MELBA RYAN and other family members, as well as FBI surveillance activities at the Virginia Hotel. Mentions of Ray’s potential connections to Germany, military service, and alleged relationships are noted, though no direct evidence linking him to MLK’s assassination is provided.  

The documents detail an FBI investigation into James Earl Ray’s whereabouts conducted between May 1968 and April 1969. Ruby Carpenter, a relative of Ray, was interviewed multiple times and denied any knowledge of his activities or connection to Dr. King’s assassination. Other family members, including Frank Fuller (Ray’s aunt) and William E. Maher (Ray’s uncle), were also interviewed and stated they had no information about Ray’s whereabouts or involvement in criminal activity. The FBI conducted surveillance on Ray’s relatives and reviewed records of his family members, noting prior arrests for crimes such as assault and battery. The investigation focused on tracking Ray, who was believed to have fled the U.S., and verifying claims about his past.  

The document details an FBI investigation conducted by SA Elyon A. DAVIS in Quincy, Illinois, focusing on the Frank FULLER family residing at 2601 Chestnut Street. Elmer BECKMAN confirmed that the family consists of Frank FULLER and his wife MABEL FULLER, with no known visits to their home between May 1–9, 1968. BECKMAN noted that the family spends most time at their own residence and that Frank Fuller occasionally works as a bartender at an unspecified tavern. The investigation also mentions a potential connection to EARL RAY, though no direct evidence is provided. Subsequent sections outline correspondence and incarceration records of WALTER TERRY RIFFE, including letters to his wife JAN RIFE, mother-in-law Mrs. FRANK (JULIA) OWEN, and other contacts in Peoria, Illinois. Riffe was incarcerated at Menard Prison from April 16, 1959, with a number 22-674. His parole in May 1966 is noted as being transferred to FRANK OWENS at 1508 North Autumn, Peoria. The document also includes inquiries into MONAN LEE CRAWFORD and DARLENE CRAWFORD (sister and niece of Riffe), who were reported to have moved away by 1955–1956 with no known forwarding addresses.  

Key People  
- MELBA MARIE RYAN (sister of JAMES EARL RAY)  
- JAMES EARL RAY (suspect in MLK’s assassination; brother of MELBA RYAN)  
- LUCILLE RAYAN (mother of MELBA and James Earl Ray)  
- JOHN RAY, JACK RAY, FRANKLIN RAY (siblings of James Earl Ray)  
- RUBY CARPENTER (relative of James Earl Ray; denied knowledge of his activities)  
- FRANK FULLER (aunt of James Earl Ray; resided in Quincy, Illinois)  
- WILLIAM E. MAHER (uncle of James Earl Ray; reported Ray had not been in Alton, Illinois, since 1959)  
- ELMER BECKMAN (informant in Quincy, Illinois)  
- WALTER TERRY RIFFE (incarcerated at Menard Prison; associated with Frank Owens)  
- JAN RIFE (wife of Walter Riffe)  
- FRANK OWENS (parolee associated with Walter Riffe)  
- MONAN LEE CRAWFORD, DARLENE CRAWFORD (relatives of Walter Riffe; reported to have relocated by 1955–1956)  

Key Locations  
- Quincy, Illinois (Virginia Hotel; Frank Fuller residence)  
- St. Louis, Missouri (mentioned as location for James Earl Ray’s activities)  
- Alton, Illinois (home of William E. Maher)  
- Menard Prison, Monard, Illinois (Walter Riffe’s incarceration)  
- Peoria, Illinois (correspondence and addresses related to Walter Riffe)  
- Harrisburg, Illinois (inquiries into Monan Lee Crawford and Darlene Crawford)  

Key Events  
- FBI interviews with MELBA MARIE RYAN and her family members in 1968  
- Surveillance at the Virginia Hotel by FBI agents  
- Interviews with Ruby Carpenter, Frank Fuller, and William E. Maher denying knowledge of James Earl Ray’s activities or connection to MLK’s assassination  
- Review of criminal records for James Earl Ray’s relatives, including assault and battery charges  
- FBI investigation of Frank Fuller’s household in Quincy, Illinois, between May 1–9, 1968  
- Review of Walter Riffe’s correspondence file #13136 at Menard Prison, including letters to family members and associates  
- Inquiry into the whereabouts of Monan Lee Crawford and Darlene Crawford, reported to have relocated by 1955–1956  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Quincy, Illinois Police Department  
- Illinois State Police  
- Saline County Sheriff’s Office  
- Peoria County Bar Association  
- U.S. Disciplinary Barracks, Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas

MLK Declassified Files

44-me-1987_hs1-852611265_82-02-part_2_of_5.pdf

Document Summary

Try AI Search