</s>FBI MEMPHIS FBI ST LOUIS 1229AM URGENT 5-16-68 JJR To: DIRECTOR MEMPHISH AND HONOLULU VIA WASHINGTON TELEX FROM: ST. LOUis (44-775) 1P MURKIN. RE KC TEL MAY FOURTEENTH AND SPRINGFIELD TEL May FIFTEENTTH REGARDING JAMES LAOMA OWENS. OWENS LOCATED CRYSTAL CITY, MO ., FIVE FIFTTEEN LAST. SUBJECT ARMED AND DANGEROUS. END. TSJ FBI MEMPHS TU K 44-12X-Seb-K-66 SEARCHED. INDEXED. SERIALIZED. FELD. MAY 1 5 1968 FBI - MEMPHISS Bauen gek Bonon 2023 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 1476

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigations into multiple individuals suspected of ties to Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, including James Earl Ray, John Larry Ray, and Leroy Basil McManaman. The Bureau examined prison records, financial transactions, and inmate associations to trace connections between these figures and alleged criminal activities. Key inquiries focused on the White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan (WKKKOM)’s purported $100,000 reward for MLK’s assassination, relayed through Donald James Nissen and Leroy Basil McManaman. Sybil Eure in Jackson, Mississippi, was interviewed regarding her alleged role in facilitating the plot but denied involvement. The FBI also investigated John Larry Ray’s prison escape from Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP) in 1967, his criminal history involving burglary, drug dealing, and violent incidents, and potential links to other suspects like James Loma Owens and Robert Lynn Powell. Efforts included cross-referencing inmate records, reviewing driver’s license data, and interviewing informants such as Thomas Britton and Frank Brennensen.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray**: Suspected of assassinating MLK; mentioned in FBI records reviews alongside Leroy Basil McManaman.  
- **John Larry Ray**: Fugitive with a history of prison escapes, burglary, drug dealing (amphetamines), and violent incidents.  
- **Leroy Basil McManaman**: Inmate at Leavenworth Penitentiary accused of orchestrating the alleged KKK plot through Donald James Nissen.  
- **Donald James Nissen**: Former Leavenworth inmate who relayed the WKKKOM’s $100,000 reward offer for MLK’s assassination to Sybil Eure.  
- **James Loma Owens**: Inmate at Missouri State Penitentiary with robbery convictions; linked to Jerry Ray and alleged connections to MLK’s assassination.  
- **Robert Lynn Powell**: Fellow inmate of John Larry Ray; investigated for knowledge of his whereabouts.  
- **Sybil Eure**: Real estate associate in Jackson, Mississippi, interviewed regarding McManaman’s alleged KKK plot; denied involvement.  

Key Locations  
- **Leavenworth Penitentiary** (Kansas): Site of McManaman and Nissen’s incarceration; referenced in FBI records reviews.  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP)**: Facility linked to John Larry Ray’s alleged escape and prison records.  
- **Jackson, Mississippi**: Location of Sybil Eure’s residence; central to the alleged KKK plot coordination.  
- **St. Louis, Missouri**: Hub for FBI operations; mentioned in connection with prison farm investigations and inmate records.  
- **Crystal City, Missouri**: Ernest Owens’ location; referenced in tracking John Larry Ray’s associates.  

Key Events  
- **Alleged KKK Offer (1967)**: WKKKOM allegedly offered $100,000 to kill MLK, relayed through McManaman and Nissen to Sybil Eure.  
- **FBI Investigation into John Larry Ray**: Efforts to locate him post-escape from MSP, including reviews of prison records, driver’s license data, and informants.  
- **Review of Inmate Records**: FBI cross-referenced Leroy Basil McManaman’s history with James Earl Ray to assess potential connections.  
- **Interviews with Informants**: Including Thomas Britton (RENZ Farm), Frank Brennensen (Honolulu), and Sybil Eure regarding alleged plot details.  
- **Prison Escape Allegations**: John Larry Ray accused of escaping from MSP in 1967, with ties to burglary, drug dealing, and violent incidents.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted investigations into prison records, inmate associations, and alleged KKK plot coordination.  
- **White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan (WKKKOM)**: Alleged orchestrators of the $100,000 reward for MLK’s assassination.  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP)**: Facility linked to John Larry Ray’s escape and inmate records reviewed by FBI.  
- **RENZ Farm**: Prison-associated farm in Jefferson City, Missouri; referenced in investigations of Thomas Britton and inmate contacts.

MLK Declassified Files

44-me-1987_hs1-852611265_85-01-part_4_of_4.pdf

Document Summary

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