</s>FD-302 (REV. 3-8-77) FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION Date of transcription: 8/30/78 3095 Ruskin Road, Bartlett, Tennessee, He furnished the following information: BURGESS AUDIE WILSON, who is also known as BURGSS AUDIE WIOLSON who was also formed as BILL WILTON, is his former son-in-law, WILSO was formerly married to HIOOTEN's daughter BETTY LOU, who was 47, and now resides with her present husband KETH WADE at 235 Smith from heart problems for a number of years and has difficulty remembering names, dates, and places of reference the daughter names, and a number that has referred the background information regarding BURGESS WILON and his daughter BETTY HOU. Mr. HOTTEN furnished the following addition to the information. On the night of August 7, 1978, VERMON HOOOTEN received a night of all BURGSS audie WILDTON at approximately 8:00 P.M. WILOEN asked general questions about the health and welfare of the HOTTENS AUDIE WILLSON at about the death and welfare and remarksed no other personal data regarding himself and the telephone call was terminated after the lapse of a few minutes. his son JAMES HOOTEN, 18, 1978. VERNON HOOTTEN talked with his son on August 18,1978, VERNOM HOOOTTEN, at 281 Elmo, Memphis, Tennessee, JAMES HOOOTH, resides at 281 EMO, Elmo. Memphis, him on the evening of August 17, 1978; while Wilson was talking with either JAMES HOTEN and his wife WILCO, he was in in 1968, JANES and MARIE HOTEN informed him that they in 1968. JAMES & MARIE HOTEN informed that he did not, they believed WILCON was exaggerating and that he had not, in fact, participate in the investigation of Dr. King. drinker, HOTON described WILson as a very heavy drinker. HOTTON described WILDSON as avery heavy drinker that he is intoxicated as a man who does not give any in- dication that he and his movements, he has in the past made verbal threats to kill VERNODEN HOOTENN and his former wife BETTY LOO WILSTON, HOTTENN was unable to give specific 8/18/78 Bartlett, Tennessee 8/19/78 Memphis 44-1987 Sub M Investigation on Bartlet, Tennessee SA THOMAS J. WINEBARGER and <loc_186><loc_841><loc_186><loc_854><loc_186><loc_854>SA BUILT F. JOHNSON BJ/JP/JF/JP Date dictated 8/24/78 <loc_767><loc_768><loc_768>8/29/78

The documents detail an FBI investigation into claims made by Burgess Audie Wilson regarding his involvement in the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) on April 4, 1968, at the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee. Wilson stated he shot MLK during a speech using a .30 caliber pistol attached to his belt. The FBI sought to verify his account through interviews with family members, including Mrs. Opal Hooten and Betty Lou Wade, who provided information about Wilson’s movements and associations. Records from South Central Bell Telephone Company were examined for call logs related to the period. The investigation also included FAA records checks on aircraft registrations tied to Wilson, including a Bonanza plane (registry numbers NA4434AL, N4445AL) purchased in 1956. Fuel receipts and ownership transfers of the aircraft were reviewed to trace its history. The FBI noted discrepancies in Wilson’s claims about his associates, such as Earl Ray and MITCH, and questioned his familiarity with certain individuals. Mrs. Hooten dismissed Wilson’s assertion that he killed MLK as a fabrication.  

Key People:  
- **Burgess Audie Wilson**: Claimed to have shot MLK during a speech at the Lorraine Hotel.  
- **Mrs. Opal Hooten**: Provided family records and information about Wilson’s relatives.  
- **Betty Lou Wade**: Wilson’s daughter, mentioned in family medical and travel records.  
- **Sandra Haynes**: Secretary to South Central Bell Telephone Company, provided call records.  
- **Earl Ray**: Mentioned as an associate of Wilson, though details are unclear.  

Key Locations:  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Site of MLK’s assassination; Lorraine Hotel where the shooting occurred.  
- **Nashville, Tennessee**: Wilson’s birthplace and location of his ex-wife’s residence.  
- **Raleigh, Tennessee**: Airport where Wilson allegedly landed after flying from Memphis.  
- **C. W. Baker Airport (Millington, Tennessee)**: Location of fuel receipts related to aircraft ownership.  

Key Events:  
- **April 4, 1968**: MLK’s assassination at the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis.  
- **August 17, 1975**: Wilson called his ex-wife, claiming he had killed MLK.  
- **August 19, 1978**: FBI interview with Wilson regarding his account of the assassination.  
- **FAA records checks**: Investigation into aircraft ownership and movement linked to Wilson.  
- **Family medical/visit records review**: Attempted verification of Wilson’s whereabouts and associations.  

Key Organizations:  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted interviews, reviewed records, and tracked aircraft ownership.  
- **South Central Bell Telephone Company**: Provided call logs for investigation purposes.  
- **Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)**: Reviewed aircraft registration and ownership history.

MLK Declassified Files

44-me-1987_hs1-852611265_88a-02-part_2_of_6.pdf

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