</s>ME 44-1987 ADMINISTRATIVE: Additional copies of this report have been designated for the Bureau in order that dissemination may be made to Legats, Ottawa and Mexico City. of the subject's associates that during interviews with certain of the subjects' associates and former prison mates, their stories varied from time to time. Some of their stories may have varied after this report was prepared. This is recognized but could not be avoided. Any more recent information obtained from them will be set out in subsequent reports. LEADS: All offices will continue to conduct investigation in this matter but will set out all leads which appear to be appropriate. COVER PAGE B+ 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary:  
The document details FBI investigations into James Earl Ray’s movements and activities between 1967–1968, linking him to Eric GALT through forensic evidence such as handwriting, fingerprints, and financial records. Key events include Ray’s alleged flight after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination on April 4, 1968, his use of a white Ford Mustang (license plate 1-389-89), and the discovery of weapons at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. Forensic analysis confirmed Ray’s fingerprints on a Remington Model 760 rifle and binoculars found at the scene, though bullet evidence did not conclusively tie him to the crime. The report also notes discrepancies in dates, name variations (e.g., "Eric GALT," "ERIC CALT"), and unverified claims about Ray’s associates.  

Key People:  
- **James Earl Ray** (accused assassin of MLK)  
- **Eric GALT** (suspected alias for Ray)  
- **Harvey Loweyere** (purchased rifle linked to the crime scene)  
- **Marian de Grasse** (connected to clothing found at a New Orleans address linked to GALT)  
- **JAMES RAY** (father of James Earl Ray)  
- **LUCILLE MARY MAY** (mother of James Earl Ray)  
- **John Larry Rav, Jerry William Ray, Frank Delano Ryan, Carol Pepper, Ruby Carpenter** (family members and associates)  
- **Jimmy Z. Bradley, Jim Bradley, James Harvey Bradley Jr., Joseph Adams, Leo Barnett, James T. Bond** (prison inmates associated with Ray)  

Key Locations:  
- **Memphis, Tennessee** (Lorraine Motel, scene of MLK’s assassination)  
- **Los Angeles, California** (rental apartment, laundry services)  
- **New Orleans, Louisiana** (Provincial Hotel, address linked to GALT)  
- **Atlanta, Georgia** (abandoned Mustang, Piedmont Laundry)  
- **Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico** (Hotel Rio registration)  
- **Alton, Illinois; St. Louis, Missouri; Jefferson City, Missouri (Missouri State Penitentiary); Kansas City, Missouri (U.S. Probation Office); Dallas, Texas; Leavenworth, Kansas (Federal Penitentiary)**  

Key Events:  
- **April 4, 1968:** Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. A white Ford Mustang fled the scene.  
- **December 15–22, 1967:** Eric GALT registered at New Orleans hotels and engaged in financial transactions linked to Ray’s alias.  
- **January 8, 1968:** Bank of America money order payable to Locksmithing Institute signed with Ray’s handwriting.  
- **April 1, 1968:** Laundry tagged "02B-6" left at Peachtree, Georgia, matching tags on MLK’s clothing.  
- **Forensic analysis** confirmed Ray’s fingerprints on the Remington rifle and binoculars found at the crime scene.  

Key Organizations:  
- **FBI Laboratory** (conducted handwriting and fingerprint comparisons)  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary** (Ray’s incarceration; inmates associated with him)  
- **U.S. Probation Office (Kansas City, Missouri)**  
- **Federal Penitentiary (Leavenworth, Kansas)**  

Notes:  
- The document contains inconsistencies, including typographical errors (e.g., "1987" instead of "1967") and unverified claims about GALT’s activities.  
- Forensic evidence strongly implicates Ray in the assassination, though bullet analysis did not definitively link him to the crime.  
- The report combines multiple cases, including unrelated financial transactions involving GALT, but focuses on MLK’s assassination investigation.

MLK Declassified Files

44-mi-388_749561_06-03-part_5_of_7.pdf

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