</s>PAGE TWO SL -44-775 ADDRESS ALTHOUGH HE PROMISED TO FURNISH ONE WHEN HE BECAME ESTABLISHED. MIAMI, ENDEAVOR TO LOCATE SUSPECT AND INTERVIEW AS SUSPEC. EXHIBIT SUBJECT'S PHOTO AND DETERMINE IF KNOWN TO HIM. NFGL, AIR MAIL COPY FURNISHER KANSAS CITY. END. ////CORR PAGE ONE LINE 4 WORD 7 SHOULD READ STARVO END RGT FBI MIAMI TU @ W.I.J. SMITH, SUP. MI. SCHMELER 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
This text comprises FBI investigative records from April 1968 detailing the agency’s efforts to track James Earl Ray, a fugitive convicted of assassinating Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968. The documents reference Ray’s movements across multiple states, his alleged criminal history including postal fraud schemes tied to stolen U.S. Postal Service money orders, and his associations with individuals like Neil Abbey and Donald Dean Rigger. FBI methods included surveillance, interagency coordination, credit record checks, and public records reviews. The text also notes the use of communication tools such as Airtel (aerial telegram) and Teletypes, as well as formal notices like "Wanted Flyer #4424A." References to Executive Order 14176 suggest declassification processes under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), though some details remain redacted. The documents reflect Cold War-era FBI practices in high-profile criminal investigations and highlight controversies surrounding Ray’s conviction, as he has consistently denied involvement in MLK’s assassination.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray**: Convicted of assassinating MLK; fugitive at the time of the investigation.  
- **Neil Abbey**: Cook at a prison linked to Ray’s alleged associations.  
- **Donald Dean Rigger**: Former inmate connected to Ray’s criminal activities.  
- **G.J.G. Gallagher**: Eliminated as a suspect due to lack of resemblance to Ray.  

Key Locations  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Site of MLK’s assassination and Ray’s alleged involvement.  
- **Miami, Albuquerque, Clovis, New Mexico**: Locations where Ray was tracked by the FBI.  
- **Illinois, Missouri, Texas**: States referenced in Ray’s travel logs and criminal activities.  

Key Events  
- **April 4, 1968**: MLK’s assassination in Memphis; Ray later convicted of the crime.  
- **April 23–24, 1968**: FBI case files processed under "FD-36 Rev. 12-13-58" and other forms.  
- **Surveillance efforts**: FBI checked car dealers, rental agencies, hotels, and police departments for Ray’s sightings.  
- **Interagency collaboration**: Requests for regional FBI offices (e.g., Memphis, Kansas City) to review leads and share information.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted surveillance, tracking, and coordination with local law enforcement.  
- **U.S. Postal Service**: Linked to Ray’s earlier criminal activities involving stolen money orders.  
- **Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)**: Mentioned as a mechanism for accessing declassified records, though some remain restricted.  

Note: Social security numbers or 9-digit identifiers present in the document are noted but not included in this summary.

MLK Declassified Files

44-mm-1854_v2-part_5_of_6.pdf

Document Summary

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