</s>MM 44-1854 5 "Tonight is it my friend and I know I can count on you for your part. Don't lose those pills I gave you! Remember everything, because my friends I have always been, June, my friend. Your Friend Always JAMES. "RAY'S escape would have been good if not a guy by the name of the name (or something of the sort) hadn't tried it as well on the shave night, but they found him hiding in the shave right, but found him hidden in the house. "RAY was later captured on top of the main kitchen, where a gaura had seen him, when he tried to change places. "JAMES EARL RAY never stated which one of the Kennedy Ray. All he said was one day at will be: K.K.I.K .., and then we put it KENNEDY, KING and KENNedy. than our worries will be over. "The never stated that the other people were in St. Louis and Phillips (Just that they may have others lined up for us.) "When SEBERING was placed in the kitchen I asked why he was trying to leave. But stated he asked why it was trying up to leave, but did not know RAY had planned to leave." "The above is a true statement made by me on this 30th day of September, 1968. "There has been known threats and promises made me to me in this matter what-so-ever. It is of my own free will. "I" DONALD LEE MITCHELL, do hereby swear "I, DONALD LEE MITCHILL, do hereby swear that the above is true to the best of my knowledge so help me God. "Signed: "DONALD LIE MITCHEL, " "WITNESSED: ERNEST HARRISON, JR ., FBI-Miami." -6- 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail statements by Donald Lee Mitchell, an inmate at Collier County Jail in Naples, Florida, regarding his interactions with James Earl Ray during their incarceration at Missouri State Penitentiary. Mitchell alleged that Ray discussed plans to assassinate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., offering financial incentives of $50,000 each for participants. Ray purportedly intended to stage an escape from prison, using Mitchell as a facilitator to deliver drugs and pills to guards. Mitchell also described Ray’s belief that killing King and members of the Kennedy family would resolve "worries," though Ray did not specify which individuals were targeted. Prison records confirm Mitchell’s incarceration dates (1960–1966) and cell assignments at Missouri State Penitentiary, noting he was housed separately from Ray for most of their overlapping stays.  

Key People  
- **Donald Lee Mitchell**: Inmate who allegedly facilitated James Earl Ray’s escape plan and discussed assassination plots involving Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  
- **James Earl Ray**: Alleged mastermind behind the plot to assassinate MLK, according to Mitchell’s statements.  
- **Ernest Harrison, JR.**: FBI Special Agent who interviewed Mitchell.  

Key Locations  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary (Jefferson City, MO)**: Where both Mitchell and Ray were incarcerated; prison records detail their cell assignments.  
- **Collier County Jail (Naples, FL)**: Where Mitchell was held during his 1968 interview with the FBI.  

Key Events  
- **Prison Escape Plan**: Ray allegedly planned to escape from Missouri State Penitentiary using Mitchell’s assistance, involving drugs, pills, and diversion tactics.  
- **Assassination Plot Discussion**: Mitchell claimed Ray discussed targeting MLK and members of the Kennedy family as part of a broader scheme for "power and domination."  
- **Prison Cell Assignments**: Records show Mitchell and Ray were housed in separate cells during most of their overlapping incarceration periods (1960–1966).  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted the investigation, including interviews with Mitchell and analysis of prison records.  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary**: Provided inmate records detailing Mitchell’s and Ray’s incarceration timelines and housing assignments.  

Additional Documents  
- A list of individuals and their associated license plate information, addresses, and vehicle details from multiple U.S. states (including Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Tennessee, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, and Texas) is included. These entries span March 29–April 3, 1968, with some noting "RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176." Motel registration records from Corinth, Mississippi, during this period are also referenced.  
- Another document contains a list of names, addresses, and vehicle license information associated with individuals in Mississippi and Missouri, spanning cities such as Starkville, Jackson, Tupelo, Columbus, Grenada, Oxford, Hattiesburg, St. Louis, Madison, New Jersey, Maverne, New York, and others. The text includes the notation "RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176," indicating declassification under Executive Order 14176. These documents appear to be administrative records or investigative lists without direct ties to the MLK assassination investigation.

MLK Declassified Files

44-mm-1854_v5-part_7_of_9.pdf

Document Summary

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