</s>4/27/68 TELETYPE TO: DIRECTOR, FBI (44-38861), MEMPHIS (44–1987), ATLANTA FROM: SAC, BIRMINGHAM (44-(1740) (P) MURKIN, CR RE OKLAHOMA CITY AIRTEL TO BUREAU, APRIL TWENTY FOUR LAST. BUREAU AGENTS ATTEMPTED TO INTERVIEW DONALD EUGENE SPARKS, FBI NUMBER SEVEN ONE SIX EIGHTEEN A, FORMER TOP TEN SUBJECT, AT DE KALE COUNTY JAIL, FORT PAYNE, ALABAMA THIS DATE. SPARKES REFUSED TO BE INTERVIEWED OR TO DISCUSS ANYTHING WITH AGENTS AND WAS EXTREMELY UNCOOPERATIVE. AIR MAIL COPIES TO JACKSON, TAMPA AND OKLAHOHA CITY. ARMED AND DANGEROUS. 1-Birmingham 1-JACKSON (AM) 1-TAMPA 1-OKLAHONA CITY (AM] APF- 1-OkLAHoma CITY CITY CITY ROT.Scb (4) 44-866-124 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

The document contains multiple FBI records from 1968 detailing investigations into James Earl Ray’s alleged involvement in Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination. Key figures include Robert Dale Porter, a former inmate at Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP) who provided travel details between February and April 1968, including stops in Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Texas, California, and Oklahoma. Porter claimed he had no knowledge of Ray’s activities but described Ray’s alleged escape from MSP via two methods—over a wall and through a ventilator shaft. The FBI sought to verify Porter’s whereabouts on April 4, 1968, the date of King’s assassination, with conflicting accounts about his presence in Joplin, Missouri. Additional records include license plate investigations (e.g., Oklahoma plates XH 9370, CH 9370, ZH 9370) linked to individuals such as Fred Singleton, Gregory Kirkwood, Ralph D. Anderson, and others. The FBI coordinated with agencies in Oklahoma City, Kansas City, Memphis, and St. Louis to track Ray’s movements and examine drug distribution networks at MSP. Telephone numbers associated with suspects were compiled, including those for Dallas, El Paso, Phoenix, Oklahoma City, Memphis, and Philadelphia. References include inquiries about passengers on American Airlines Flight 338 (Dallas to Philadelphia) and FBI laboratory analysis of laundry tape specimens from Oklahoma, Arizona, and Texas, noting discrepancies in machine usage. Mentions of "MURKIN" and "ARMED AND DANGEROUS" indicate ongoing threat assessments. Robert Kelly, a former U.S. Army serviceman assigned to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, purchased an airline ticket on April 5, 1968, for Frontier Airlines Flight 338. Timothy Taylor is noted as visiting Oklahoma City around April 5–6, 1968, and traveling to Fort Eustis, Virginia, for training.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray**: Suspect in MLK’s assassination; allegedly incarcerated at MSP and escaped from prison.  
- **Robert Dale Porter (FBI #4590482)**: Interviewed as a potential witness; provided travel itinerary and claimed no knowledge of Ray’s activities.  
- **Neal Abby**: Claimed close friend of Ray in Missouri.  
- **John Stouffer**: Ex-guard at MSP, allegedly supplied amphetamines to Ray.  
- **Donald Eugene Sparks**: Refused FBI interview in Alabama.  
- **Benjamin O. Goodin**: Prison supervisor linked to drug distribution.  
- **Harold Schaefer**: Guard at MSP, suspected drug supplier.  
- **Robert Kelly**: Former U.S. Army serviceman assigned to Fort Sill, Oklahoma; purchased airline ticket for Frontier Airlines Flight 338.  
- **Timothy Taylor**: Individual linked to Oklahoma City travel in April 1968.  
- **TED Pierce**: Frontier Airlines ticket agent who sold tickets to military units on 4/5/68.  
- **SA J. A. J. Grimmes, SA Lewis H. Johnson, and SA John L. Spurgers Jr.**: Investigators involved in the case.  

Key Locations  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP)**: Site of Porter’s incarceration and Ray’s alleged escape.  
- **Oklahoma City, Oklahoma**: FBI SAC office; Porter’s last known residence before traveling.  
- **Joplin, Missouri**: Porter claimed to have been present during the assassination, though verification was inconclusive.  
- **Desoto, Missouri**: Home of Robert Boshers (Porter’s alleged associate) and John J. Anderson.  
- **Las Vegas, Nevada**: Mentioned as a stop on Porter’s travel route.  
- **Dallas, Texas**: Reference to American Airlines Flight 338 passenger records.  
- **Philadelphia, Pennsylvania**: Destination for Frontier Airlines Flight 338.  
- **Fort Sill, Oklahoma**: Robert Kelly’s military assignment.  
- **Fort Eustis, Virginia**: Timothy Taylor’s travel destination for training.  

Key Events  
- **Porter’s release from MSP**: December 8, 1967; resided in Waverly, Iowa, before traveling across the Midwest.  
- **Ray’s alleged escape from prison**: Porter described two methods—over a wall and through a ventilator shaft.  
- **Investigation into Porter’s whereabouts**: Focused on verifying his presence in Joplin, Missouri, on April 4, 1968.  
- **Porter’s travel itinerary**: Included stops in Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Texas, California, and Oklahoma; claimed to have heard about MLK’s assassination while in Carthage, Missouri.  
- **Review of American Airlines Flight 338 passenger records**: April 6, 1968, for inquiries about suspects linked to Ray.  
- **FBI laboratory analysis of laundry tape specimens**: From Oklahoma, Arizona, and Texas; noted discrepancies in machine usage and evidence retention.  
- **Threat assessments**: Individuals labeled "ARMED AND DANGEROUS" (e.g., "MURKIN").  
- **Purchase of airline tickets by Robert Kelly**: For Frontier Airlines Flight 338 on April 5, 1968.  
- **Investigation into Timothy Taylor’s travel**: To Oklahoma City and Fort Eustis, Virginia, in late April 1968.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted investigations into Ray, Porter, Kelly, and other suspects; coordinated with agencies in Oklahoma City, Kansas City, Memphis, and St. Louis.  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP)**: Site of Porter’s incarceration and Ray’s alleged escape; linked to drug distribution networks.  
- **American Airlines**: Reference to Flight 338 passenger records.  
- **Frontier Airlines**: Sold airline tickets to military units, including Robert Kelly.  
- **U.S. Army Transportation Corps (USATC)**: Involved in verifying movements of military personnel like Robert Kelly.  
- **Oklahoma City Police Department**: Assisted in locating Porter and verifying his movements.  
- **Desoto, Missouri Police Department**: Provided information on Boshers’ activities and theft allegations.

MLK Declassified Files

44-oc-686_sec_002_ser_100-275-part_2_of_9.pdf

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