</s>UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 4-23-68 307 HJC FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIC WASHINGTON, D.C. 20357 3 The following FBI record, NUMBER 405 942 G is finished FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY. Information shown on this Identification Record represents data furnished FBI by fingerprint contributors, WHERE FINAL DISPOSITION IS NOT SHOWN OR FURTHER EXPLANATION OF CHARGE IS DESIRED, COMMUNICATE WAGENCY CONTRIBUTING THOSE PRINCEPTRINTS. CONTRIBUTION OF NAME AND NUMBER ARRESSED OR RECEIVED CHARGE DISPOSITION RINGEPERPENTS Police Department James Earl Ray October suspicion of Saint Louis, #81071 16, 1959 rosbery stealing and Missouri authorities State Penitentiary James Earl ray March 17, "TCC" Jefferson City, #00416 1960 20 years (20, Operating motor 7, 5, Missouri vehicle without passion of concurrent) owner robbery first (b/m DDBW) (2 charges) State Hospital Number 1 James EarlRay September Patient #37045 C-5 8, 1966 Fulton, Missouri Notations indicated by . are NOT based on fingerprints in FBI files but are listed only as investigative leads as being possibly identical with subject of this record. John Edgar Hoover Director 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents consist of FBI internal memos and investigative reports from late April 1968, focusing on the investigation into the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) on April 4, 1968. The central figure is James Earl Ray, identified as a suspect linked to the crime. The memos detail FBI efforts to track Ray, including license plate investigations, witness accounts, and cross-departmental collaboration with local police in Omaha, Des Moines, Memphis, and other cities. References to conspiracy theories involving Robert F. Kennedy and political motivations are noted but lack substantiation. Administrative notes about form numbers, filing codes, and routine tasks (e.g., U.S. Savings Bonds) indicate internal FBI documentation practices. The text also includes fragmented or corrupted elements, such as inconsistent dates (e.g., "April 1988") and unclear references to other individuals like David Strake and Franklin Allen Fort.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray**: Central suspect in MLK’s assassination; described as a fugitive with a criminal record, including burglary and armed robbery convictions.  
- **Robert F. Kennedy**: Mentioned in context of conspiracy theories about political motivations for the assassination.  
- **Pete Adler** (Iowa) and **Lloyd Begley** (Louisiana): Witnesses who reported sightings of someone resembling Ray at events.  
- **David Strake**, **Franklin Allen Fort**, and **Oshel**: Names referenced in the text, though their relevance to the investigation is unclear or possibly unrelated.  

Key Locations  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Site of MLK’s assassination on April 4, 1968.  
- **Omaha, Nebraska** and **Des Moines, Iowa**: Cities where FBI collaborated with local police for witness checks and record verification.  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary**: Mentioned as a location tied to Ray’s prior incarceration.  

Key Events  
- **Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. (April 4, 1968)**: The central event under investigation; the text references a rifle bullet fired from a nearby house, though this is historically disputed.  
- **FBI License Plate Investigation**: A license plate number (**436092**) was noted as a potential lead, though it appears invalid.  
- **Cross-Departmental Collaboration**: FBI worked with local police departments to verify records and identify suspects.  
- **Conspiracy Theories**: Unsubstantiated claims about political motivations (e.g., Bob Kennedy hiring the killer for "coldred votes") are mentioned but not confirmed.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted the primary investigation, including fingerprint comparisons and witness interviews.  
- **U.S. Savings Bonds Program**: Mentioned in administrative notes about routine tasks.  
- **Local Police Departments** (e.g., Omaha, Des Moines, Memphis): Collaborated with FBI for record checks and suspect identification.  

Notes on Document Integrity  
- The text contains fragmented sentences, repeated phrases (e.g., "TEN MOST WANTED FUGITIVES"), and inconsistent dates (e.g., "April 1988" instead of 1968), suggesting possible corruption or misformatting of the original documents.  
- References to social security numbers are noted but not included in the summary.

MLK Declassified Files

44-om-310_763633_15-04-part_3_of_7.pdf

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