</s>OFFICIAL FORM NO. 10 918-164 OF THE U.S.A. FORCE NO. 17 USA GERN. NO. 37 UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT Memorandum TO ALL AGENTS DATE: 4/19/68 SAG; RICHMOND (44-657) (P) SURJECT: MURKIN JAMES EARL RAY, aka Eric Starvo Gait, Harvey Lomoyer, John Willard, James McBride, J. James McBride. W. G. Herron, James O'Connor, Attached for the information of all Agents is a press release issued at Washington the afternoon of 1/19 /68 and which has been issued locally in Richmond. The Bureau instinctive has been identified locally whatever be made regarding this release and that additional instructions regarding investigative leds will follow. As will be noted as the attached press release, GAIT has been identiied as James EARL Ray, subject of a UFAG Bureau case in which he has been a fugitive since 7/20/67. SUBJECT SEHULD BE CONSIDERED ARMED AND DANGEROUS. 1- SUBECT SEHUILD BE CONSIDERED ARMEO AND DANGEOUS. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - SEARCHED -INDEXED- SEHAILIZED-FILED- <loc_852><loc_851><loc_852><loc_851><loc_851><loc_850>SEALIZED -FILED A/X APRAPR 20 1968 FEB-RICHMORD Bancet

Summary  
The declassified government documents detail FBI investigations into the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) in 1968, focusing on James Earl Ray as a central suspect. Key elements include Ray’s use of multiple aliases such as Eric Starvo Galt, W.C. Karon, and Harvey Lawyer; his criminal history involving perjury, robbery, and postal fraud; and FBI efforts to track him across states like Virginia, Illinois, and Georgia. The documents reference the Delta Airlines Flight 725 incident on April 1, 1968, where a passenger carried a rifle box labeled "Mauser," later linked to MLK’s assassination. Ray was identified as a fugitive with potential ties to unsolved crimes, including the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church (for which he was convicted in 1969). The FBI coordinated with local agencies and sought public assistance to locate him, emphasizing his evasion tactics and possible armed threat. While the Bureau concluded Ray acted alone in MLK’s assassination, the documents reflect ongoing debates about evidence, motives, and potential conspirators.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray**: Central suspect in MLK’s assassination; convicted of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing but not formally charged for MLK’s killing.  
- **Eric Starvo Galt**: Aliased name linked to Ray; investigated as a possible associate or alias.  
- **Jack** (name associated with postcards sent to FBI agents).  
- **George Tomy** (possibly a typo for "Tomey") in Houston, flagged as a suspect.  
- **Harold's Bar** (Pennsylvania location noted for potential sightings of Ray).  

Key Locations  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Site of MLK’s assassination on April 4, 1968; where the 30-06 Remington Model 760 rifle and binoculars were later linked to Ray.  
- **Atlanta, Georgia**: Where a white Mustang with Alabama license plates (1-38993) was recovered and determined to have been abandoned before April 5, 1968.  
- **Fairfax, Virginia**; **Illinois**; **New Orleans**; **Richmond**; **Bedford, Virginia**: Locations where Ray’s movements were tracked or reported.  

Key Events  
- **Delta Flight 725 Incident (April 1, 1968)**: A passenger carried a rifle box labeled "Mauser," later tied to MLK’s assassination.  
- **Recovery of the 30-06 Remington Model 760 Rifle**: Found near the assassination scene and linked to Ray.  
- **Purchase of Binoculars in Memphis (April 4, 1968)**: Acquired on the day of MLK’s assassination, later connected to Ray.  
- **FBI Surveillance and Border Crossings**: Monitoring Ray’s movements across borders (e.g., Mexico/Canada) and tracking phone numbers.  
- **Witness Reports**: A Bedford, Virginia, witness described a car matching Ray’s description driven by a Black man with a Black woman.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted surveillance, coordinated with local agencies, and issued warrants for Ray’s capture.  
- **Delta Airlines**: Involved in the April 1, 1968, flight incident with the rifle box.  
- **Local Law Enforcement Agencies**: Including those in Richmond, Atlanta, New Orleans, and Bedford, Virginia, which assisted in tracking suspects.

MLK Declassified Files

44-rh-657_sec_002_ser_43-128-part_4_of_4.pdf

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