</s>F.D .- 245 (REV. 1-13-60) ENTIRE FILE REVIEWED M. S. Department of Jusnite FOR HISTORICAL DECLASSIFICATION (MATERIAL MUST NOT BE REMEMBER FROM OR ADDROF THIS FILED) DO NOT DESTROY CECC.S.S DO NOT DETROY FEDERAL BUREAU PER 1971-1 SubA P3.5343.5 of DO NOT ESTROY- DO NOT RESTROY- PENDING LITIGATION DO NOT DISTROY- FESTORICAL VALUE NATIONAL ARCHIVES INFORMATION CONTAINED PENDIND LITICATION NOLASSIF IED Pu1977-1 P82785 WILD BY SPENCERLE INVESTIGATION C.O.1.1-5-8-1-2-3-1.2-2.3-3.2.1 Bureau File No.DO NOT DESTROY HISTORIAL VATE Scribe. Volume Number HIS. HATIONAL ARGHIVES HATIONALARCHIVES See also Nos. DO NOT DESTROY- PENDIDLITIGATIO DO NOTDESTROY PRESERVE FOR SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS ASSASSINTATIONS WWW.MADE IN: 18-7356 2023 RELEASE UNDEREO. 1476

Summary:  
The documents detail FBI investigations into potential connections between Gerald B. Gerlit, a resident of Kansas City, Missouri, and statements made by his son Richard L. Werner, a fifth-grade student who allegedly expressed support for violence against Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK). Gerlit's movements to Tennessee in March 1968 are noted, including trips on March 4-5, March 14-15, and June 1968, with his family relocating to El Cajon, California, by March 20, 1968. The FBI sought to verify Gerlit's whereabouts during the time of MLK’s assassination (April 4, 1968) and his potential involvement in planning or executing the attack. Additional reports mention sightings of a man matching James Earl Ray’s description in National City, California, on January 20, 1968, and efforts to locate him as a suspect in MLK’s assassination. The FBI also distributed wanted posters for Ray and other fugitives under the "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" program.  

Key People:  
- Gerald B. Gerlit (subject of investigation, father of Richard L. Werner)  
- Richard L. Werner (son of Gerlit, allegedly made statements about shooting MLK)  
- James Earl Ray (suspected assassin of MLK; reported sightings in California)  
- Lyle Robinson (individual who informed authorities about Werner’s remarks)  
- William Ditty (witness to Ray’s sighting in National City)  

Key Locations:  
- Kansas City, Missouri (Gerlit’s residence)  
- Tennessee (Gerlit’s travel destinations in March 1968)  
- El Cajon, California (Gerlit’s relocation by March 20, 1968)  
- National City, California (Ray’s alleged sighting on January 20, 1968)  

Key Events:  
- Investigation into Gerlit’s potential role in MLK’s assassination based on his son’s statements.  
- FBI efforts to track Gerlit’s movements during the time of MLK’s death.  
- Sighting of a man matching James Earl Ray’s description in National City, California.  
- Distribution of wanted posters for Ray and other fugitives under the "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" program.  

Key Organizations:  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- U.S. Department of Justice (involved in fugitive tracking efforts)

MLK Declassified Files

44-sd-387_767050_02-04-part_1_of_7.pdf

Document Summary

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