</s>44-561-M2 44-561-M1 Class of Code # S. SPRINGFIELD FBI - CENTRAL RECORDS CENTER ment of Justice Volume Number SERVICE: VOLUME NUMBER DVED FROM OR ADDED TO THIS FILED' CLUB/FACTION NO. 1A. 1A, 1A/1A/2 1A1/2 Serial # Serial # Serial # S.S.O.C.A.S ., S.O .- S.C .- 0.0.0-0.1.0 .- 1A-1-0-1.1-2.1 RRP/PDCCI 8808446922 BUREAU 1A1323 HISTORICAL VALUE®f NATIONAL ARCHIVES INVESTIGATION Bureau File Number Bureau file Number 4/4. 8/1/1 See also Nos. Rabin 2/2/2 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O., 14176

**Key Points:**  
- The documents primarily consist of administrative records from U.S. federal and state law enforcement agencies (e.g., FBI, Missouri Department of Corrections, Alton Police Department) related to **James Earl Ray**, a convicted criminal with multiple arrests for burglary, robbery, and other offenses.  
- Ray’s fingerprint records, photographs (1960–1966), and criminal history are detailed in the files, including his arrest in 1951, convictions for burglary, and incarceration in Missouri prisons (e.g., Jefferson City).  
- The documents reference **Walter T. Rife** as a co-defendant or associate in some entries, though no direct connection to Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination is explicitly stated.  
- Some records include lists of banks in Illinois counties (e.g., Peoria, Fulton) and their contact details, likely tied to Ray’s criminal activities or investigations.  

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**Individuals Mentioned:**  
1. **James Earl Ray** – Central figure in the files; arrested multiple times for burglary, robbery, and other crimes.  
2. **Walter T. Rife** – Named alongside Ray in some records (e.g., photo entries).  
3. **Other individuals**: Names of bank officials, cashiers, and clerks from Illinois counties (e.g., Melum McCoy, Jerry Newsam, etc.).  

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**Organizations & Agencies:**  
- **FBI** – Filed fingerprint cards and photos of Ray.  
- **Missouri Department of Corrections** – Documented Ray’s incarceration (e.g., 1968).  
- **Alton Police Department (Illinois)** – Maintained records on Ray’s arrest in 1951.  
- **Local banks** (e.g., Peoria County, Brimfield Exchange State Bank) – Mentioned in context of criminal activities or investigations.  

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**Locations:**  
- **Alton, Illinois** – Site of Ray’s 1951 arrest and police records.  
- **Peoria County, Illinois** – Multiple banks listed (e.g., Peoria Commercial National Bank, First Federal Savings + Loan).  
- **Jefferson City, Missouri** – Location of Ray’s incarceration in 1968.  
- **Other Illinois counties**: Fulton, Woodford, Tazewell, Marshall, Putnam, etc.  

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**Notes on Content:**  
- The documents do not directly reference Martin Luther King Jr. or the 1968 assassination investigation. However, James Earl Ray is historically linked to that case as the accused.  
- Most entries are administrative (e.g., fingerprint cards, photo logs) rather than investigative files related to MLK’s assassination.  
- Some records include typographical errors or incomplete data (e.g., "No Qual Photo," "Shato of James Carl Iray").  

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**Summary:**  
These records focus on **James Earl Ray**’s criminal history and law enforcement interactions in Illinois and Missouri, with no explicit connection to the 1968 assassination investigation. They include fingerprint cards, photos (1960–1966), arrest details, and bank-related notes, primarily from the FBI, local police departments, and state corrections agencies.

MLK Declassified Files

44-si-561-1a_sec_002_ser_1a15-1a28-part_1_of_2.pdf

Document Summary

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