</s>FBI SPRINGFIELD FBI ST LOUIS 64APM URGENT 4-19-68 JLS TO DIRECTOR, SPRINGFIELD, MEMPHIS BIRMINGHAM FROM ST. LOUis (44-7775) MURKIN GR. 004ME RE SL TELCON TO SI INSTANT DATE CONFIDENTIAL CHECK OF TELEPHONE TOLL CALLS OF ALBERT PEPPER, SIX FOUR FIVE DASH TWO NINE FOUR EIGHT, TWENTY TWENTy-FIVE BELLEVIEW, ST. LOUSIS, INDICATE CALL KADE ON FEBRUARY THINTEENTH LAST TO EAST ST. LOUIS, ILL. THREE THREE TWO DASH ONE ONE SSVEN ISSUED TO DAVID C. ORT. SEVENTEEN ZERO NINE HARVEST AVE. SI IDENTIFY ORT, DETERMINE CONNECTION WITH PEPPER AND OBTAIN INFO OF VALUE. MRS. ALBERTA PEPPEER, CAROL, IS THE SISTER OF JAMES EARL RAY. END CEK FBI SPRNGFIELD ALL.St.L.Lt. 117 SEARCHED INCLUDED SERAINIZED APR1 9 1968 FBI- SPRINGFELD Valentine's Mckintey F5b l.l.@Mckinty 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The document details FBI investigations into James Earl Ray’s criminal history, family connections, and potential links to the 1968 assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. It confirms Ray’s identity as Eric Starvo Galt, an escaped prisoner from Missouri State Penitentiary since April 23, 1967, with a criminal record spanning burglary, armed robbery, and forgery between 1949 and 1958. FBI fingerprint analysis cross-referenced over 53,000 individuals, concluding Galt and Ray were identical. The investigation focused on locating Ray, who was described as armed and dangerous, with physical traits including blue eyes, brown hair, and a scar on his forehead. Key locations included Alton, Quincy, East St. Louis, Harrisburg, and Jefferson City, Missouri. The FBI coordinated nationwide searches, involving offices in Springfield, Chicago, Memphis, Birmingham, and San Francisco. Interviews with family members, such as Jerry William Ray (brother) and Melba Ray Ryan (mentally ill sister), provided limited contact details. Discrepancies in records included the death of Ray’s father and uncle, while potential connections to Walter Terry Rife (prisoner associate) and Joseph Clayton Montague (resembling Ray) were explored. Psychological consultations for Ray in Los Angeles noted concerns about shyness and self-hypnosis.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray**: Identified as Eric Starvo Galt, escaped prisoner with criminal history tied to MLK assassination; subject of FBI investigation.  
- **J. Edgar Hoover**: FBI Director who confirmed Ray’s identity and provided details on his arrest record.  
- **Jerry William Ray**: Brother of James Earl Ray; reported last contact in prison around 1964.  
- **Melba Ray Ryan**: Mentally ill sister of James Earl Ray, located in Quincy, Illinois.  
- **Walter Terry Rife**: Prison associate of Ray; contacted for information during investigation.  
- **Carol Pepper**: Possibly related to Ray via family connections (wife of Carol Ryan).  
- **Franklin "Buzz" Ray**: Brother of James Earl Ray, killed in a 1955 car accident.  
- **Joseph Clayton Montague**: Individual resembling Ray, stopped by police in Mississippi for driving a white Corvair.  
- **Jerry Raynes**: Father of James Earl Ray; provided family background and details about Ray’s incarceration.  

Key Locations  
- **Alton, Illinois**: Ray’s last known residence before incarceration; addresses checked during investigation.  
- **Quincy, Illinois**: Home to Ray’s parents and relatives; used as a location for investigations.  
- **East St. Louis, Illinois**: Area where Ray’s mother’s family resides; contact attempts made with relatives.  
- **Harrisburg, Illinois**: Location of Mrs. Monan Lee Crawford (sister of Walter Terry Rife) and other addresses checked.  
- **Jefferson City, Missouri**: Site of Missouri State Penitentiary, where Ray was incarcerated before escaping in 1967.  
- **St. Louis, Missouri**: Family connections; death of paternal uncle Earl Ray noted.  
- **Menard, Illinois**: Prison where Ray was incarcerated for burglary and armed robbery.  
- **Los Angeles, California**: Location of psychological consultations for James Earl Ray.  

Key Events  
- April 19, 1968: FBI confirmed Ray’s identity as Eric Starvo Galt through fingerprint analysis and criminal records.  
- July 20, 1967: Federal complaint filed in Jefferson City, Missouri, charging Ray with fleeing the state to avoid confinement.  
- January 1968: FBI investigation into Ray’s whereabouts included checking addresses and employment history in Illinois.  
- April 19, 1968: Nationwide press release issued by FBI to locate Ray, emphasizing his dangerous nature and criminal past.  
- Interviews with Jerry William Ray and Melba Ray Ryan provided limited family contact details.  
- Verification of deaths of Ray’s father and uncle; attempts to locate missing individuals like John Ray, Frank Delano, and Susie.  
- Investigation into Walter Terry Rife and Joseph Clayton Montague as potential suspects.  
- Psychological consultations for James Earl Ray in Los Angeles noted concerns about shyness and self-hypnosis.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted fingerprint analysis, coordinated nationwide searches, and provided updates on Ray’s status.  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary**: Institutional records used to confirm Ray’s escape in 1967.  
- **Illinois State Penitentiary (Menard)**: Site of Ray’s incarceration for burglary and armed robbery.  
- **Illinois State Farm (Vandalia)**: Mentioned as a location associated with Ray’s criminal history.  
- **Local law enforcement agencies**: Checked arrest records, addresses, and drivers’ licenses in Quincy, St. Louis, and San Francisco.  
- **U.S. Probation and Parole Offices**: Reviewed records to identify potential connections to Ray’s criminal history.

MLK Declassified Files

44-si-561_sec_003_ser_141-217-part_3_of_7.pdf

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