</s>S1 44-561 PAGE TWO FORMER INNATE RECORDS MADE IN EFFORT TO DETERMINE IDENTITY OF INNATES ASSIGNED HONOR FARM WHILE RAY INCARGERATED. TO DATE FOLLOWING' IDENTIFIED, SET FORTH WITH LAST KNOWN ADDRESS FURNISHED PRISON AT TIME OF RELEASE: LEE MILLER, PONTIAC NUMBER ONE NINE TWO ZERO, SIX FIVE THREE EIGHT NORTH TALMAN STREET, AND THREE FIVE FIVE POUR TWO SOUTH PORT, CHICAGO. EDWARD PAUL RIVERA, PONTIAG NUMBERONE NINE ONE NINIE TWO NINE NINE FOUR, FIVE ONE FIVE WEST SIXTY THIRD STREETS, CHICAGO. GUS MARIAHN, PIONTIAC NUNBER ONE NEINE ZERO NINE PIVE FIVE ONE SIX TWO ZERO WEST WEST NELSON STREETH, CHIACO. CHARLES REED, POTTIAC NOBER ONE EIGHT FOUR NINE TWO, TWO TWO EIGHT SIXTH STREETF, MADISON, ILLINOIS. FRED M. PETRAKIS, PONYTIC NUMBER ONE EIGHTH FIVE ONE SIX, ROUUE ONE PEORIA, AND FIVE OVE ONE EIGHTSFORD, PEOORIA. KENNETH D. FOSDYCK, PONDIC NUBER ONE SANDFORD STREEET, PEORIAL, ROUTE ONE, BUSHNELL, IILLINOIS, ROUSE ONE, BUSNELL. ILLINOIS. 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
This declassified FBI document from April 1968 details investigations into James Earl Ray (JER), a suspect in the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK). The records focus on JER’s movements, criminal history, and connections to his family and associates. Key elements include fingerprint checks conducted as early as the mid-1950s, interviews with JER’s brother John Larry Ray and sister Susan Donian, and inquiries into potential ties between JER and hippie communities. The FBI flagged JER as "armed and dangerous" following MLK’s assassination on April 4, 1968. A body identified as "Benny Ray" was discovered in Buffalo, New York, in May 1958 (likely a typographical error), with details including age, occupation, and burial location. The document also notes discrepancies in dates and requests investigations into JER’s employment history, credit records, and potential use of stolen vehicles.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray**: Suspect in MLK’s assassination; flagged as "armed and dangerous."  
- **John Larry Ray**: Brother of James Earl Ray; subject of FBI inquiries.  
- **Susan Donian**: Sister of James Earl Ray; provided information to the FBI.  
- **Kelly Williams**: Chauffeur with alleged threats against MLK, whose credibility was questioned.  
- **Mildred Maher**: Aunt of James Earl Ray; instructed to be interviewed by the Springfield FBI division.  

Key Locations  
- **Chicago, Memphis, Springfield**: Cities where JER’s movements and criminal history were investigated.  
- **Buffalo, New York**: Location of the discovered body (likely "Benny Ray").  
- **Quincy, Illinois**: Place of birth and burial for "Benny Ray."  
- **Cook County Hospital**: Site of JER’s 1952 gunshot wound admission.  

Key Events  
- **April 4, 1968**: Assassination of MLK; JER was later convicted of the crime.  
- **May 2, 1958 (likely April 1968)**: Discovery of "Benny Ray’s" body under a railroad bridge in Buffalo.  
- **April 26, 1968**: FBI documents generated during the investigation into JER’s movements and potential involvement in MLK’s assassination.  
- **Ongoing investigations**: Focus on JER’s employment history, credit records, and stolen vehicles used post-April 5, 1968.  

Key Organizations  
- **FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation)**: Conducted fingerprint checks, surveillance, and interviews; labeled JER as a threat.  
- **Cook County Hospital**: Provided medical records for JER’s 1952 injury.  
- **Buffalo General Hospital / Buffalo State Hospital**: No employment records found for JER.  

Additional Notes  
- Document contains inconsistencies in dates (e.g., "April 1968" vs. "May 1958"), likely due to typographical errors.  
- No social security numbers or 9-digit identifiers were explicitly included in the text.

MLK Declassified Files

44-si-561_sec_005_ser_279-366-part_5_of_8.pdf

Document Summary

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