</s>DN 157-203 Since the information in possession of this office does not indicate whether the telephone call made from Quincy, Illinois, was actually made by subject's sister, MELBA MARIE, Illinois was actually public phone in the Virginia Hotel, available to anyone, Denver is not in a position to determine whether it would be logical to have all of the determining whether it could be logical or not to have any of the connection between any of these guests and MELBA marie to Springfield that there might be some relationship or connection betweenany of these guest and MELSBA MARIA RYAN, Springfield should set out appropriate leads. -6- 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary:  
The documents detail FBI investigations into James Earl Ray’s potential connections to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., focusing on his prison contacts at Illinois State Penitentiary, including Menard Branch. Records review hotel guest lists from Denver’s Alcoa Motel (April 3–4, 1968) for links to Quincy, Illinois, and suspects resembling descriptions of individuals associated with Ray. FBI inquiries also examine correspondence files for prisoners like Austin, who had ties to Illinois and Chicago, and John Eugene Gawron, linked to the National Cash Register Company. Administrative notes reference FBI report classifications under Executive Order 14176. Additional records include prison records for John Garon (Gawron/Gamron), a white male with burglary convictions and parole violations, and FBI efforts to locate Ray’s brothers (John Larry Ryan, Jerry William Ryzn) and associates in St. Louis, Indianapolis, and Kansas City. A woman named "Rusty" is mentioned as potentially connected to Ray through a Peoria tavern. The FBI requested cooperation from state authorities in Edwardsville, Illinois, regarding outstanding warrants against Cecil Ray (brother of James Earl Ray).  

Key People:  
- Melba Marie (sister of MLK)  
- James Earl Ray (suspected assassin of MLK)  
- Joseph Adams (inmate at Menard Branch Penitentiary who claimed contact with Ray)  
- John Eugene Gawron (subject of FBI investigation, linked to National Cash Register Company)  
- John Garon (Gawron/Gamron; white male with burglary convictions and parole violations)  
- Cecil Ray (brother of James Earl Ray, subject of state warrants for non-support)  
- Judith Ray (wife of Cecil Ray, informant about his potential relocation to Vandalia, Illinois)  
- Gilbert Ray (Cecil Ray’s brother, resident of Vandalia, Illinois)  
- Preston Prior (owner of a Mobil Station in Vandalia, Illinois)  
- Robert Blood, Ralph Witt, Pat Witt, Ruby Doyins, Jerby Lancaster (associates of Ray’s family or "Rusty")  

Key Locations:  
- Alcoa Motel, Denver, Colorado  
- Menard Branch, Illinois State Penitentiary  
- Springfield, Illinois (FBI field office)  
- Quincy, Illinois (phone call origin)  
- St. Louis, Missouri  
- Peoria, Illinois (tavern associated with "Rusty")  
- Vandalia, Illinois (Cecil Ray’s alleged residence; family connections)  
- Alton, Illinois (Ray’s past residence)  
- Edwardsville, Illinois (State Attorney’s Office involved in warrants)  

Key Events:  
- Review of motel guest records for connections to Quincy, Illinois and MLK-related suspects  
- FBI investigation into James Earl Ray’s prison contacts at Menard Branch Penitentiary  
- Examination of correspondence files for prisoners like Austin and John Garon  
- Transmission of investigative reports via AIRTEL under Executive Order 14176  
- Parole violations and unauthorized absences by John Garon (Gawron/Gamron)  
- FBI efforts to locate Ray’s brothers (John Larry Ryan, Jerry William Ryzn) and associates in St. Louis, Indianapolis, and Kansas City  
- State warrants against Cecil Ray for non-support of children  
- Judith Ray’s testimony about Cecil Ray’s potential relocation to Vandalia, Illinois  
- Requests for FBI cooperation with state authorities to locate James Earl Ray  

Key Organizations:  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Illinois State Penitentiary (Menard Branch, Joliet Branch)  
- National Cash Register Company  
- Veterans' Administration  
- Department of Public Safety, Illinois  
- Parole Violation Units  
- State Attorney’s Office (Edwardsville, Illinois)

MLK Declassified Files

44-si-561_sec_008_ser_436-528-part_3_of_8.pdf

Document Summary

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