</s>SI 44-561 Illinois Drivers License E326 4453 3030 issued June 2, 1967 to JAMES B. BODKER, 14341 South Avalon, Dalton, Illinois will expire January 30, 1971 and describes him as male, born January 30. 1933, 5' 10", 175 pounds, brown hair, green eyes, occupation - construction laboror, Records reflect license was suspended December 12, 1967 for an accident. It was again suspended in February 1, 1968 for three moving violations but is presently clear and valid. - 192 - - - - 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary:  
The document contains fragmented records related to an investigation into the whereabouts of Cecil Ray and his family members in Illinois during May 1968, alongside administrative data on individuals potentially connected to the Martin Luther King Jr. assassination inquiry. It references Robert Hood Strader’s claims of being threatened due to knowledge of MLK’s murder, including allegations of being shot at and followed after allegedly overhearing a conversation about the assassination in Memphis on April 4, 1968. Strader sought protection from FBI agents in Springfield, Illinois. Cecil Ray’s legal actions, including a complaint filed by his wife Judith in Madison County Court, are noted, though no direct link to MLK or the assassination is established. The text includes redacted or unclear entries about individuals and locations, with some phonetic spellings or incomplete information. Administrative records also mention driver’s license suspensions, bank robbery investigations, and school-related data, though these appear disconnected from the main inquiry.  

Key People:  
- Robert Hood Strader (threats related to MLK assassination, contact with FBI)  
- Cecil Ray (legal actions, family members’ details)  
- Judith Pay (spouse of Cecil Ray, filed complaint in Madison County Court)  
- Larry Ray (Vandalia employee jailed for threatening his wife)  
- Gilbert CECILLIRA (associated with Crane Packing in Virden, Illinois)  
- Richard Risley (residing in Joliet, Illinois)  
- Sheriff Leonard Kelly (law enforcement skepticism about RAY family connections)  
- Chief Dale Slatter (law enforcement assessment of RAY family behavior)  

Key Locations:  
- Memphis, Tennessee (location of MLK assassination on April 4, 1968)  
- Springfield, Illinois (FBI contact for Robert Hood Strader)  
- Vandalia, Illinois (Cecil Ray’s residence and employment ties)  
- Joliet, Illinois (Richard Risley’s residence)  
- Madison County Court, Edwardsville, Illinois (Judith Pay’s legal complaint)  
- Virden, Illinois (Gilbert CECILLIRA’s employment at Crane Packing)  

Key Events:  
- Robert Hood Strader reported being shot at and threatened due to knowledge of MLK’s assassination.  
- Strader contacted FBI agents in Springfield for protection after allegedly overhearing a conversation about the murder in Memphis on April 4, 1968.  
- Cecil Ray’s wife, Judith Pay, filed a legal complaint against him in Madison County Court.  
- Larry Ray was jailed for threatening his wife and later released on bond.  
- Law enforcement officials expressed skepticism about the RAY family’s connections to criminal activity.  

Key Organizations:  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Illinois Department of Motor Vehicles (driver’s license records)  
- Madison County State Attorney’s Office  
- Crane Packing (employer of Gilbert CECILLIRA)  
- Local law enforcement agencies (e.g., Vandalia, Illinois; Mo. Bean County Sheriff’s Office)

MLK Declassified Files

44-si-561_sec_013_ser_576_only-part_5_of_5.pdf

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