</s>300 FU-248 (REV) 4:18:60) H. S. Department of Justice (MATERIAL MUST NOT BE REMOVED FROM OR ADDED TO THIS FILE) CUSTOMER INK. DO NOT DESTROY HISTORICAL VALUE HATIONAL ARCHIVES FEDERAL BUREAU 44-175 ENTIRE FILE REVIEWED FOR HISTORICIAL DECLASSIFICATION of INVESTIGATION Bureau File Number 44-3881 Volume Number Satellite Bureau file Number 44.3881/1 -1-1 ATL. FORMATICATION, INC. AGREEN: S. S ., S.S. S, S, C. S-S, S-C. S/S, C-S.S, E-S DATE: 11/30/01, S/C.S/C-S/S/E/C/S.C/F/E See also Nos. ochre Vol. -1/1/2/1-2/2-1.1/3/4/2.1.2/4.2-3/5/6/7/8/9/10/11/12/13/14/15/16/17/18/19/20/21/22/23/24/25/26/27/28/29/30 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigations into the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., focusing on James Earl Ray’s criminal history, escape from Missouri State Penitentiary in 1967, and efforts to locate him as a suspect. Ray, identified as Eric Starvo Galt, had a lengthy arrest record dating back to 1949, including burglary, armed robbery, and forgery convictions. FBI agents conducted searches for Ray, interviewed family members such as Jerry Raynes (his brother) and Walter Rife (a fellow inmate), and sought information on his whereabouts. The documents also mention efforts to verify the death of Ray’s paternal uncle, Earl Ray, and discrepancies in family records. Agents warned that Ray was armed and dangerous. Additional reports from April–May 1968 describe surveillance activities in St. Louis, Missouri, where Mrs. Sara Durant identified a man matching Ray’s description at a rooming house. Investigations included tracking J.D. Daily (a gambler linked to Ray), Donald Cameron Gaulk, Ronald Willard Spivey (a gun collector), and Jerry Raynes (described as Ray’s father). Military records checks, witness interviews, and coordination between FBI field offices in St. Louis, Memphis, and Chicago were central to the efforts to locate Ray and assess his potential involvement in the assassination.  

Key People  
- James Earl Ray (identified as Eric Starvo Galt)  
- Jerry Raynes (Ray’s brother)  
- Walter Rife (fellow inmate)  
- Edgar Hoover (FBI Director)  
- J.D. Daily (gambler associated with Ray)  
- Donald Cameron Gaulk  
- Ronald Willard Spivey (gun collector)  
- Harold Maiden (neighbor of Jerry Raynes)  
- Harry Schneider (informant)  
- Albert J. Rushing (informant)  

Key Locations  
- Missouri State Penitentiary (Jefferson City, Missouri)  
- St. Louis, Missouri (rooming house, FBI offices)  
- Memphis, Tennessee (FBI SAC office)  
- Portageville, Missouri (Daily’s residence)  
- New Orleans, Louisiana (dance studios, witness interviews)  
- Chicago, Illinois (FBI division involved in investigation)  
- New Market Hardware Store (St. Louis)  

Key Events  
- Ray’s escape from Missouri State Penitentiary in 1967  
- FBI investigation into MLK’s assassination and Ray’s potential involvement  
- Surveillance of Ray in St. Louis, including identification by Mrs. Durant  
- Interviews with witnesses and neighbors to locate J.D. Daily and Jerry Raynes  
- Military records checks for Ronald Willard Spivey  
- Coordination between FBI field offices (St. Louis, Memphis, Chicago) on suspect tracking  
- Efforts to verify connections between suspects and MLK assassination  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Missouri State Penitentiary  
- Local law enforcement agencies in St. Louis and surrounding areas  
- Special Agent in Charge (SAC) offices in St. Louis, Memphis, and Chicago  
- American Hotel Registrar Co.  
- New Market Hardware Store  
- U.S. Department of Justice

MLK Declassified Files

44-sl-775_742351_02-01-part_1_of_6.pdf

Document Summary

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