</s>FD 245 (REV. 413-60) H. S. Deaimment uf Zaaitir (MATERIAL MUST NOT BE REMOVED FROM OR ADDR? TO THIS FILED CLASSIFICATION NO. FEDERAL BUREAU 44.776 ENTIRE FILE REVIEWED FOR HISTORICAL of DO NOT DESTROY HISTORIAL VALUE DECLASSCIOCAT ON. NATIONAL ARCHIVES INVESTIGATION ALL INFORMATION OO. Bureau File Number 4/4-3186/ DAT: U/3/9/01-SPI.1.CUBY Volume Number: Speech 30 30 DO NOT ESTROY X DO NOT DESTROY HISTorical VALUE NATIONALARCHIVES See also Nos. Bub A Clued Detia - 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The document outlines an FBI investigation into James Earl Ray’s activities and connections during April–May 1968, focusing on his movements, associates, and potential links to criminal or subversive activities. It details efforts to trace Ray’s family members, including his father JERRY RAYNES, sister CAROL PEPPER, and brother-in-law ALBERT PEPPER, through telephone records, financial information from Manufacturers Bank in St. Louis, and interviews with individuals like JOHN EUGENE GAVRON, a retired veteran with incarceration history. The investigation includes inquiries into Ray’s alleged connections to drug operations, threats against Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and his fugitive status following escape from the Missouri State Penitentiary in April 1967. FBI checks also involved motel records, phone call logs, and military service reviews of Ray, including his U.S. Air Force tenure (1941–1945). The inquiry spans multiple locations, with St. Louis as a central hub for family residences and investigative activity.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray**: Suspect linked to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination; fugitive from Missouri State Penitentiary (April 1967); investigated for robbery charges and alleged threats against civil rights leaders.  
- **JERRY RAYNES**: Father of James Earl Ray; associated with telephone records tied to Center, Missouri.  
- **CAROL PEPPER**: Sister of James Earl Ray; operated Grapevine Tavern in St. Louis; uncooperative during FBI interviews.  
- **ALBERT PEPPER**: Brother-in-law of James Earl Ray; resided in St. Louis and had connections with JOHN EUGENE GAVRON.  
- **JOHN EUGENE GAVRON**: Retired veteran with incarceration history; reported interactions with Carol Pepper and Jerry Ray, noting Ray’s presence in St. Louis.  
- **ERIC STAVRO GALT, KARL GALT**: Individuals under investigation for potential ties to criminal or subversive activities.  
- **WALTER E. NOLAN**: Former close associate of James Earl Ray in prison; monitored for connections to Ray’s past.  

Key Locations  
- **St. Louis, Missouri**: Central to the investigation; includes residences of Carol Pepper and Albert Pepper, as well as the Grapevine Tavern.  
- **Center, Missouri**: Associated with JERRY RAYNES via telephone records.  
- **Los Angeles, California**: Mentioned in connection with a telephone booth inquiry at the St. Francis Hotel linked to A. COOK JR.  
- **Jefferson City, Missouri**: Site of the Missouri State Penitentiary where James Earl Ray was incarcerated before escaping in April 1967.  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Contextual location for motel checks and military records.  
- **Birmingham, Alabama**: Linked to the Browning rifle (caliber .243) associated with the investigation.  

Key Events  
- **April–May 1968**: FBI investigations into James Earl Ray’s movements, including hotel stays in St. Louis and interactions with associates like Carol Pepper and John Eugene Gavron.  
- **James Earl Ray’s escape from Missouri State Penitentiary (April 1967)**: Noted as a critical event influencing subsequent surveillance and inquiries.  
- **Military records review**: Examination of James Earl Ray’s Air Force service (1941–1945) and employment history, including his residence in Wood River, Missouri.  
- **Civil rights violations**: Documentation of Ray’s prior criminal activity, including threats against Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and liquor control law infractions.  
- **Telephone records analysis**: Inquiries into calls to locations in Missouri and Center, Missouri, linked to JERRY RAYNES and other family members.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted the investigation, including interviews, record checks, and surveillance on Ray and associates.  
- **U.S. Air Force**: Provided military service records for James Earl Ray.  
- **St. Louis Police Department**: Involved in neighborhood investigations and monitoring of Ray’s relatives.  
- **National Personnel Records Center**: Supplied military personnel records for review.  
- **Southwestern Bell Telephone Company**: Provided telephone records for investigative purposes.  
- **Manufacturers Bank, St. Louis, Missouri**: Source of financial information on Ray’s relatives.

MLK Declassified Files

44-sl-775_742351_03-01-part_1_of_9.pdf

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