</s>FO-302 Rev. 4:15:54) FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION 1 Date: 1/27/68 LEO HOLDEN PARKER, No. 15251, Missouri State Penitentiary, received April 19, 1968, to serve 15 years for Armed Robbery-list said he was released on parole to Dismas House in St. Louis, Missouri, on June 1, 1967, after serving House in ST. Louis. Missouri, in June 1. 1967, and after serving July 18, 1967. He was having killed a boy and girl in robbery them of money and their car. The car was recovered on St.Louis, Missouri. He said that his crime was conducted on July 11, 1967 and and he said the crime was was conducted in July 11. 1967. Kidnapper had mentioned being recently escaped from prison and among other things that blue eyes. He has brown eyes. His said, while in jail, he talked to everyone that he could find out what while he was in jail. He had to be found out what be in prison at the St. Louisville Jail that James RAY was escaped. This was in September of 1967. The said that he said that JAMES RAY had been in St St. Louisiana was a car; he was using or pushing narcotics was all living and eating a car: a garage and had had narcotics was still living in a garage or had been his attorney to send for a photograph of RAY, but this was not done. PARKER said that when he not sees a photograph or ray, but his not until this last week when the pictures were published with him in newspapers were taken to the police department of another KING. He noted the close resemblance between him and RAY. He said said he thinks RAY is responsible for the crime for which thing he can to help locate RAY." PARKNER said a blow-up picture of him was used in his trial, but the picture had been touched up to remove facial scars. He noticed he had tattoos on his arms that would his trial was not allowed to be removed believed the victim had been influenced up to identify him by the St Louis Police. He claims he had a good alibi and by not commit the crime, but was convicted on his record and from biased testimony based on faulty identification of 4/26/68/61 4/27-68/01 Jefferson City, Missouri File #6. KC 44-760 SA ROWEN B. AYERS/r/1 Date dictated 4/24/68 by SA ROVEN B . AYRS/r1 Date dated<loc_569><loc_860><loc_659><loc_872><loc_569><loc_872>Date dictated. This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions nor conclusions of the FBI is the property of the Fbi in the FBI and is licensed to your agency. <loc_110><loc_893><loc_109><loc_904><loc_109><loc_904><loc_110><loc_893>it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency, 45

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigations into James Earl Ray’s activities while incarcerated at Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP), his escape on April 23, 1967, and subsequent inquiries into his movements and associations. Inmates provided accounts of Ray’s alleged crimes, including a 1967 robbery resulting in two deaths, his escape plan involving a bread box, and potential connections to organized groups or passport schemes. Financial records show money orders sent to Ray from various senders between 1963–1967. Psychological evaluations conducted in 1966 noted no mental illness but identified socio-personality traits. The FBI reviewed prison records, inmate statements, and financial transactions, though the text does not explicitly link Ray to Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination beyond his status as a suspect.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray** (suspect in MLK’s assassination; escaped from MSP on April 23, 1967)  
- **Leo Holden Parker** (inmate reporting Ray’s alleged 1967 robbery and physical traits)  
- **George Ben Edmondson** (inmate discussing Ray’s passport scheme and escape routes)  
- **John Kennedy Hurt** (inmate noting Ray’s financial ties to a Kansas City paper company)  
- **Dallad Johnson** (inmate detailing Ray’s bread box escape attempt)  
- **Cecil Clayton Lillibridge** (inmate describing Ray’s Mexico trips and anti-Black remarks)  
- **Julius Maurice Block** (inmate reporting Ray’s violent behavior and association with Bob Powell)  
- **Bob Powell** (alleged associate of Ray, linked to Roe Run, Missouri)  
- **Sterling J. Hill** (inmate who knew Ray; described him as a loner with escape plans)  
- **Lt. William Robert Turner** (provided details about Ray’s prison behavior and associations)  
- **Neal Edgar Aey** (inmate in Texas with connections to Ray through prison networks)  

Key Locations  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary (Jefferson City, Missouri)** (Ray’s incarceration site; escape occurred here)  
- **St. Louis, Missouri** (linked to Ray’s alleged crimes and prison interactions)  
- **Kansas City, Missouri** (connected to Ray’s paper company ties)  
- **Mexico** (mentioned as a potential hiding place for Ray)  
- **Roe Run, Missouri** (alleged destination for Ray per Bob Powell’s plan)  
- **Fulton State Hospital (Missouri)** (conducted psychological evaluations of Ray in 1966)  
- **Huntsville, Texas** (Neal Edgar Aey’s incarceration site)  

Key Events  
- **April 23, 1967**: James Earl Ray escaped from Missouri State Penitentiary.  
- **1967 Robbery**: Inmate Leo Holden Parker claimed Ray was involved in a robbery resulting in two deaths and car theft.  
- **Passport Scheme**: George Ben Edmondson detailed plans for obtaining a Canadian passport under an alias to evade authorities.  
- **Escape Attempt**: Dallad Johnson described Ray’s alleged use of a bread box to flee prison.  
- **Mexico Trips**: Cecil Clayton Lillibridge noted Ray’s purported trips to Mexico, including stays near Torreon and participation in armed robberies.  
- **Prison Violence**: Julius Maurice Block reported Ray’s violent behavior, including an unconfirmed stabbing incident involving another inmate.  
- **Psychological Evaluation (September 9, 1966)**: Conducted by Dr. D.D. Peterson; no mental illness diagnosed.  
- **Money Order Transactions (1963–1967)**: Financial records show payments to Ray from various senders, including family members and businesses.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted investigations into Ray’s activities, prison records, and financial transactions.  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary**: Managed Ray’s incarceration and provided cell assignments.  
- **Missouri State Highway Patrol**: Involved in verifying inmate movements and escape details.  
- **Division of Supervision of Paroles, Springfield, Illinois**: Mentioned in context of parole records for other inmates.

MLK Declassified Files

44-sl-775_742351_05-01-part_2_of_6.pdf

Document Summary

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