</s>FD. 245 (REV. 413-60) H. S. department of Justice (MATERIAL MUST NOT BE REMOVED FROM OR ADDED TO THIS FILE) CUSTOMIZED IN THE U.S.A. 44.775.7.5" FEDERAL BUREAU ENTIRE FILE REVIEWED of FOR HISTORICAL DECLASSIFICATION' INVESTIGATION ALL INF INFORMATION CONTAINED HERE IS UNCLASSLASHED DATE/I/O/BY/S/RICK Volume Number Securities Bureau File Number 47. 38961 DATEI/I /O/Y/B/Y S/R/C/K/CK See also Nos. Dak A. DO NOT DESIYY LORICAL VALUE NATIONAL ARCHIVES 10 Closed Section Dolana H.Bofof 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigations into James Earl Ray’s activities in 1967–1968, focusing on his escape from Missouri State Penitentiary on April 23, 1967, and his alleged involvement in the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, 1968. Ray, using the alias Eric Starvo Galt, was a fugitive with a criminal history involving burglary, robbery, and forgery. The FBI sought information about his whereabouts through interviews with family members, including Albert B. Pepper (Ray’s brother), Carol Pepper (his sister), and Jerry Ray (another sibling). Ray was linked to a 1966 Mustang found in Atlanta, Georgia, and had connections to St. Louis, Missouri, where he allegedly stayed at the Congress Airport Inn under the name James Ray. FBI agents noted similarities between Ray and a guest at the motel on April 18–19, 1968, and obtained a guest registration card for further investigation. Additional records include financial transactions involving John Leonardo of GMAC, details about a chattel mortgage signed by John Ray (possibly related to Jerry Ray), and interviews with family members suggesting no knowledge of Ray’s activities or his alleged involvement in the assassination.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray**: Fugitive accused of conspiring to assassinate Dr. King; escaped from Missouri State Penitentiary in 1967.  
- **Albert B. Pepper**: Brother of James Earl Ray; interviewed about his brother’s whereabouts and family connections.  
- **Carol Pepper**: Sister of James Earl Ray; married to Albert Pepper; stated she had never met her brother.  
- **Jerry Ray**: Brother of James Earl Ray, reportedly residing in Chicago, Illinois; subject of financial records and surveillance.  
- **Franklin "Buzzy" Ray**: Brother of James Earl Ray, killed in an automobile accident near Quincy, Illinois, around 1964.  
- **Melba Ray**: Sister of James Earl Ray; resides in Quincy, Illinois; has a history of mental retardation and hospitalization.  
- **John Leonardo**: Credit Manager at GMAC; provided details about a chattel mortgage signed by John Ray (possibly Jerry Ray).  
- **Carol Pepper**: Co-mortgagor in a chattel mortgage transaction involving a beer cooler.  
- **John Ray**: Brother of Jerry Ray; mentioned as a former inmate at Missouri State Penitentiary.  
- **JOHN LARRY RAY** (also known as JACK RAY): Claims to be brother of James Earl Ray; provided family details and financial records.  
- **James D. Dailey**: Interviewed regarding interactions with CREWS, an escapee from the Missouri State Penitentiary.  
- **Homer Townsley**: Informant involved in criminal activities with Junior Conway.  
- **John Paul Velanti**: Former inmate at Missouri State Penitentiary who described Ray’s behavior and prison interactions.  
- **Orville Ernest Gann**: Former inmate at Missouri State Penitentiary; later released to Dismas House; detailed his interactions with Ray.  
- **Walter W. Nolan**: Former inmate of Missouri State Penitentiary, claimed to be Ray’s closest associate but denied knowledge of any criminal plans.  
- **Jerry Raynes**: Relative of James Earl Ray; provided conflicting accounts about Ray’s early life and residences.  

Key Locations  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary (Jefferson City)**: Site of Ray’s escape in 1967 and incarceration of other individuals like John Paul Velanti, Orville Ernest Gann, and Walter W. Nolan.  
- **St. Louis, Missouri**: Home to the Congress Airport Inn where Ray allegedly stayed under the name James Ray; also residence for family members including Albert B. Pepper, Carol Pepper, Jerry Ray, and the Grapevine Bar owned by Carol Ann Pepper.  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Location of Dr. King’s assassination on April 4, 1968.  
- **Quincy, Illinois**: Home to Franklin "Buzzy" Ray and Melba Ray.  
- **Maplewood, Missouri**: Address associated with real estate transactions linked to Albert & Carol Pepper’s loan.  
- **Portageville, Missouri**: Where James D. Dailey operated his cafe and interacted with CREWS.  

Key Events  
- **April 23, 1967**: James Earl Ray escaped from Missouri State Penitentiary.  
- **April 4, 1968**: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee.  
- **April 18–20, 1968**: FBI agents interviewed staff at the Congress Airport Inn, noting a guest matching Ray’s description and obtaining a guest registration card for further investigation.  
- **May 1968**: FBI interviews with Jerry Ray and his brother John Ray regarding financial records, family interactions, and potential ties to James Earl Ray.  
- **Chattel mortgage transaction**: A beer cooler sold by Mike Burk at Frigid Sales, with John Ray as the buyer and Carol Pepper as co-mortgagor.  
- **Interviews with JOHN LARRY RAY and JOHN PAUL VELANTI**: Provided details about James Earl Ray’s family, financial activities, and prison behavior.  
- **Bank records of ALBERT & CAROL PEPPER**: Include deposits, withdrawals, and a real estate transaction for property in Maplewood.  
- **Interactions between DAILEY and CREWS**: Involving assistance to an escapee and subsequent criminal activity with TOWNSLEY and CONWAY.  
- **Prison records of VELANTI**: Detail his incarceration at the Missouri State Penitentiary and interactions with James Earl Ray.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted surveillance, interviews, and record checks as part of the investigation into Ray’s activities and alleged conspiracy against Dr. King.  
- **General Motors Acceptance Corporation (GMAC)**: Provided financial records related to the chattel mortgage.  
- **Manufacturers Banking and Trust Company**: Provided bank records for ALBERT & CAROL PEPPER.  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary**: Institution where Ray was incarcerated prior to his escape and where other individuals like Velanti, Gann, and Nolan were inmates.

MLK Declassified Files

44-sl-775_742351_05-02-part_1_of_6.pdf

Document Summary

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