</s>SI 44-561 On 6/9/55 MELBA MARIE RYAN was committed to the Jacksonville State Hospital, Jacksonville, Illinois, and custody of RYN taken from GEORGE PARSONS and given to the Illinois Fire Department on June 6, 2006. Judge SCHOLZ. that apparently at that time HELBA MARIA RYan had attempted to set fire to the PARSONS' home. He stated that this had been kept quiet by PARSONs and was not known generally. He advised that LUCILE RYANN had worked as a prostitute during most of her life and that the area around 214 Spring Street was an area infested by houses of prostitution at the time of the RY/N/RAY family lived in that area. He started that there had been tetimony that LUCILE Ryan had attempted to solicit prostitution dates for herself in a tavern On 8/6/57 MELBAA MARIE RVAN was granted a discharge from the Jacksonville State Hospital. On 10/24/57 custody of FRANKLIN RYANA and SUSAN RYAN was given to the Catholic Charities of Springfield, Illinois. - 34 - 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail an FBI investigation into JAMES EARL RAY (FBI #306443a) as a suspect linked to the assassination of MARTIN LUTHER KING. The investigation, conducted between April and May 1968, involved interviews with RUBY CARPENTER, who provided information about her family’s connections to RAY, including her ex-husband JAMES GERALD RAY (also known as JERRY RAY) and their son JAMES EARL RAY. RAY was described as having a criminal record, including incarceration at Menard State Penitentiary for assault-related charges. The FBI sought information about RAY’s whereabouts, activities, and potential ties to the assassination. Ruby Carpenter also mentioned her contact with MELBA MARIE RYAN (RAY’s sister) and other family members, noting that some had moved to Missouri or Chicago. The investigation included surveillance of Carpenter’s residence in Quincy, Illinois, and inquiries into RAY’s alleged trip to Mexico around 1959–1960.  

Key People  
- **JAMES EARL RAY**: Suspect linked to the assassination of MLK; described as having a criminal record, including incarceration at Menard State Penitentiary for assault charges.  
- **RUBY CARPENTER**: Provided information about her family’s connections to JAMES EARL RAY and their activities.  
- **JAMES GERALD RAY** (also known as JERRY RAY): Carpenter’s ex-husband; described as a car salesman who later resided on a farm in Missouri.  
- **MELBA MARIE RYAN**: Sister of JAMES EARL RAY; mentioned as having no information about his whereabouts.  
- **EARL EVERETT RAY** (uncle of JAMES EARL RAY): Had a criminal record, including assault charges and incarceration at Menard State Penitentiary in the 1920s–1930s and 1948–1955.  
- **WILLIAM E. MAHER** (uncle of JAMES EARL RAY): Located in Alton, Illinois, on April 22, 1968; stated RAY worked at a shoe tannery in Hartford, Illinois, and associated with pro-Nazi individuals.  

Key Locations  
- **Quincy, Illinois**: Home of RUBY CARPENTER and her family; site of FBI surveillance and interviews.  
- **St. Louis, Missouri**: Where JAMES EARL RAY was reportedly incarcerated at the Missouri State Penitentiary.  
- **Menard State Penitentiary, Illinois**: Site of incarceration for JAMES GERALD RAY and EARL EVERETT RAY.  
- **Mexico**: Mentioned as a location where JAMES EARL RAY allegedly traveled in 1959–1960.  
- **Alton, Illinois**: Residence of WILLIAM E. MAHER; site of surveillance from May 2–14, 1968.  

Key Events  
- **FBI interviews with RUBY CARPENTER** (April–May 1968): Focused on her family’s connections to JAMES EARL RAY and his potential involvement in the MLK assassination.  
- **Surveillance of Carpenter’s residence**: Conducted by FBI agents from May 1, 1963, through May 10, 1968, with no visitors observed.  
- **Incarceration records**: Mentioned for JAMES GERALD RAY and EARL EVERETT RAY, including assault charges and prior convictions.  
- **Alleged trip to Mexico**: Reported by Carpenter as part of JAMES EARL RAY’s activities in 1959–1960.  
- **Surveillance of William Maher’s residence** (May 1968): Found no unusual activity.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted the investigation into JAMES EARL RAY and his family.  
- **Illinois State Board of Probation and Parole**: Provided information on EARL EVERETT RAY’s criminal record.  
- **Quincy, Illinois Police Department**: Assisted in surveillance and reporting on Carpenter’s residence.  
- **CB & Q Railroad**: Reviewed employment files for EARL EVERETT RAY’s uncle.  
- **C & B Railroad**: Mentioned in employment history of EARL EVERETT RAY.

MLK Declassified Files

44-sl-775_742351_05-03-part_2_of_5.pdf

Document Summary

Try AI Search