</s>SI 44-561 cerning this individual come to her attention. The following physical description was obtained from observation and interview and comments made by Mrs. TYLER: Name: MELVINA TYLER Al aliases: "RUSTY" Address: Mrs. RAY M. TYLER 213 Franklin Street Address: Bartonville, Illinois Sex: Female Race: White Age: 40 Height: 50" Weight: 130 lbs. Hair: Red (shoulder length) Complexion: Fair, freckled Marital Status: Married (1960) Husband: Married, 1960) Husbands: RAY M. TAYLER Occupation: Previous addresses: Brick layer 408 Bryan Street Telephone number: Peoria, Illinois Peoria. Illinois Unlisted. Occupation : 697-0122 Waitress. - 133 - 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The document details investigative records related to individuals connected to Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, including physical descriptions, prison records, parole histories, and interviews with former inmates and associates. Key figures include James Laoma Owens, Andrew Wilson De Core, James Earl Ray, Kenneth D. Fosdyck, Dwight Rowes, Billy Ray King, Benny K. Pinkston, Vincent De Palma, Carl Rice, Allen Richard Thayer, Jerome J. Trares, and Robert L. Plunk. The investigation references prior threats against MLK, composite suspect drawings shared via media, and claims about individuals’ movements around the time of the assassination. Billy Ray King denied involvement, described his travel plans on the night of the murder, and admitted to prior arrests for assault and firearm possession. Other suspects included Allen Thayer, identified by police but with an alibi, and Robert Plunk, a Korean War veteran matching an artist’s sketch of the assassin.  

Key People  
- **James Laoma Owens**: White male, 27 years old, prison registry numbers 2028 (Illinois) and 989, last known address in St. Louis, Missouri.  
- **Andrew Wilson De Core** ("Blackie De Core"): Paroled multiple times from Menard Prison, Illinois; relatives include sisters Nancy Cosentino and Martha Buttitto, brother Anthony De Core, and niece George Rogers.  
- **James Earl Ray**: Former inmate at Pontiac State Penitentiary, Illinois; interviewed with Charles E. Ned and Norman Dean to confirm his presence.  
- **Kenneth D. Fosdyck**: Former inmate at Pontiac Prison, employed by Burrell Florists in Macomb, Illinois; described as 5'10", 155 pounds, black eyes.  
- **Dwight Rowes**: Former inmate at Pontiac Prison; last known residence in Green Rock, Illinois; wife Rose V. Jacabson noted he had not visited since MLK’s assassination.  
- **Billy Ray King**: White male, 25 years old, employed as a deck hand on the Mississippi River; claimed to have been in Memphis, Tennessee, around the time of MLK’s assassination.  
- **Benny K. Pinkston**: Mentioned for activities in Sikeston, Missouri, and Forest City, Arkansas, as a possible threat against MLK.  
- **Allen Richard Thayer**: Identified by Springfield Police as matching the assassin’s description but claimed to have been in Denver, Colorado, at the time of the murder; charged with defrauding an innkeeper.  
- **Jerome J. Trares**: U.S. Gypsum salesman who traveled to Memphis, Tennessee, around MLK’s assassination date but did not match suspect descriptions.  
- **Robert L. Plunk**: Korean War veteran with tuberculosis, described as matching an artist’s sketch of the assassin; resided in Tennessee.  

Key Locations  
- **Menard Prison, Illinois** (and its branches): Central to records about Andrew De Core and James Earl Ray.  
- **Pontiac State Penitentiary, Illinois**: Mentioned as a prison where several subjects were incarcerated, including James Earl Ray and Kenneth D. Fosdyck.  
- **St. Louis, Missouri**: Last known address for James Laoma Owens; location of the Baptist Rescue Mission linked to Andrew De Core’s parole.  
- **Macomb, Illinois**: Residence of Kenneth D. Fosdyck and Burrell Florists.  
- **Green Rock, Illinois**: Dwelling place of Dwight Rowes.  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Location of the Lorraine Motel where MLK was assassinated; Billy Ray King claimed to have been in the area.  
- **Quincy, Illinois**: Airport where Billy Ray King attempted to board a plane.  
- **St. Joseph, Louisiana**: Birthplace of Billy Ray King; residence in Lake Providence, Louisiana.  

Key Events  
- **Prison records and parole histories** for Andrew De Core, James Earl Ray, and others, including dates of incarceration, release, and transfers between facilities.  
- **Interviews with former inmates**: Conducted at Pontiac State Penitentiary to verify James Earl Ray’s presence and identify potential associates.  
- **Investigation into prior threats against MLK**: Mention of Benny K. Pinkston’s activities in Sikeston, Missouri, and Forest City, Arkansas.  
- **Composite drawings of suspects**: Shared via media (e.g., WEEK TV) to identify lookalikes like Carl Rice and Vincent De Palma.  
- **Billy Ray King’s travel claims**: Described taking a taxi to an airport in Quincy, Illinois, attempting to board a plane, then traveling by bus to Rock Island, Illinois.  
- **Anonymous tip about a white man in Arkansas** planning to assassinate MLK.  
- **Witness testimony**: Description of an individual observed on television resembling the assassin.  
- **Train passenger (Plunk)** matching an artist’s sketch of the killer, though his physical condition raised doubts about his ability to commit the crime.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted interviews, gathered physical descriptions, and tracked individuals linked to MLK’s assassination investigation.  
- **Illinois State Penitentiary** (Pontiac Branch): Central to records about inmates like James Earl Ray and Kenneth D. Fosdyck.  
- **Baptist Rescue Mission**: Linked to Andrew De Core’s parole history in St. Louis, Missouri.  
- **Burrell Florists**: Employed Kenneth D. Fosdyck in Macomb, Illinois.  
- **U.S. Gypsum**: Employer of Jerome J. Trares.

MLK Declassified Files

44-sl-775_742351_05-03-part_4_of_5.pdf

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