</s>FD-302 (Rev. 1-23-60) FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION Date May 20, 1968 Mr. JERRY RAYNES advised on May 16, 1968, that except for his daughter, CAROL PEPPER, who visits him nearly every weekend, he has not been in contact with any member of his family since the recent visit from his two sons. He has been to visit the Chicago area and sons, and his family has done so, He has not seen nor near his two solders. He is not interested in the area and has been in the city of Chicago for a long time. his presence has been done so. He was not seen near his father, CAROL, who has visited the weekend possible daughter, he presures him has done the visit. He had not seen no near him from brings him such groceries and other necessities as he is needed by him to the week. For this reason, he seldom as ever leaves him the weekend. Mr. RAYNE'S stated that he did during the late summer or early 1960s 1967 had decided to leave St. Louis and his home he had been looking for a small acreage in a rural area. He came to see a real estate listing for a farm in Ralls county priced at $8000. As he decided to take a farm money his home at $800. He also decided to obtain a loan his property. He wanted to be able to obtain the Bank of America money Missouri, concerning the possibility of obtaining a loan to buy the property. During this discussion the banker had to buy it at a foreclosure sale at the Court House in New Missouri. At a foreclosure Sale at the Courthouse in New London, Missouri, and that the bank hoped to realize $3000 only the other person that the property he was able to buy only one other person did not have property to be sold to him it for $200. He used money obtained from the sale of his property in St. Louisville to buy this small farm on which he now property to buy his property to buy a small farm for $700 or his place he used a $1900 check from CAROL PEPPER and $700 for his own money, the $1900 checks from CARol PEPPER and 700 or his own Mr. RayNES stated that has no had no contact with the subject directly or indirectly since subject went to prison in 1960. Subject never wrote him and since his escape has not contacted Subject never written him and Since his escape have not Mr. rayNES stated as a matter of pure conjecture, since he had no actual knowledge that has a matter to own concerning the matter, it seemed to him that someone else has used subject in the KING case and that if this was so such individual would probably have killed subject following the murder. He Was of the opinion <loc_155><loc_772>that subject as an experienced criminal would know better than 5/16/68/68 5/6/68 <loc_152><loc_855>RFD Center, Missouri

The combined summary details FBI interviews with Jerry Raynes, his daughter Carol Pepper, and brother John Larry Ray in 1968 regarding James Earl Ray’s whereabouts following his escape from Missouri State Penitentiary in 1960. Raynes claimed no knowledge of Ray’s location but speculated someone else may have used him for a crime. Financial transactions involving Raynes’ property sale to Archie Robinson and a farm purchase are noted, with ambiguity about connections to James Earl Ray. Carol Pepper’s interactions with FBI agents and visits to family in Chicago are mentioned. John Larry Ray provided conflicting accounts of his brother’s prison activities and post-escape movements, including claims Ray discussed leaving the country or escaping. The FBI sought information on potential locations for James Earl Ray, with Raynes expressing fear of retaliation if his relationship to Ray became public. A separate summary describes an individual’s travel and financial activities, including interactions with JIM BRADY of Channel 2 in St. Louis, mailing postcards to sister SUSAN in Chicago from Windsor, Ontario, Canada, during trips through Detroit, New York City, San Francisco, Wyoming, San Diego, Tijuana, Mexico, and Washington, D.C. Financial details include deposits into bank accounts linked to a property sale by his father JERRY, with portions held by JOHN. The individual denied knowledge of local contacts in visited areas and referenced opening bank accounts with CAROL as an intermediary. A car parked at Grapevine Tavern in St. Louis (license CB1-627) is associated with JOHN LARRY RAY.  

Key People:  
- Jerry Raynes (father of James Earl Ray, subject of investigation)  
- Carol Pepper (daughter of Jerry Raynes, sister of John Ray)  
- John Larry Ray (brother of James Earl Ray, interviewed about prison interactions)  
- James Earl Ray (suspect in MLK’s assassination, escaped from prison in 1960)  
- JIM BRADY (media representative, Channel 2 St. Louis)  
- SUSAN (sister of the individual)  
- JOHN (financial associate)  
- CAROL (intermediary for financial transactions)  

Key Locations:  
- St. Louis, Missouri (Raynes’ residence, Grapevine Tavern)  
- Chicago, Illinois (Carol Pepper’s visits)  
- Windsor, Ontario, Canada (postcard mailing location)  
- Detroit, New York City, San Francisco, Wyoming, San Diego, Tijuana, Mexico, Washington, D.C. (travel destinations)  

Key Events:  
- FBI interviews with Jerry Raynes, Carol Pepper, and John Larry Ray in 1968  
- Financial transactions involving property sales, farm purchases, and bank accounts linked to James Earl Ray’s activities  
- Individual’s travel between Detroit, Windsor, New York City, San Francisco, Wyoming, San Diego, Tijuana, Mexico, and Washington, D.C.  
- Agreement to a television interview with JIM BRADY, mailing postcards to SUSAN in Chicago  
- Car parked at Grapevine Tavern (license CB1-627) associated with JOHN LARRY RAY  

Key Organizations:  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – conducted interviews and investigations into James Earl Ray’s movements  
- Channel 2 (St. Louis television station) – media interaction with JIM BRADY  
- Unspecified banking institutions – financial transactions involving property sales and account openings

MLK Declassified Files

44-sl-775_742351_06-01-part_5_of_5.pdf

Document Summary

Try AI Search