</s>FD-245 (REV. 4:13:60) H. S. Department of Justice (MATERIAL MUST NOT BE REMOVED FROM OR ADDED TO THIS FILED 44-703 DO NOT DESTROY . PENDING LITIGATION 5242 7/2 W MFO 5222 1871 W.M.W.WILLIAM.H.MANTY-HARMONY-LITICATION FEDERAL BUREAU ENTIRE FILE REVIEWED of FOR HISTORICAL DECLASSIFICATION INVESTIGATION Volume Number: Bureau File Number 4/4-388.61. Sertile: 3/3 73 7/3 7/4 7/8 7/11 CLASSIFIED INCORPORATIONCORD 1 See also Nos. CO NOT DESTRY, HISTOCIAL VALUE, N.T.GAL ARCHIVES C Dana J.K.8.8 WWW.MAILER 10-37972 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary: The documents detail FBI investigative activities related to James Earl Ray, a suspect in the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., from April 24 to May 1, 1968. Key actions include transmitting photographs of Ray taken at Missouri State Penitentiary in January 1966, noting his residence in Hollywood, Los Angeles, between November 1967 and March 1968, and tracking a black-and-white half-ton Chevrolet pickup truck associated with Ray. The FBI also investigated phone calls from telephones linked to the St. Francis Hotel in Los Angeles, including a toll call placed on March 2, 1968, and efforts to locate individuals who may have had contact with Ray. A man named Peter Holden was identified as having called about a truck stored at Colonial Parking, Inc., which was later connected to Ray's movements. The FBI received reports from retired Navy officer John Gruver suggesting Ray might be in Australia, prompting inquiries with authorities there. Administrative details include case costs, personnel hours, and telegraphic communications between FBI offices.  

Key People:  
- James Earl Ray (suspect in MLK assassination)  
- Walter Terry Rife (interviewed by FBI)  
- Peter Holden (individual associated with truck tracking)  
- John Gruver (retired Navy officer reporting on Ray's possible location)  
- Richard Kolat (guest at Recency Congress Inn, linked to Ray via photo comparison)  

Key Locations:  
- Missouri State Penitentiary (Ray’s photograph taken in January 1966)  
- Hollywood, Los Angeles (Ray’s residence from November 1967 to March 1968)  
- St. Francis Hotel, Los Angeles (telephone booth linked to Ray’s activities)  
- Colonial Parking, Inc., Washington, D.C. (truck storage and tracking)  
- Sydney, Australia (reported possible location of Ray per Gruver’s claims)  

Key Events:  
- Transmission of Ray’s photographs to FBI offices for identification purposes  
- Investigation into phone calls from telephones at the St. Francis Hotel, Los Angeles  
- Tracking of a black-and-white Chevrolet pickup truck associated with Ray’s movements  
- FBI efforts to locate individuals (e.g., Holden, Kolat) who may have had contact with Ray  
- Reports suggesting Ray might be in Australia, prompting coordination with Australian authorities  

Key Organizations:  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- U.S. Postal Inspection Service (mentioned in context of record-keeping)  
- Colonial Parking, Inc. (truck storage facility)  
- U.S. Post Office Department (record-keeping on Ray’s conviction)

MLK Declassified Files

44-wfo-703_742153_09-02-part_1_of_5.pdf

Document Summary

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