</s>FD 248 (REV 413.40) H. S. Department of Justice HAL-703 MATERIAL MUST NOT BE REMOVED FROM OR ADDED TO THIS FILED NO. NO. NO ., NO. 1/2/2013-FEDERAL BUREAU $7/52 FEDERAL BUREAU ENTIRE FILE REVIEWED FOR HISTORICAL OF ENTIRE FILESREVIEWED.COM ALL INFORMATION CONTAINER, HELIN IS UNGASSASSED DECLASSIFICATION DATY/FORDY S.S.R/L/A/B INVESTIGATION X DO NOT DESTROY HISTORICIAL VALUE Santile. Volume Number: 0.9 Theres 229 NATIONAL ARCHIVES DO NOT ESTROY: HSTORICAL VALUE, NATIONAL ACHIVES See also Nos. Dawson 4-5-68 WWW.10-32880 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The declassified documents from April 1968 detail FBI investigations into potential suspects and extremist groups linked to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK). Key figures include Eric Starvo Galt, a suspect whose identity remains unclear despite checks in military and Veterans Administration records; members of the Minutemen, a right-wing group active during the 1960s civil unrest; and other individuals such as John Powell, Frederick Dunston, Henry Bennett, Charles Runforn, and James Pouncey. The FBI tracked vehicles, surveilled suspects, and compiled witness accounts, including a composite sketch of the assassin. Administrative procedures emphasized standardized reporting for suspect tracking, with case files coordinated via airlines. No conclusive evidence was found in these records.  

Key People  
- **Frederick Dunston**: Suspect in North Carolina linked to a vehicle seen near MLK’s assassination site; monitored for potential involvement.  
- **Henry Bennett**: Associated with Dunston; both were under investigation.  
- **Charles Runforn**: Mentally ill man at St. Elizabeth Hospital (DC) who claimed knowledge of James Pouncey, a suspect in MLK’s murder.  
- **James Pouncey**: Suspected of involvement in MLK’s assassination; FBI efforts to locate him were unsuccessful.  
- **John Powell**: Troublemaker with a criminal record (B&E), linked to Ronnie Christenburger, who fled after a drunk driving incident.  
- **Cab Driver (Chicago)**: Made an incriminating remark about MLK’s assassination but was deemed unreliable by the FBI.  

Key Locations  
- **North Carolina**: Dunston and Bennett were tracked in Winston-Salem; their 1965 Ford vehicle was under investigation.  
- **Washington, D.C.**: Runforn attempted to deliver flowers to President Johnson at the White House but was denied entry.  
- **Chicago**: A cab driver made a cryptic comment about MLK’s assassination during a ride.  
- **Airports (Huntington, Dulles, Atlanta)**: Suspects were monitored for travel routes; packages and documents were sent via airlines for delivery to FBI offices.  

Key Events  
1. **Vehicle Surveillance**: The FBI tracked a 1965 Ford driven by Dunston in Winston-Salem, NC, linked to the assassination investigation.  
2. **Composite Sketch**: A composite photo of the assassin was circulated; witnesses reported seeing someone resembling the sketch near MLK’s death scene.  
3. **Runforn’s Claims**: Runforn alleged Pouncey had knowledge of MLK’s murder but refused to provide details without meeting President Johnson.  
4. **Cab Driver Statement**: A Chicago cab driver made an incriminating remark about MLK’s assassination, though the FBI dismissed it as speculative.  
5. **Administrative Procedures**: The FBI coordinated case file handling via airlines (e.g., American Airlines Flight 599) and emphasized standardized reporting for suspect tracking.  

Key Organizations  
- **FBI Field Offices**: WASHINGTON, MEMPHIS, CHICAGO, PITTSBURGH, and LOS ANGELES were involved in tracking suspects, coordinating travel routes, and handling case files.  
- **Airlines**: Eastern Airlines, TWA, and American Airlines were used to send packages and documents for delivery to FBI offices or suspects.

MLK Declassified Files

44-wfo-703_742153_09-03-part_1_of_5.pdf

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