</s>Case Number: 80-SD-61835 SUB II Serial(s): 52 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

The FBI’s 2000 investigation into allegations surrounding Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination concluded that neither Lloyd Jowers nor Donald Wilson provided credible evidence of conspiracy beyond James Earl Ray’s involvement. The report analyzed Jowers’ claims of a Mafia-police-Raoul conspiracy, Wilson’s alleged discovery of documents linking Ray to JFK assassination ties, and the identity of Raoul. Both accounts were deemed inconsistent, unsubstantiated, and lacking physical or documentary corroboration. Earlier investigations (1977, 1979, 1998) similarly found no evidence supporting alternative conspiracies. The FBI reaffirmed Ray’s conviction as valid, with no credible proof of additional participants in the assassination.  

The document outlines the conclusions of an FBI investigation into allegations surrounding the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., focusing on claims by Lloyd Jowers and Donald Wilson. The FBI determined that Jowers’ assertions about conspiring to kill King from behind Jim’s Grill lack credible evidence, with contradictions in his account and inconsistencies undermining his credibility. Similarly, Donald Wilson’s claim about retrieving documents from Ray’s abandoned car was deemed unreliable due to his inconsistent behavior and the absence of corroborating evidence. The investigation also concluded that "Raoul," a figure central to both Jowers’ and Wilson’s allegations, is likely a fabrication created by James Earl Ray. No credible evidence supports conspiracy theories involving Raoul or other alleged co-conspirators. The FBI found no justification for further federal investigation into these claims after 30 years of review, emphasizing that past judicial determinations regarding James Earl Ray’s involvement remain unchallenged.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray**: Convicted of assassinating Dr. King in 1969; later claimed he was framed by a man named Raoul.  
- **Lloyd Jowers**: Former Memphis tavern owner who alleged involvement in a conspiracy to kill King, including Mafia, police, and Raoul. His accounts were inconsistent and lacked evidence.  
- **Donald Wilson**: Former FBI agent who claimed to have found documents in Ray’s car suggesting ties to JFK assassination and conspiracies involving Raoul. His claims were deemed unreliable due to contradictions and lack of verification.  
- **Raoul**: A name central to both Jowers’ and Wilson’s allegations, with no credible evidence confirming his existence or role in the assassination.  
- **Earl Jones**: Evaluated Wilson’s allegations but failed to corroborate them, further undermining Wilson’s claims.  

Key Locations  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Site of King’s assassination; Jowers operated a tavern (Jim’s Grill) near the location.  
- **Atlanta, Georgia**: Where Ray’s Ford Mustang was abandoned after the assassination; Wilson claimed to have found documents there.  
- **Dallas, Texas**: Reference to JFK assassination-related documents found by Wilson in Ray’s car.  
- **Shelby County, Tennessee**: Reference to the House Select Committee on Assassination’s suggestion regarding Ray’s family members.  

Key Events  
- **April 4, 1968**: Dr. King assassinated in Memphis while standing on a balcony of the Lorraine Motel.  
- **December 1993**: Jowers first publicly claimed involvement in a conspiracy to kill King.  
- **March 1998**: Wilson revealed he had concealed documents from Ray’s car, alleging ties to JFK assassination and conspiracies.  
- **1977–1998**: Multiple official investigations (FBI, congressional, Shelby County) found no credible evidence of conspiracy beyond Ray’s involvement.  
- **FBI investigation concluded that Jowers and Wilson’s allegations lack credible evidence**.  
- **Review of 30 years of speculation about Raoul’s identity confirmed no involvement in the assassination**.  
- **Evaluation of all additional allegations, including those from the House Select Committee on Assassination, found insufficient leads for further inquiry**.  
- **Final determination that past judicial findings regarding James Earl Ray’s guilt remain valid without new evidence**.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted the 2000 investigation into Jowers’ and Wilson’s claims; reviewed historical records and documents.  
- **United States Department of Justice**: Oversaw the investigation, including coordination with the Civil Rights Division and Criminal Division.  
- **Shelby County, Tennessee District Attorney’s Office**: Completed a four-year review of Jowers’ allegations in 1998, finding no credible evidence.  
- **Senate Committee on Assassinations (HSCA)**: 1979 congressional investigation that concluded Ray was likely the sole assassin but noted possible bounty offers for his murder.  
- **House Select Committee on Assassination**: Suggested investigating Ray’s family members, but no further action was warranted due to lack of evidence.

MLK Declassified Files

80-sd-61835-11_sec_000_ser_52.pdf

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