James Earl Ray
James Earl Ray | |
|---|---|
 Mug shot of Ray taken in 1955 | |
| Born | March 10, 1928 |
| Died | April 23, 1998 (aged 70) |
| Cause of death | Kidney disease and Liver failure caused by Hepatitis C |
| Criminal status | Deceased |
| Spouse |
Anna Sandhu
(m. 1978; div. 1993) |
| Parent | James Gerald Ray |
| Conviction(s) | Murder, prison escape armed robbery, burglary |
| Criminal penalty | 99 years imprisonment (one year was added after his re-capture for a total of 100 years) |
James Earl Ray (March 10, 1928 – April 23, 1998) was the man who was convicted of murdering Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr on April 4, 1968.[1] He was sentenced to 99 years in prison.[2][3]
At first, Ray said that he had shot King, but later he claimed he hadn't done the crime.[4]
Conspiracy theories
[change | change source]There are multiple conspiracy theories surrounding King's assassination. Some believe that Ray's white supremacist views caused him to kill King.[5][6] Others believe Ray did the crime for his own personal ambition and financial gain.[5][6]
Many other conspiracies state that King's assassination was a government operation, including King's own family.[7] These theories claim that Ray is innocent.[8]
Early life
[change | change source]Ray was born in Alton, Illinois. He was convicted of burglary, robbery, theft and forgery during the 1950s.[3]
He escaped from prison in 1967.[9]
Death
[change | change source]He died in Nashville, Tennessee from liver failure caused by hepatitis C.[2]
Related pages
[change | change source]References
[change | change source]- ↑ "351. James Earl Ray". Federal Bureau of Investigation. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
- 1 2 "CNN - James Earl Ray, convicted King assassin, dies - April 23, 1998". edition.cnn.com. Archived from the original on 29 October 2006. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
- 1 2 "James Earl Ray | Facts, Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., & Conspiracy Theories | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2025-09-05. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
- ↑ "James Earl Ray Attempts to Throw Out His Previous Plea | Assassination and Murder Trials | Explore | Drawing Justice: The Art of Courtroom Illustration | Exhibitions at the Library of Congress | Library of Congress". Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
- 1 2 "James Earl Ray, suspect in Martin Luther King Jr. assassination, is arrested | June 8, 1968". HISTORY. 2009-11-24. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
- 1 2 "What We Know About Why James Earl Ray Killed Martin Luther King Jr". Library of Congress. Archived from the original on 2025-04-24. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
- ↑ Little, Becky (2018-04-04). "Why Martin Luther King's Family Believes James Earl Ray Was Not His Killer". HISTORY. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
- ↑ Pepper, William F. (2017-07-22). "Was James Earl Ray innocent?". Salon.com. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
- ↑ Crime Library
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