Who Is James Earl Ray? Age, Biography and Wiki
James Earl Ray would be 97 years old in 2025 if he were still alive. He was born in a troubled economic climate in Alton, Illinois, to a family that struggled with poverty. Ray led a tumultuous life that included multiple run-ins with the law, ultimately culminating in his assassination of Dr. King on April 4, 1968. His actions and subsequent trial raised numerous questions and debates about justice, race, and the political climate of the 1960s in America.
| Occupation | Criminals |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | March 10, 1928 |
| Age | 70 Years |
| Birth Place | Alton, Illinois, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Pisces |
| Country | U.S |
| Date of death | 23 April, 1998 |
| Died Place | Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
Popularity
James Earl Ray's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Given his background, specific physical details about Ray during his life are often discussed. Ray stood approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall (1.73 m) and weighed around 160 pounds (72.5 kg) at the time of his arrest. Information about his weight fluctuations over the years is sparse, but such metrics often serve to humanize historical figures.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
James Earl Ray’s relationships were tumultuous. He had a complex family life, with several marriages and liaisons. Key relationships include his marriage to Anna Sandhu, which produced a child, as well as other significant relationships that contributed to the ups and downs of his life. Notably, his relationship status has sparked numerous conspiracy theories and controversies, including claims about his accomplices and motivations during the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
In February 1935, Ray's father, known by the nickname Great Dane, passed a bad check in Alton, Illinois, and then moved to Ewing, Missouri, where the family changed their name to Raynes to avoid law enforcement.
James Earl Ray was the oldest of nine children, including John Larry Ray, Franklin Ray, Jerry William Ray, Melba Ray, Carol Ray Pepper, Suzan Ray and Marjorie Ray. His sister Marjorie died in a fire as a young child in 1933. Ray left school at the age of 12. He later joined the U.S. Army at the close of World War II and served in Germany.
Ray struggled to adapt to military life and was eventually discharged for ineptitude and lack of adaptability in 1948.
Net Worth and Salary
Although specific figures regarding James Earl Ray's earnings and net worth during his lifetime are not popularly documented, it is widely understood that his notoriety led to various interviews and writings that aimed to capitalize on his infamy. After his conviction, any potential income from books or appearances was heavily scrutinized and mired in legal battles related to his crimes.
In 1998, and continuing into 1999, Pepper represented the King family in a wrongful death civil suit against Memphis restaurant owner Loyd Jowers, whose restaurant was near the Lorraine Motel. They sued Jowers for participation in a conspiracy to murder King.
Rendering their verdict on December 8 of that year, the jury found that Jowers and others, including government agencies, had conspired to murder King, and he was therefore legally liable to pay compensation to the King family.
The family accepted $100 (~$ in ) in restitution to demonstrate they were not pursuing the case for financial gain, and they publicly stated that Ray, in their opinion, had nothing to do with the assassination.
Career, Business and Investments
James Earl Ray's criminal career overshadowed any conventional job he might have had. Before becoming infamous as Dr. King's assassin, Ray had a history of petty crimes and served time in prison for burglary and armed robbery. His life behind bars did not significantly change, as he continued to fight his conviction, claiming innocence until his death. Thus, his focus remained on surviving the consequences of his past actions rather than pursuing traditional business or investment opportunities.
Ray was soon on the road again and drove his Mustang to Birmingham, Alabama. There, on March 30, 1968, he bought a Remington Model 760 Gamemaster .30-06-caliber rifle and a box of 20 cartridges from the Aeromarine Supply Company. He also bought a Redfield 2x–7x scope, which he had mounted to the rifle.
He told the store owners that he was going on a hunting trip with his brother. Ray had continued using the Galt alias after his stint in Mexico, but when he made this purchase, he gave his name as Harvey Lowmeyer.
Social Network
Given the nature of his criminal history, James Earl Ray had limited social networks. During his life, he often interacted with people from various backgrounds at different times, although most relationships were overshadowed by his notoriety. Discussions surrounding him often gain traction on social media platforms and forums for historical debates, mainly striking a chord during anniversaries of Dr. King's legacy or discussions about civil rights in America.
Huie investigated this story and discovered that Ray lied about some details. Ray told Huie that he purposely left the rifle with his fingerprints on it in plain sight at the crime scene because he wanted to become a famous criminal.
He was convinced that he would escape capture because of his intelligence and cunning, and he also believed that Governor of Alabama George Wallace would soon be elected to the presidency, so that Ray would only be confined in prison for a short time, pending a presidential pardon by Wallace.
Education
James Earl Ray's formal education was reportedly limited. Details on his schooling are scant, reflecting the troubled upbringing that characterized much of his early life. His lack of education has often been cited as a factor in his decision-making processes throughout his life, ultimately influencing his choices that led him to become an assassin.
Kershaw claimed the prison escape was additional proof that Ray had been involved in a conspiracy that had provided him with the outside assistance he would have needed to break out of prison. Kershaw convinced Ray to submit to a polygraph test as part of an interview with Playboy.
The magazine reported that the test results showed "Ray did, in fact, kill Martin Luther King Jr. and that he did so alone." Ray then fired Kershaw after discovering the attorney had been paid $11,000 (~$ in ) by the magazine in exchange for the interview and instead hired attorney Mark Lane to provide him with legal representation.
