Alcatraz East’s ‘Burden of Proof: The Case Against James Earl Ray’ exhibit explores the life of assassin James Earl Ray, featuring a range of artifacts including his watch and personal items from his prison cell. It will also display handwritten calligraphy from Coretta Scott King, the wife of Martin Luther King, Jr. at the time of his assassination in 1968. The exhibit is included with general admission.
On July 21, 2025, the Trump Administration released previously classified records concerning the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. According to the records, King was assassinated shortly after 6 p.m. on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. The report identifies a single shooter, James Earl Ray, as responsible for the killing. At the time, Ray, a 40-year-old who was convicted armed robber, was an escapee from the Missouri State Penitentiary. He later pleaded guilty to the crime and was sentenced to 99 years in prison, although he subsequently recanted his plea and claimed innocence.
The government investigation indicates that the civil rights leader was killed with a single shot, fired from the bathroom window of a room rented by Ray, located near the hotel where Dr. Kingwas standing outside. Additionally, the report shows that Ray had purchased the rifle used in the assassination.