Remembering History: James Earl Ray (1928-1998) was convicted of shooting and killing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis in 1969. Ray fled the US after the assassination and was eventually caught in London. He pleaded guilty to the murder and received a 99-year sentence. He later withdrew his confession and escaped from prison in 1977 but was caught three days later. He died in prison in 1998. His ashes were taken to Ireland because he didn’t want to be buried in the U.S.

James Earl Ray (1928-1998) was convicted of shooting and killing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis in 1969. Ray fled the US after the assassination and was eventually caught in London. He pleaded guilty to the murder and received a 99-year sentence. He later withdrew his confession and escaped from prison in 1977 but was caught three days later. He died in prison in 1998. His ashes were taken to Ireland because he didn’t want to be buried in the U.S.

James Earl Ray (1928-1998) was convicted of shooting and killing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis in 1969. Ray fled the US after the assassination and was eventually caught in London. He pleaded guilty to the murder and received a 99-year sentence. He later withdrew his confession and escaped from prison in 1977 but was caught three days later. He died in prison in 1998. His ashes were taken to Ireland because he didn’t want to be buried in the U.S.