James Earl Ray

James Earl Rays birth

Mar 10, 1928

James parents were Lucille and George Ellis

James went to jail

1949

Ray arrested for first time on a burglary charge in California, serves three months.

MLK death

Apr 4, 1968

Martin Luther King Jr. is assassinated on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis.

James got arrested

Jun 8, 1968

Ray is arrested at London's Heathrow Airport.

James pledges guilty

Mar 10, 1969

Ray pleads guilty to murdering King and is sentenced to 99 years in prison.

Dexton

1997

In a meeting, Ray tells King's son Dexter that he did not kill the civil rights leader. King says he believes Ray.

James dealth

Apr 23, 1997

James Earl Ray dies of cirrhosis of the liver at age 70 in a Nashville prison facility.

James liver transplant

May 24, 1997

Prison officials reject Ray's request to be evaluated at a Pittsburgh hospital as a liver transplant recipient.

Liver Transplant

Jun 9, 1997

Davidson County Chancellor Irvin Kilcrease rules that state law does not permit Ray to be sent out of state to be evaluated for a liver transplant.