1977 – James Earl Ray Escapes from Prison

On June 10, 1977, James Earl Ray, the convicted assassin of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., escaped from Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary in Tennessee along with six other inmates. His escape triggered a massive manhunt, and he was recaptured three days later. The escape raised questions about security measures and reignited public conversation about the circumstances of King’s assassination. Many in the Black community already doubted the official version of events, and Ray’s escape intensified suspicions. The King family would later advocate for reopening the investigation into MLK’s murder. Though Ray claimed he was a scapegoat, he remained in prison until his death in 1998. The June 10 escape remains a controversial moment in the legal history surrounding King\’s death.