A disturbing new book is set to reopen old wounds before next month's 40th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. James Earl Ray, who died in 1998 at age 70, had recanted after just three days the confession that saved him from the death penalty. Now his brother, John Larry Ray, 75, claims that new documents offer forensic proof James was not the murderer.
"Martin Luther King Jr. was a man admired by millions, but my brother didn't kill him," John told us in an exclusive statement.
"I believe my brother was not only misused by conspirators within our government but also greatly misconstrued as a 'racist' and a 'murderer' by the media."
But his book, "The Truth at Last," might offer more for die-hard conspiracy theorists than historical scholars.
Co-written by Lyndon Barsten, it recounts conversations between the brothers — before the shooting — in which James feels he is being set up in a plot. It also draws a confusing map of alleged mind-control experiments perpetrated on him by the C.I.A.
Larry tells us: "James may be gone, but I have to continue his fight for justice and dignity before the ink dries on history."
A King family spokesperson was unavailable to comment.