
In this episode of History for Cocktail Parties, James Ottley and Thornton Kennedy examine the largest manhunt in American history—the pursuit of James Earl Ray, the assassin of Martin Luther King Jr. The hosts trace the events leading up to King’s assassination in Memphis, the FBI’s challenges in tracking Ray across international borders, and the racial and political tensions that shaped the investigation. From prison escapes to global chases, this story reveals the twists and turns behind a search for justice that gripped the world.