4/9: Mirror Games And Buried Underwear; Deciphering The Rituals And Sex Networks Of MLK Assassin’s Los Angeles Circle
A series of buried FBI field reports reveal James Earl Ray’s Los Angeles social orbit was shaped by overlapping sexual, psychological, and coded behaviors, forming an ecosystem far more ritualistic and manipulative than previously known.
In multiple interviews dated March to May 1968, witnesses described acts involving sexual stimulation through mirrors, trance states, and underground prostitution networks -- not as isolated oddities, but as embedded practices within Ray’s alias-driven community under the name Eric S. Galt.
Charles Stein, an associate of Galt in early 1968, admitted to burying women’s underwear in his backyard while in trance-like states.
FBI agents wrote that he described these events as “sensory contact with nature” and asked a woman to remove her pants before burial. No psychiatric referral was filed.
Rita Stein, Charles’s wife, described ceiling mirrors being installed “for the purpose of freaking out during sexual intercourse.”
The term appeared repeatedly across statements and was left unexplained in FBI commentary. The same phrase appears in two other reports describing behavior by other persons of interest in the same network.
One internal note reads, subject indicated mirrors were for 'freaking out' and sexual vision expansion, not ordinary decorative use. Room had red lights, mirror above bed, and music. No photos taken.
Marie Martin, a key link to Ray in LA, denied working as a prostitute but confirmed that bartenders and bellboys frequently served as liaisons between sex workers and new clients. She also referenced a contact-sharing culture among cocktail waitresses and entertainers.
Martin described Ginger Day and Anita Katzwinkel -- names found handwritten in Ray’s belongings -- as names she recognised but could not explain. No further follow-up is documented.
The FBI also pursued a lead involving a photo booth payphone behind the Stein residence that had the word MIMI etched into its base -- possibly a code or alias. Martin denied ever using the name, but agents noted multiple long-distance calls had been made from the booth during Ray’s confirmed LA period. The recipients of the calls were redacted.
One memo reads, repeated long-distance activity from booth behind 7201 Franklin, tagged with ‘MIMI.’ Subject denies alias but witness connects to 'Marie.'
The same phone booth was referenced in a separate 302 report stating it had been used by ‘Galt’ for brief, coded calls to a person in New Orleans. The content of these calls was not transcribed but appeared in logs as collect calls charged to Rita Stein.
Rita Stein herself appeared to operate under two registered aliases: RODE and ROSAS. When questioned why her utility and telephone bills were under separate names, she responded that she had her reasons and declined to elaborate.
The convergence of sexual behavior, psychological manipulation, and coded identities raises questions about the environment in which he operated. A 1967 visit by Ray to a psychologist in Los Angeles to work on social confidence was noted in one document but not entered into official court exhibits.
Another file notes, subject said he was learning to relax and become less shy. Also used ceiling mirrors, incense, and candles in living quarters. Possibly coordinated behavioral shaping.
Though no report confirms direct participation in sexual rituals by Ray himself, the consistent proximity to coded behaviors, escort-linked environments, and individuals with memory lapses or alias confusion suggests deeper exposure to manipulation techniques.
One of the few undisputed sightings places Ray (as Galt) attending strip clubs in New Orleans. He was evasive about his companions there.
FBI agents observed: subject admits strip joints but 'does not name friends nor recalls club names.' Pattern of evasion.
Despite these findings, most official timelines and congressional reviews made no mention of ritualistic or psychological elements.
The documents reviewed here were never entered into public hearings or House Select Committee archives. They were located in internal FBI correspondence marked as non-pertinent.