</s>REC'D-ROSEN REC. 36 62-587-998 FEI NOV 4 1 57PH 68 NOT RECORDED 22 NOV 6 1968 33% 58 NOV 1 91968 11-17 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail two distinct investigations: one concerning a train collision involving Senator Robert F. Kennedy’s funeral procession on June 5, 1968, and another focusing on Pernell Ezzell, an individual under FBI surveillance for alleged instability and potential threats. The Grand Jury investigation into the train accident in Elizabeth, New Jersey, identified contributing factors such as inadequate crowd control, excessive speed limits, Secret Service helicopter interference, and communication disruptions. No gross negligence was found, but recommendations included improved coordination between public utilities and municipalities, stricter operational controls for chartered trains, and heightened safety measures for high-profile events. The FBI file on Pernell Ezzell highlights his financial struggles, debts, and volatile behavior, with Mrs. Fay Ezzell providing details about his alleged threats to creditors and potential suicide statements. Ezzell denied involvement in the murders of Martin Luther King Jr. and RFK during an August 1968 FBI interview in Shreveport, Louisiana, though he admitted heavy drinking, memory lapses, and travel between Florida, Los Angeles, and other locations. The FBI concluded Ezzell was considered armed and dangerous but found no direct evidence linking him to RFK’s assassination.  

Key People  
- **Robert F. Kennedy** (assassinated Senator; remains transported on the funeral train)  
- **Pernell Ezzell** (subject of FBI surveillance; described as unstable, alcoholic, and potentially dangerous)  
- **Mrs. Fay Ezzell** (wife of Pernell Ezzell; provided information about his financial issues and behavior)  
- **Wendell Ezell** (brother of Pernell Ezzell; mentioned in family background and communications)  
- **Frank Wetzel** (individual associated with Pernell Ezzell through employment and alleged conversations)  
- **Violet Alred** (identified as a girlfriend of Pernell Ezzell during trips to Los Angeles)  

Key Locations  
- **Elizabeth, New Jersey** (site of the train collision involving RFK’s remains)  
- **Shreveport, Louisiana** (location of FBI interview with Pernell Ezzell)  
- **Orlando, Florida** (residence and workplace of Pernell Ezzell; mentioned as a location for employment and travel)  
- **Los Angeles, California** (traveled to twice in 1968; rented cars and stayed at motels)  
- **Hope, Arkansas** (claimed to have pawned his revolver)  
- **Clinton, North Carolina** (linked to Pernell Ezzell’s family background)  
- **Fayetteville, North Carolina** (residence of Wendell Ezell)  

Key Events  
- **Train collision on June 5, 1968**, near Elizabeth, New Jersey; involved the funeral train carrying RFK’s remains and resulted in two fatalities.  
- **Grand Jury investigation** into the accident, citing factors such as inadequate crowd control, communication disruptions, and operational oversights.  
- **FBI surveillance of Pernell Ezzell**, including interviews and assessments of his financial instability, suicidal tendencies, and potential threats.  
- **August 27, 1968 FBI interview** with Pernell Ezzell in Shreveport, Louisiana, where he denied involvement in MLK Jr.’s murder or RFK’s assassination.  
- **Statements about Ezzell’s whereabouts**: He claimed inability to recall his location on the night of June 5, 1968, due to heavy drinking and memory lapses.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)** – conducted surveillance, interviews, and assessments of Pernell Ezzell.  
- **Penn-Central Company** – railroad involved in the train collision.  
- **New Jersey Public Utility Commission** – recommended regulatory changes following the Grand Jury investigation.  
- **Perdue Radio and Television Company** – former employer of Pernell Ezzell in Orlando, Florida.  
- **Associated Security Company** – mentioned as an employer where Ezzell worked as a security guard.

RFK Declassified Files

62-hq-587_sec_034_ser_984-1026-part_2_of_5.pdf

Document Summary

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