In 1967, Ray escaped from the Missouri State Penitentiary and was a fugitive at the time of Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination.

Ray's life on the run began with a prison escape in April 1967. For over a year, he evaded capture by moving across states and even internationally. His fugitive status placed him under significant stress and shaped his actions leading up to the assassination. His ability to travel undetected for months illustrates both his desperation and cunning. His arrest in London in June 1968 marked the end of this flight.