James Earl Ray got life.
Prior to his arrest, he fled to Canada, and flew overseas, ending up in London. He had a second passport on him. Who financed it all?
Ray pled guilty, avoiding a trial. All a little too easy for my liking. Three days after his sentence, he tried to recant his plea, but it was refused. He also escaped from prison temporarily, as he had during other prison sentences, and died in prison. Because he murdered a prominent black man, there was no way he'd ever get parole, and I'm surprised he remained alive behind bars for as long as he did. Obviously he wasn't in Special Housing, or he wouldn't have been able to plan the escape with those who went with him. Back when he was sentenced in 1969, there was still such a thing as a life sentence. Perhaps I should have specifically said in today's world there is no such thing as a life sentence. Even John Hinckley, Jr. is back out walking the streets, and that's only because he was considered mentally ill. You can't keep looneys locked up, because it's not a crime to be nuts. I worked 25 years in uniform in NY State's prison system. Because of overuse of plea deals, nobody does the time today for the "actual" crimes they've committed.