Lee Harvey Oswald experienced severe anxiety attacks in the days following the 13 April visit to his apartment of George de Mohrenschildt and his wife. The couple correctly suspected that Oswald had tried to kill Edwin Walker. Concerned that the De Mohrenschildt’s might report what they knew to the FBI or the police, Marina convinced Oswald that they should flee Dallas.
They decided on New Orleans. It was Oswald’s home town and he had family there who might help him. They agreed that Oswald would go first, taking the incriminating rifle with him. Marina and the baby would follow once he had a job and a place for them to live.
On 24 April, Ruth Paine, a kind hearted acquaintance who will come to play a significant role in the assassination drama, dropped by the Neely Street apartment for a prearranged visit. To Ruth’s surprise, Oswald was there and asked her to drive him and all of his belongings to the bus station. He was leaving on an overnight bus for New Orleans, arriving the morning of 25 April. He said Marina and their baby daughter would remain at Neely street until he got settled.
Ruth proposed that they stay at her home in Irving instead. She would also drive them to New Orleans once Oswald was settled. That way he could save the money for rent and their bus fare. Oswald happily agreed.
Truth be told, Ruth was terribly worried about Marina who she knew was pregnant with the couple’s second child. Ruth did not trust Oswald and feared he might abandon Marina.