Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2011 20:00:00 GMT 10
D. B. Cooper is the name popularly used to refer to an unidentified man who hijacked a Boeing 727 aircraft in the airspace between Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington, USA on November 24, 1971. He extorted $200,000[1] in ransom and parachuted to an uncertain fate. Despite an extensive manhunt and an exhaustive (and ongoing) FBI investigation, the perpetrator has never been located or positively identified. To date, the case remains the only unsolved airline hijacking in American aviation history.
The suspect purchased his airline ticket under the alias Dan Cooper, but due to a news media miscommunication he became known in popular lore as "D. B. Cooper." Hundreds of leads have been pursued in the ensuing years but no conclusive evidence has ever surfaced regarding Cooper's true identity or whereabouts, and the bulk of the ransom money has never been recovered. Numerous theories of widely varying plausibility have been proposed by experts, reporters, and amateur enthusiasts
While FBI investigators have insisted from the beginning that Cooper probably did not survive his risky jump,[6] the agency maintains an active case file—which has grown to more than 60 volumes[7]—and continues to solicit creative ideas and new leads from the public. "Maybe a hydrologist can use the latest technology to trace the $5,800 in ransom money found in 1980 to where Cooper landed upstream," suggested Special Agent Larry Carr, leader of the investigation team since 2006. "Or maybe someone just remembers that odd uncle."
The suspect purchased his airline ticket under the alias Dan Cooper, but due to a news media miscommunication he became known in popular lore as "D. B. Cooper." Hundreds of leads have been pursued in the ensuing years but no conclusive evidence has ever surfaced regarding Cooper's true identity or whereabouts, and the bulk of the ransom money has never been recovered. Numerous theories of widely varying plausibility have been proposed by experts, reporters, and amateur enthusiasts
While FBI investigators have insisted from the beginning that Cooper probably did not survive his risky jump,[6] the agency maintains an active case file—which has grown to more than 60 volumes[7]—and continues to solicit creative ideas and new leads from the public. "Maybe a hydrologist can use the latest technology to trace the $5,800 in ransom money found in 1980 to where Cooper landed upstream," suggested Special Agent Larry Carr, leader of the investigation team since 2006. "Or maybe someone just remembers that odd uncle."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D._B._Cooper
Breakthrough in search for famous hijacker
PETE YOST AND MIKE BAKER Last updated 12:10 02/08/2011
The FBI says it has a "credible" lead in the DB Cooper case involving the 1971 hijacking of a passenger jet over Washington state and the suspect's legendary parachute escape.
The fate and identity of the hijacker dubbed "DB Cooper" has remained a mystery in the 40 years since a man jumped from a Northwest Orient Airlines 727 flight with $US200,000 in ransom.
Cooper has never been found.
FBI agent Fred Gutt said today (NZ time) the bureau is following up a "credible" lead in the unsolved case and is focused on a suspect who died more than 10 years ago.
Gutt said the bureau received a tip from a retired law enforcement source about the dead man possibly being Cooper. FBI agents requested personal effects of the possible suspect, who died of natural causes.
The FBI is trying to find fingerprints or DNA on the dead man's effects to compare with items the hijacker left behind. The FBI said three years ago that it found DNA evidence on the clip-on tie Cooper left on the plane before he jumped.
Gutt said the FBI has already tested one item of the dead man's belongings for fingerprints. It was not conclusive. They are now working with surviving family members to gather other items for further testing.
The suspect is someone who has not been previously investigated, and Gutt said initial vetting supported the belief of the tipster. But he cautioned that the new lead may not pan out and that investigators were still pursuing other possibilities.
"Maybe this is just someone else who just happened to look like him and whose life story just kind of paralleled," Gutt said.
Gutt said the new lead is also promising because of the way it came to the FBI. The tipster initially discussed the case with a retired law enforcement officer who then contacted the FBI. Only after the FBI contacted the witness directly did the person discuss the Cooper case with investigators.
"They're not seeking attention," Gutt said. "To the contrary, they're looking to avoid it."
PETE YOST AND MIKE BAKER Last updated 12:10 02/08/2011
The FBI says it has a "credible" lead in the DB Cooper case involving the 1971 hijacking of a passenger jet over Washington state and the suspect's legendary parachute escape.
The fate and identity of the hijacker dubbed "DB Cooper" has remained a mystery in the 40 years since a man jumped from a Northwest Orient Airlines 727 flight with $US200,000 in ransom.
Cooper has never been found.
FBI agent Fred Gutt said today (NZ time) the bureau is following up a "credible" lead in the unsolved case and is focused on a suspect who died more than 10 years ago.
Gutt said the bureau received a tip from a retired law enforcement source about the dead man possibly being Cooper. FBI agents requested personal effects of the possible suspect, who died of natural causes.
The FBI is trying to find fingerprints or DNA on the dead man's effects to compare with items the hijacker left behind. The FBI said three years ago that it found DNA evidence on the clip-on tie Cooper left on the plane before he jumped.
Gutt said the FBI has already tested one item of the dead man's belongings for fingerprints. It was not conclusive. They are now working with surviving family members to gather other items for further testing.
The suspect is someone who has not been previously investigated, and Gutt said initial vetting supported the belief of the tipster. But he cautioned that the new lead may not pan out and that investigators were still pursuing other possibilities.
"Maybe this is just someone else who just happened to look like him and whose life story just kind of paralleled," Gutt said.
Gutt said the new lead is also promising because of the way it came to the FBI. The tipster initially discussed the case with a retired law enforcement officer who then contacted the FBI. Only after the FBI contacted the witness directly did the person discuss the Cooper case with investigators.
"They're not seeking attention," Gutt said. "To the contrary, they're looking to avoid it."