Back in 1971, a man named Dan Cooper—a 40-something guy in a business suit—hijacked a Northwest Orient Airlines flight going from Portland to Seattle. The guy claimed he had a bomb in his briefcase and demanded a whopping $200,000 in twenty-dollar bills and four parachutes. After letting the passengers off in Seattle, the plane headed towards Mexico City with Cooper still on board. But here’s where things get wild: Cooper pulled off a crazy stunt and jumped out of the plane with a parachute and the ransom money! Even though nobody got hurt, the FBI took this seriously and went all-out trying to solve the case. They followed countless leads and talked to tons of people but still couldn’t crack it.
The whole “D.B. Cooper” name actually came from the media, not the FBI. They had questioned a guy with those initials, but he wasn’t their man. The media accidentally started calling the hijacker D.B. Cooper, when his name was actually Dan Cooper. Instead of correcting the error, FBI chose not to rectify it and allowed him to remain with that name. They reasoned that they would investigate potential tips about anyone going by the name Dan Cooper but ignore those that concerned D.B. Cooper as this showed his knowledge lacked substance apart from what had been reported in newspapers. Pretty clever, right? Well, not really, considering that they never found him.
Dan Cooper is also a Franco-Belgian comic series. The comic, first published in 1954, features a fictional Canadian military flying ace and rocket ship pilot named Dan Cooper. The series initially revolved around science-fiction themes but later focused on present-day events. The connection between the comic series and the hijacking stems from the fact that the real-life hijacker identified himself as Dan Cooper when buying his one-way ticket in Portland. This comic series never gained much popularity outside of Europe, as it did not appear in English translation except for a brief appearance in the UK under the alias “Jet Jordan.” This leads some to wonder if the real-life hijacker could’ve encountered the comics while stationed in Europe or, perhaps, he was a French-Canadian with a penchant for adventure. Plus, some storylines from the comic eerily echo aspects of the DB Cooper case. We’re talking parachuting out of planes, ransom deliveries in knapsacks – you name it! But one thing’s for sure: truth can indeed be stranger than fiction.
Some people think Cooper might not have made it through that jump. His parachute wasn’t the fancy steerable kind, and his business suit wasn’t exactly ideal skydiving gear. Plus, even a pro would have trouble landing safely in a dark, wooded area—and they didn’t think Cooper was a skydiving expert.
In 1980, a kid found a package with $5,800 in twenties, and the bills matched the serial numbers from the ransom money. That makes it seem like Cooper didn’t make it, but the doubt lingers since they never found his body.
After a crazy long 45-year hunt, the FBI finally decided to call it quits on actively investigating the legendary D.B. Cooper case on July 8, 2016. They figured it was time to focus on other pressing matters. Throughout the investigation (dubbed “NORJAK”), they left no stone unturned: they chased down every credible lead, did a ton of searches, collected a bunch of evidence, and talked to all the witnesses they could find. The case was a pretty big deal worldwide, so naturally, people were eager to help—but none of the tips the public provided could conclusively ID the hijacker. The FBI insists that to crack the case, they need solid proof of guilt, which they just didn’t have. So, while the FBI isn’t gonna keep actively digging into the mystery, they’re still open to hearing from anyone who might stumble upon some hard evidence related to the parachutes or stolen cash.
Over the years, the FBI considered more than 800 suspects but could not definitively identify Cooper. So if the experts can’t even figure out who the real culprit was, why are we bothering to discuss this? you might ask. Simple—because it’s fun! In this article, we will explore the top 12 most likely suspects believed to be D.B. Cooper.
The FBI had a primary suspect, RICHARD FLOYD MCCOY, who was responsible for a similar airplane hijacking five months after Cooper’s incident. Around the time of the infamous Dan Cooper hijacking, McCoy mentioned to a friend that he thought Cooper should’ve asked for $500,000 instead of the $200,000 he got away with. McCoy even boasted that he’d come up with a perfect plan for hijacking a plane himself. And so he did, making his escape near his hometown of Provo with a cool $500,000 in cash. However, his luck ran out when he got caught just a few days later and ended up with a 45-year prison sentence. McCoy, though, wasn’t one to be kept locked up. He managed to escape from a federal prison in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. Unfortunately for him, things didn’t end well, as he was killed in a shootout with FBI agents in Virginia Beach. However, McCoy was ruled out as Cooper because his physical description did not match the one provided by the flight attendants and other reasons.
Perhaps Occam’s razor, also known as the principle of parsimony, applies here. It states, “Entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity,” or simply put, “The simplest explanation is usually the best one.” However, we can’t overlook the copycat principle. If a crime is repeated under nearly identical circumstances, it’s likely to be an imitation. A repeat offender would probably try to refine their approach rather than worsen their performance. In more sensible cases, they wouldn’t risk pulling the same stunt twice—if it worked once, why push their luck?
WALTER R. RECA claimed to be D.B. Cooper. Before he passed away, he actually recorded a bunch of phone calls with his friend Carl Laurin, where he confessed to being Cooper and told Laurin to share his confession after he died. Reca was another one of those former military guys with a ton of parachuting experience. During those phone calls, he talked about every little detail of the hijacking. He said that he landed successfully, made his way to a truck stop, and managed to get a lift and escape. Even though Reca had all these details, his story has been disputed a lot. For one thing, he didn’t really look like Cooper based on the sketches that were made of him. And also, it seemed like he landed way too far away from where Cooper was supposed to have landed based on the plane’s flight path. Because of those issues, the FBI didn’t add Reca to their list of suspects.
It is worth noting that the whole DNA thing is a bit of a mess. DNA testing wasn’t even a thing back when the hijacking happened, and by the time it became possible to test the DNA on the tie that Cooper supposedly left behind, there were already multiple DNA samples on it. The FBI told us that there are like three or four DNA samples on the tie, but we don’t really know if any of them are actually from Cooper. They could be from law enforcement agents who examined the tie, or they could be from someone else entirely.
WILLIAM PRATT GOSSETT was a military veteran with a lot of experience in jumping out of planes and surviving in the wilderness. He served in Korea and Vietnam, and later on, he worked as a military instructor and even hosted a radio show about paranormal stuff. After his death, Gossett’s sons came forward saying that their dad told them he was D.B. Cooper. Apparently, he showed them a key to a safety deposit box in Vancouver, where he claimed the ransom money was hidden, but told them not to disclose this information until after his passing. Gossett’s sons said that their dad took a mysterious trip to Vancouver a couple of years after the hijacking. Even though Gossett’s story seemed pretty convincing, the FBI couldn’t find any solid evidence linking him to the hijacking. They couldn’t even place him in the Pacific Northwest at the time of the crime. So, in the end, Gossett became just another name on the long list of D.B. Cooper suspects.
Around the time of the skyjacking, Gregg, who was just four years old at the time, was living with his mom, Theresa. She’d had enough of Bill Gossett, Gregg’s dad, and had kicked him out earlier that year because he was pretty unreliable and had some issues with gambling and womanizing. But then, during Christmas, Bill showed up with a bunch of cash and bought Theresa the house she’d been renting. Theresa, however, still wasn’t happy and even told Gregg that she knew something about his dad that could get him into serious trouble. After that, Bill changed his name to Wolfgang, got remarried, and became really interested in marathons and paranormal stuff. A lawyer named Galen Cook who has been researching the D.B. Cooper case for a long time, thinks Bill Gossett could be the real Cooper because he looks a lot like the FBI’s sketch, and he had the military training to pull off that jump from the plane in bad weather. But still, there’s no way to know for sure.
BARBARA DAYTON was born in 1926. She was a librarian at the University of Washington and also a recreational pilot. She had a big dream of becoming a professional pilot, but unfortunately, she didn’t pass the written part of the test twice. Barbara was also transgender, she underwent gender reassignment surgery. A week before the Cooper hijacking, Barbara had a follow-up appointment at the hospital about her surgery. At the time, she was feeling quite down and didn’t have much money coming in. Later, she told some close friends named Ron and Pat Forman that she was D.B. Cooper. But there was some confusion about her confession because she didn’t really match the description of the hijacker given by the flight attendants who saw Cooper on the plane. Her eye color was different, and she was shorter than the description the FBI had. Barbara passed away in 2002. After her death, her friends took her confession to the FBI, but the FBI didn’t think it was credible. They said she simply wasn’t tall enough to be D.B. Cooper.
Barbara later took back her confession when she realized she could still get in trouble for the hijacking. During the hijacking, D.B. Cooper claimed to have a bomb in his suitcase. And Barbara just happened to be an explosives expert, which could connect her to the whole thing. How does that sound? Explosive, if you ask me. But here’s an interesting detail: one of the flight attendants on the plane asked Cooper if he had a grudge against the airline, and he said he just had a grudge in general, not necessarily against that specific company. Maybe it was because she was frustrated about not being able to achieve her dream of becoming a pilot. It’s possible that the reason the authorities never caught the hijacker, even after decades of investigation, is because they were looking for a white man the whole time, but what if the hijacker was actually a woman in disguise? I mean, think about it - if the hijacker wasn’t wearing an obvious disguise during the hijacking, maybe it was because she was already disguised as a man. After the plane landed, she could have changed back into women’s clothing and escaped without anyone noticing, maybe by hitchhiking or something. The authorities could have been looking for the wrong person all along! It’s like something straight out of a spy novel, isn’t it?
In 1969, RICHARD LEPSY managed a store called Glen’s Market. One day, he went out for a lunch break and told his coworkers he was going for a drive. A couple of hours later, he called the store from a nearby town and said he was taking the rest of the day off. But he never came back, and nobody ever heard from him again. Three days later, they found Richard’s car at the airport in Traverse City, unlocked with the keys in the ignition. It was really strange because there was still half a pack of cigarettes on the dashboard, and Richard was a smoker. But even though the circumstances were super suspicious, he wasn’t officially considered a missing person until 2011. They declared him legally dead in 1976.
People thought Richard might have been D.B. Cooper because they looked pretty similar, and the FBI said the hijacker didn’t have an accent and was probably from the Midwest, just like Richard. Plus, the FBI found a black tie and a tie clasp on the plane that matched the ones all Glen’s Market employees had to wear. And they said the hijacker wore loafers, which were Richard’s favorite shoes. When the police sketch of Cooper was shown on TV, Richard’s family immediately recognized him. It’s quite the mystery, isn’t it? If Richard Lepsy really was D.B. Cooper, it would’ve been pretty wild for a guy like him to pull off such an incredible stunt, especially without any known experience or skills. But then again, maybe he didn’t survive the jump and just wanted to go out with a bang, disappearing forever while leaving behind a legendary story.
ROBERT P. CLARK, who authorities say is really John Emil List became a suspect in the D.B. Cooper hijacking case after facing murder charges for the killings of his mother, wife, and three children in New Jersey in 1971, clearly not one for family game nights. Union County prosecutor’s office Capt. Frank Marranca stated that List couldn’t be Cooper, as evidence placed him in Denver at the time of the hijacking. Although retired FBI agent Ralph Himmelsbach spent nine years investigating the case and considered List a plausible suspect if Cooper had survived the jump from the plane, he also believed that Cooper likely died in the incident. List was arrested in 1989 for the murders and maintained his innocence. One could argue that after being charged with murdering your entire family, what’s a little bit of skyjacking added to the rap sheet? Especially if it’s seen as a heroic act by some.
However, Himmelsbach discovered some uncanny similarities between John List and the infamous D.B. Cooper. Both men were in their mid-40s, shared similar heights and weights, and sported glasses. Even more intriguing, List had conveniently burned through his mother’s $200,000 savings shortly before the Cooper hijacking, where the mysterious sky bandit demanded the exact same amount as ransom money. Time to put on your detective hats (or skydiving helmets), and judge for yourselves.
The investigator Eric Ullis challenged the FBI in a courtroom battle over DB Cooper’s clip-on necktie, believing it to be the key to uncovering crucial DNA evidence. Ulis initially zeroed in on Sheridan Peterson, a former Marine, skydiver, and Boeing employee. Before his passing in 2021, Peterson admitted that investigators had valid reasons to suspect him, with his wife even claiming that a 747 hijacking “sounds like something he’d do.” Well, if they themselves say so! Despite this, Peterson maintained that he was in Nepal during Cooper’s flight, writing a protest novel about his Vietnam War experiences. With conflicting evidence such as eye color and the fact Sheridan was not a smoker - whereas Cooper smoked eight cigarettes during the hijacking, Ulis shifted his focus to VINCE PETERSEN, a former engineer at a Boeing subcontractor.
Vince Petersen, who has since passed away, worked at a titanium plant that matches the unique particles discovered on Cooper’s necktie. During a discussion with Petersen’s lab supervisor, Ulis described Cooper’s physical characteristics, prompting the supervisor to quickly note, “That sounds like Vince Petersen!” At 52 years old during the skyjacking, Petersen’s age aligns with Cooper’s, and his height makes him a standout for the era. The supervisor confirmed that he frequently traveled to Seattle and visited other contractors. Interestingly, the supervisor mentioned Peterson would occasionally join him on these trips, placing the potential suspect in Seattle in the 1960s, when the Boeing 727 involved in Cooper’s hijacking was being developed. Ulis’s interest in Petersen intensified upon finding a trace of commercial salt on the tie—a substance Petersen was very familiar with, having studied and written about its effects on titanium. Despite sharing his findings with Petersen’s son, the now 60-year-old man wasn’t convinced that his father was the legendary DB Cooper.
DUANE L. WEBER, a WWII Army veteran with a checkered past, served time for burglary and forgery. In a deathbed confession to his wife Jo, (yes, another one!) he uttered the cryptic words: “I am Dan Cooper” much like in a “I am your father” style. His wife didn’t immediately grasp the significance of the name, but months later, she learned about the hijacker. Jo discovered a book about the infamous case with notes in her husband’s handwriting. While some aspects of Weber’s life aligned with the hijacker’s profile, including a criminal mindset and similar habits, there were notable discrepancies.
Weber knew his way around a life of crime, with the brazen mindset needed to pull off such a daring escapade. Plus, the discovery of money at Tina Bar points a finger squarely at him. Not only did Weber enjoy bourbon and chain-smoking like Cooper, but he also babbled about the hijacking in his sleep – talk about a guilty conscience! He would murmur about leaving fingerprints in the airplane, and those that were indeed found did not match his. Add to that his sketchy behavior in casinos, and you’ve got yourself a prime suspect for laundering that sweet, sweet ransom cash. Now, let’s look at some inconsistencies. Weber’s elephantine ears would’ve made even Dumbo envious – something not mentioned in any eyewitness accounts of Cooper. His fingerprints didn’t match any found on the hijacked plane. (A spy-level feat or an alibi?) DNA didn’t match samples from Cooper’s tie. (Oops!) Weber’s accent was as hard to miss as a toucan in a henhouse, while Cooper didn’t have a distinguishable one, leading the plane staff to believe he was either a foreigner or feigning it.
LYNN DOYLE “L.D.” COOPER was a leather-working Korean War vet who found himself under the scrutinizing gaze of his niece, Marla Cooper. In 2011, Marla suggested that her uncle L.D. might just be DB Cooper. Here’s the wild tale she spun: When Marla was just eight years old, she overheard her uncles L.D. and another mysterious fellow hatching a “mischievous” plan at her grandma’s house in Sisters, Oregon. This enigmatic scheme apparently required some pricey walkie-talkies. The very next day, Flight 305 was hijacked, and lo and behold, L.D. returned with a bloody shirt, which he nonchalantly chalked up to a car accident. Marla’s parents apparently became convinced that their leather-working, comic book-obsessed relative was the daring sky bandit. And yes, we said comic book-obsessed – L.D. was particularly enamored with a certain Canadian superhero named Dan Cooper, whose comics he proudly tacked to his wall. Some might call this an interesting coincidence; others, a glaring clue.
L.D. certainly had some skills that could’ve helped him pull off the legendary heist. As a paratrooper in the Korean War, he’d have had the know-how to leap from a plane, and he was reportedly “crazy” enough to even consider such a caper. Adding more fuel to the fire, L.D.’s brother – and alleged accomplice – promptly bolted to Canada after being interviewed by the FBI. In true ‘where there’s smoke, there’s fire’ fashion, L.D. himself went into hiding in 1972. Then, two characters entered the frame claiming to be part of Air America, a covert operation that L.D. was supposedly involved in. One, a former General, and the other, a man who was absolutely convinced from the get-go that L.D. was DB Cooper himself. This connection could’ve given L.D. vital knowledge about the aft stairs used in the hijacking. However, the FBI, never one to take things at face value, tested L.D.’s DNA against the partial profile obtained from Cooper’s tie. Alas, it didn’t match. Not to mention, some folks raised eyebrows at the suspect sharing the same last name as the notorious hijacker’s alias. And let’s not forget, according to some admirers, Marla’s claim to fame isn’t just her family ties – she’s reportedly quite the looker herself!
KENNETH PETER CHRISTIANSEN was a paratrooper-turned-flight attendant with a taste for bourbon and Raleigh cigarettes – sound familiar? That’s right, our DB Cooper doppelganger had some curious similarities to the infamous sky bandit. Christiansen enlisted in the Army in 1944, training as a paratrooper and occasionally jumping out of perfectly good airplanes while stationed in Japan. Joining Northwest Orient in 1954, he transitioned from mechanic to flight attendant and eventually, a purser based in Seattle. With the right age and a keenness for the same vices as Cooper, Christiansen seemed to fit the bill. Even flight attendant Florence Schaffner agreed, saying photos of Christiansen matched her memory of the hijacker more closely than other suspects. But wait, there’s more! Christiansen’s financial situation made a dramatic 180 after the hijacking, going from broke to flush in no time flat. He was also left-handed and had a suspicious cold spot in his attic where ransom money could’ve been hidden. The plot thickens, as $2000 was found buried on his former property.
Both Christiansen and his alleged accomplice conveniently missed a Thanksgiving party they were expected to attend, with dubious explanations refuted by others. After Christiansen’s death, the alleged accomplice went so far as to steal potential evidence, including a logbook that could’ve blown their alibi. And, as the cherry on top, a J.C. Penny store – the very place where Cooper’s tie was from – just so happened to be on the direct route between Christiansen’s home and workplace. Oh, and did we mention Christiansen even “staged” a DB Cooper picture after the hijacking? Fishy, indeed. In a casual conversation, FBI’s John Jarvis hinted that the Bureau closed the case because they identified the notorious skyjack, subtly confirming it was our man Christiansen. However, the case isn’t airtight. Christiansen was a bit shorter, with a receding hairline and thinner frame than the reported Cooper. Plus, with no clear motive and the heightened risk of being recognized as an employee of Northwest, doubts linger about Christiansen’s involvement.
Florence Schaffner, one of the flight attendants on the hijacked plane, stirred the pot of speculation when she claimed that photos of Christiansen bore a striking resemblance to the infamous DB Cooper. The FBI, in their unwavering pursuit of justice, dismissed Christiansen as a potential suspect. Their reasoning? As a former employee of the airline, it seemed highly unlikely that he could have remained anonymous during the hijacking. But here’s the catch: the fateful flight was a domestic one, whereas Christiansen had worked exclusively on international routes. At the time, airline staff rarely mixed between these divisions, which could have allowed him to slip under the radar. As Christiansen lay on his deathbed in 1994, he uttered a cryptic message to his brother, Lyle: “There is something you should know, but I cannot tell you.” Intriguingly, Lyle later recalled that his brother had stopped wearing his toupee after the hijacking. It was discovered that Christiansen possessed a rather hefty sum of money in his bank accounts – a surprising revelation considering his history of financial struggles. Despite these tantalizing clues, the FBI remains unconvinced, stubbornly refusing to consider Christiansen as a viable suspect in the DB Cooper case.
DICK BRIGGS, who was involved in the drug trade back in the 70s and had a bit of a reputation for being hot-headed, especially when he’d had a few drinks, used to go around telling people that he was actually the real D.B. Cooper. It’s really quite funny how some people have tried to claim the identity of D.B. Cooper as their own, as if he’s some kind of institution rather than just one person. Of course, we know that he wasn’t some omnipresent god, so the idea of multiple D.B. Coopers doesn’t really hold up. As far as we know, there was just one D.B. Cooper, even if he may have had some help from accomplices. One of his acquaintances, a guy named Ron, remembered him saying that he was a Vietnam vet and a skilled paratrooper. At a party one time, Dick pointed out a couple who looked like hippies and said they’d find some of Cooper’s ransom money on the north side of the Columbia River in Washington. At first, Ron thought it was a crazy idea, but then, just a few days later, the news reported that the same couple found around $5800 of Cooper’s money in that exact spot while they were on vacation! And the bills even matched the serial numbers from the hijacking.
Now, even though Dick’s story seemed pretty wild, the FBI looked into it and eventually figured out that he couldn’t have been Cooper. He didn’t match the profile, and there wasn’t any evidence that he’d ever been in Vietnam or had any parachute training. Just a few months after that money turned up, Dick tragically lost his life in a car accident on December 12th, 1980. He was only 41 years old at the time, and he owned an auto shop in Portland. Some of his friends thought there might’ve been something fishy about the accident, but in the end, the authorities ruled it as just a regular accident. What a nice coincidence, huh? Even though Dick wasn’t the real Cooper, there was another twist to his story. He was friends with a man named Robert Rackstraw, and that connection led investigators down a whole new path.
ROBERT RACKSTRAW had military experience with explosives and parachutes, which sure seems handy for a hijacking, and he looked a lot like the sketches of Cooper. Not to mention, the guy had quite the rap sheet. A writer and producer named Thomas J. Colbert got super invested in the case and even wrote a book called “The Last Master Outlaw.” Colbert spent five years digging into Rackstraw’s life and became convinced he was the notorious sky bandit. Rackstraw, at one point, was all like, “Yeah, I’m D.B. Cooper,” but then later backpedaled, claiming it was all a big publicity stunt. He also said he couldn’t really remember the details of the event—how convenient, right? In a 2019 interview with Colbert, Rackstraw started hinting at some CIA involvement, which got Colbert thinking maybe that’s why the FBI didn’t go all-in on investigating him. When all was said and done, Rackstraw denied being Cooper, saying he was just a disabled veteran. He sadly passed away in July 2019 due to heart problems. As if Rackstraw’s story wasn’t crazy enough, he went and added some extra spice to the mix! After being accused of murdering his stepfather (which he was later cleared of), he figured the only logical solution was to do what any rational person would do: fake his own death! I mean, who wouldn’t want to pretend to crash their plane into a bay to throw the Feds off their trail?
Now, you’re probably wondering why the FBI might’ve let our parachute-loving outlaw get away with it or even potentially encouraged it? Well, this high-flying crime turned out to be the much-needed kick in the rear for airline security. Back then, airports were lacking in security screenings for passengers or X-rays for their luggage. Once Cooper’s stunt was all over the news, copycats started popping up like cheap Elvis impersonators. Airlines had no choice but to get serious about security, basically inventing the modern airport experience we all know today. So, hats off to D.B. Cooper! Every time we go through the oh-so-thrilling ritual of taking off our shoes and belts at security, we can fondly think back on his daring adventure.
In short, it’s almost like D.B. Cooper was the ultimate Where’s Waldo. With such a generic appearance and a laundry list of FBI blunders, including lost evidence and untracked serial numbers, it was like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Not to mention those supposed deathbed confessions and the endless parade of Cooper wannabes! It’s like a never-ending circus of suspects. Maybe this was part of the FBI’s plan all along—to complicate the case to the level where they could just throw their hands up in the air and say, “Welp, it’s unsolved! Nothing to see here, folks!” I mean, why bother finding the real D.B. Cooper when you can just distract everyone with a bunch of fake leads? It’s like the FBI had a lot of suspects that it was shuffling around, really making it impossible to tell what was real and what was just smoke and mirrors. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, established in 1908, is renowned for its unparalleled ability to solve crimes. However, in its more than a century-long history, there exists just one case of air piracy that has eluded its grasp – the infamous DB Cooper skyjacking. It begs the question: if the FBI can’t solve it, does the case even exist? Perhaps the legendary tale of DB Cooper is nothing more than a modern myth, akin to the comic book character from which he allegedly adopted his alias.
Next up, let’s talk about the flight crew. Well, let’s just say that no one is exempt from the shadow of suspicion in this hijacking mystery – not even yours truly, the humble author of this piece! (I mean, come on, have you seen how well I know all these intricate details about DB Cooper?) Cooper’s meticulous demands certainly leave us scratching our heads. Why ask for four parachutes when he only needed one, maybe two if he was feeling cautious? It’s almost as if he wanted the remaining crew to jump. After all, he left two of those parachutes behind. Once Cooper had his ransom money and parachutes in hand, he stayed true to his word, releasing all 36 passengers and air hostess Florence Schaffner. The plane was refueled, and with the remaining crew on board – pilot William Scott, co-pilot William John Rataczak, air hostess Tina Mucklow, and flight engineer H.E. Anderson – they took off towards Mexico City, as per Cooper’s instructions.
Adding to the mix of wild conspiracy theories, some people out there believe the entire flight crew was in on the heist, which would explain their lack of helpful information. I mean, they couldn’t even agree on when or how Cooper jumped out of the plane. Tina Mucklow, Florence Schaffner’s counterpart on the flight, has maintained a steadfast silence, never once speaking to the media about the enigmatic skyjacker, which is also suspicious. But wait, it gets even juicier! Some folks even think the pilot, William “Scotty” Scott, was the real D.B. Cooper, orchestrating a well-planned hoax. Apparently, Scotty kept his lips sealed for 30 years, dodging authors and movie producers who tried to get the inside scoop. His excuse? He was convinced Cooper died during the jump, getting tangled up in some dead trees.
Earl Cossey, the parachute supplier for our elusive skyjacker, was found dead in his garage in April 2013 at the age of 71. Yep, you read that right - murdered. This unexpected twist led to people began speculating. Some people even theorized that Cossey might have had crucial information about DB Cooper’s identity, which ultimately led to his tragic end. Now, you might be thinking, “Surely, this is the part where the authorities come in and crack the case wide open, right?” Well, not really. In true DB Cooper fashion, Cossey’s murder joined the ranks of unsolved mysteries.
DB Cooper has gone down in history as a sort of twisted hero, often portrayed in movies as a James Bond-like spy leaping from a moving plane—and perhaps the truth isn’t too far off from that far-fetched misconception. He has inspired songs and books, and numerous documentaries have been made about him, including the 2022 Netflix documentary mini-series titled “Cooper: Where Are You?”. Where is he? Maybe he’s a 90-year-old man reading this article and having a good laugh at our expense.
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