D.B. Cooper. Think He Made It?

[Wyatt Burp]

I just watched something about a potentially good, but dead, D.B. Cooper suspect. Since a little kid found some of the decomposed money ($5,000 or so) on a riverbank in 1980 it sure makes a good case "Cooper" just splattered in the dense forests of Oregon. Or did he? This legendary case has taken on mythic status and will probably never be solved until some hiker or hunter comes across some remains, if they are out there at all. Do you think he survived and faded into obscurity $200,000 richer?

 

[NFrameFred]

Unless he had more equipment (oxygen) than they credit him with, I think the woodland creatures scattered what was left of his bones.

With modern equipment, GPS, etc., it's a lot more doable now than it was then from the practical side of the exercise, but next to impossible given the aircraft and policies in place today.

 

[Dashriprock]

Saw the same program, and it is a pretty compelling case that he made it. Particularly in light of the 1973 skyjacker who survived the jump from 16,000 feet, where Cooper went from 10k.

Many of their investigative discoveries point to a success, but one thing still kept me wondering: The FBI recorded every number on every bill. One would suspect that the $186,000 in the guy's bank deposit record would have set off all sorts of red flags.

*edit: typo

 

[Wyatt Burp]

Saw the same program, and it is a pretty compelling case that he made it. Particularly in light of the 1973 skyjacker who survived the jump from 16,000 feet, where Cooper went from 10k.

Many of their investigative discoveries point to a success, but one thing still kept me wondering: The FBI recorded every number on every bill. One would suspect that the $186,000 in the guy's bank deposit record would have set off all sorts of red flags.

*edit: typo

That's true. And if this guy did it would he have deposited it in the first place? And I guess the serial numbered bills were never found in circulation. The brother seemed pretty credible. He didn't say his brother gave a deathbed confession. Just that there was something on his mind that he couldn't tell.

 

[rondo]

I wondered why they didn't look into the kids that found a bag of money found near his home.

They never did say if any of the serial numbered bills were ever found in circulation. Would the FBI know if they were?

 

[zoom6zoom]

I always remember the Far Side cartoon that showed him parachuting int a guard dog training compound.

 

[max]

I found the show very interesting, but they didn't check to see where his money came from. I would think the FBI did.

 

[rlsbee]

I saw the show too and I thought they made a good case that the guy survived and was the person of interest on the show. It's still pretty hard to believe that he made it, though.
I kinda like that show because the 'team' is usually very thorough and resreved with their judgement. It was a good show.

 

[Black_Sheep]

I'd like to believe he survived. It seems as though the operation was well planned and it's reasonable to believe that a man with the right skill set could survive the jump and make their way out of the wilderness, especially if he had a cache of gear in the reigon where he bailed out...

 

[moosedog]

I saw that one last night too. He could have survived, others have and as the one ex military guy said, people actually pay to do the DB jump out of the same type of plane.
The one bag of money could have been lost by itself. If he died on the jump, the rest of the money should have been right there with that bag and his dead body since it was strapped to him.
If he passed the money in small denominations, the feds would never had been notified of it as money is not routinely scanned or scrutinized by banks unless it's above $10,000.
Why the feds never looked into the disgruntled ex employee with all the knowledge of the North West company is anyones guess. I found that odd. That ex FBI agent said he never heard of the suspect in question.
Sometimes investigators or agencys get fixated on a theory and never look at alternatives.

 

[wbraswell]

I'm surprised ex-paratroopers aren't on here saying what a piece of cake. Don't get between a vet of the 82nd and an old Screamin' Eagle, talking smack. It's worse than Aggies and Longhorns.

 

[Wyatt Burp]

I'm surprised ex-paratroopers aren't on here saying what a piece of cake. Don't get between a vet of the 82nd and an old Screamin' Eagle, talking smack. It's worse than Aggies and Longhorns.

To me, this guy successfully making the jump was more likely than surviving where he might of landed in the dark horrible weather, then getting out of there and not getting caught later.

 

[sheriffoconee]

no doubt he made the jump.....after all, he wasn't on the plane when it landed.....
Did he live to spend the money???? Nope.

 

[oldman45]

Night time jump. High speed plane. Unknown rugged wooded terrain. Bad weather. Cute packed by unknown person and furnished by unfriendlies.

Nope, he never spent a dime of that money.

 

[gunlovingirl]

I have to agree with NFrameFred. I think his remains were eaten and scattered by animals.

 

[therevjay]

I watched the same show. Interesting, I wonder why they didn't try checking on Kenny K's whereabouts at the time of the skyjacking?

At any rate over the years I have only missed 3 D.B. Cooper day partys at the Ariel store/tavern. They have quit showing up the last few yrs. But at the early ones it was really fun watching the FBI oprate "undercover" in suits & ties. Among a crowd of beards, wool shirts, & jeans

 

[Gun Smoke]

Nor could the FBI track down Eric Robert Rudolph who was arrested by a rookie Police Officer in Murphy N.C.

 

[venomballistics]

on the basis of the extravagant plan involved I want to believe he made it.
he's had plenty of time to slip up and pass cash where it'd have done him no good. based on that the question is, how far did he make it.
the jump was survivable, so I suspect he made it to the ground. Thereafter it was likely he was injured and had that to work with while in survival mode.
he probably made it a week or two.

 

[cudamank]

I think he made the jump and survived the fall. This show was pretty good. His accomplice they said had bought a travel trailer and disappeared for a couple of weeks about the time of the jump, trailer never seen again. Computers werent what they are now, so probably spend the money out of state or out of the country, Canada.

I also like the stories of the Mad Trapper in Canada.

 

[Centenniel]

I'd like to believe he survived. It seems as though the operation was well planned and it's reasonable to believe that a man with the right skill set could survive the jump and make their way out of the wilderness, especially if he had a cache of gear in the reigon where he bailed out...

So, you are saying you hope a criminal committed a major crime and got away with it?????

 

[CW Spook]

They make a compelling case for his escape and deathbed confession. I found the part about his possible accomplice the most interesting. I'd like to have seen a deeper investigation of that guy.

 

[imjin138]

I like to think he made it, but my guess is that he was food for bears somewhere in the mountains. They have had many suspects a lot of them former paratroopers. But my guess is those people making those type allegations are jealous legs.

 

[ElToro]

all you weirdos sit around watching history channel ?

i like that decoded show. pretty fascinating stuff.

i think he made it and i think it was the suspect profiled. very strong circumstantial case against him

 

[DeadAye]

I'll put my money on ol' DB being some bones up in a tree
Well, probably under the tree by now.

 

[MaximumLawman]

so I suspect he made it to the ground.

As a former high school physics student, I guarantee it.