D.B. Cooper Suspect

Information released from FBI in pursuit for knowledge of new D. B. Cooper suspect. Since the infamous heist that took place in 1971, True Crime fanatics and law enforcement alike have speculated who the aliased thief could be, and what the actual motives were behind the robbing. 

On November 24, 1971, a man under the fake name of D. B. Cooper boarded flight #305 of Northwest Orient Airlines, Portland, Oregon. Not much later than 3:00 in the afternoon, he alerted a stewardess that he carried a bomb in his briefcase, and for the safety of herself and those on the plane, a sum of $200,000 in twenty dollar bills should be delivered to him. 

Just after his ultimatum, Cooper parachuted out of the aircraft, never to be seen again– dead or alive.. 

The case of D.B. Cooper is one of the most infamous heist stories to have taken place in America ever. The hunt for the man behind the robbery has not been solved yet, similar to cases like those of the Zodiac killer, JoBenét Ramsey’s murder, or the case of the Black Dahlia. 

Tireless efforts to solve the case, such as locals finding the alleged spot of where Cooper landed,, have led to the FBI identifying several possible suspects, none of which were proven guilty.  

Cases like these tend to remain unsolved, but continue to be talked about. Why that is can be attributed to many conflicts or interests. “Organizations run out of resources, or they feel like they should allot their resources in a different manner, and so they don't continue to give that money.” Mrs Diaz, a teacher at NHS said. 

Over the years, suspects have been added to the list. : Robert Rackstraw, a pilot and Vietnam veteran who has a background in explosives or Richard McCoy, a convicted hijacker who committed a similar stunt not five months after Cooper had. 

The newest addition to the list is Reymond Sidney Russel, a Maine-based pilot who resembled the composite sketch, but most have been ruled out for inconsistencies to physical appearance, or  his upstanding alibi. 

Reymond Sidney Russel was born in 1923 had a large background with skills that are integral to getting away with a crime on this scale. He was also a former military member, having worked as an inspector for Boeing Aircraft in 1947 and 1948. He also flew planes out of Seattle for Flying Tiger Airlines until he quit in 1963. Having a similar physical disposition to the assailant, he was questioned by the FBI initially when the case was fresh in the public's mind. 

CooperCon, a three day event honoring the investigation into the crime and the speculation it has brought, brings groups of investigators and fans alike come together to review the case and talk about suspects. 

Eric Ulis, considered the figurehead of the event, has been interviewed multiple times, and is one of the most dedicated investigators looking into the case, even to this day. 

“I don't want to call it a victimless crime because the flight crew were keenly aware a skyjacking was taking place but having said nobody was physically harmed.” Ullis said in an interview with Sky History. “The other component is just D.B. Cooper himself and how he handled and presented himself on the flight. He’s wearing a dark suit with a dark tie, drinking a bourbon. There’s this James Bond-esque feel to it and this coolness factor. All of that, ultimately has helped to shape the legend of D.B. Cooper.” 

D.B Cooper remains one of the most interesting and surprisingly complex crimes in the history of airlines, safety and America. Over a dozen people have admitted to committing the crime, and multiple letters have been sent to press and law over the years, but the identity of the perpetrator still remains a mystery to this day.