In November 1971, a middle-aged man under the fake name Dan Cooper hijacked a Boeing 727 aircraft flying from Portland to Seattle. He told the flight attendants that he had a bomb and demanded $200,000 in cash and four parachutes. After picking up the ransom that was handed over to him at Seattle-Tacoma Airport, Cooper allowed the passengers and most of the crew to exit the plane before taking off again towards Mexico. However, he never made it there, and his ultimate fate has remained a mystery. But what about the cash he stole? Where was DB Cooper’s money found?
For decades, the FBI has been searching for Cooper, who had jumped out of the plane with a parachute over the Pacific Northwest. Although there have been many speculations as to his whereabouts, his fate and identity continue to elude authorities. However, in February 1980, more than eight years after the hijacking took place, a young boy discovered three bundles of bills totaling $5,880 on the banks of the Columbia River near Vancouver, Washington. The serial numbers matched the ones given to Cooper as ransom. It was the first and only physical evidence found linked to the case.
Many theories have emerged over the years about who DB Cooper was and where he could have gone after the hijacking. Some believe that he didn’t survive the jump, while others think he may have buried the money somewhere to pick it up later. The finding of the bills on the riverbank only adds to the mystery surrounding the identity, fate, and whereabouts of one of the country’s most notorious hijackers.
The Disappearance of DB Cooper
On November 24, 1971, a man who identified himself as Dan Cooper (who later became known as DB Cooper) boarded a Northwest Orient Airlines flight from Portland to Seattle. He wore a dark suit, black tie, white shirt, and carried a briefcase. Cooper passed a note to a flight attendant, claiming he had a bomb in his briefcase and demanded $200,000 in cash, four parachutes, and a fuel truck to refuel the plane upon landing in Seattle. The FBI and local law enforcement were notified and cooperated with the hijacker’s demands.
After receiving the ransom money, Cooper released the passengers, but kept several of the crew members as hostages. He ordered the pilots to fly to Mexico City at a low altitude, which required them to refuel in Reno, Nevada. During takeoff from Reno, Cooper had the rear airstair door opened and jumped out of the plane with the money and the parachutes. The plane landed safely, and the FBI launched a massive manhunt to capture Cooper and recover the ransom money.
Unsolved Case
Despite an exhaustive investigation, DB Cooper’s true identity and whereabouts remain unknown, and the majority of the stolen money has never been recovered. Numerous theories and suspects have been proposed over the years, but none have been conclusively proven.
Possible Locations of DB Cooper’s Money
- In 1980, a young boy found several packets of Cooper’s ransom money along the Columbia River’s shoreline in Vancouver, Washington. The FBI confirmed that the serial numbers matched the missing ransom cash.
- In 2017, a team of amateur investigators searched the area where Cooper is believed to have landed, and found three particles of pure titanium. Cooper’s tie clip was made from pure titanium, leading some to believe that this confirms his landing location.
- Other theories propose that Cooper stashed the money in a safety deposit box or buried it in a forest in Washington or Oregon.
However, without a definitive answer, the fate of DB Cooper and his ransom money remains a mystery to this day.
| Suspects | Location of Alleged Cooper Residency |
|---|---|
| Richard Floyd McCoy Jr. | Provo, Utah |
| Kenneth Christiansen | Seattle, Washington |
| Barbara Dayton | Portland, Oregon |
Despite various suspects, the true identity of DB Cooper remains a mystery, and the case continues to fascinate armchair detectives and true crime enthusiasts alike.
The FBI’s search for DB Cooper
After hijacking a Northwest Orient Airlines Boeing 727 on November 24, 1971, and subsequently parachuting out of the plane with $200,000 in ransom money, DB Cooper became one of the most famous and mysterious criminals in American history. For decades, law enforcement agencies searched for Cooper and the missing money with very little success. The FBI, in particular, conducted an extensive search for Cooper across the Pacific Northwest and investigated countless leads in an effort to bring him to justice.
- The FBI’s initial investigation was focused on identifying Cooper’s true identity, based on eyewitness and forensic evidence collected from the airplane.
- Agents interviewed all of the passengers and crew members on board the flight, as well as the employees of Northwest Orient Airlines.
- FBI agents searched the airplane and discovered several pieces of evidence, including a black tie, a pair of sunglasses, and a placard from the rear stairway of the plane.
Despite the FBI’s exhaustive investigation, it was unable to identify Cooper or recover the stolen money. Over the years, there have been many theories and alleged sightings of DB Cooper, but none of them have been definitively proven.
In 1980, a young boy hiking with his family in the Pacific Northwest found a stack of deteriorated $20 bills buried in the sand along the Columbia River. The bills were later confirmed to be a portion of the ransom money given to DB Cooper. This discovery renewed the FBI’s interest in the case, and agents expanded their search along the Columbia River and its tributaries.
The FBI conducted a massive search of the area where the money was found, but they were unable to locate any other physical evidence or identify a suspect. The location where the money was found, known as Tina Bar, became a popular spot for amateur sleuths and treasure hunters looking for clues to DB Cooper’s identity.
| Search Tactics Used by the FBI in the Hunt for DB Cooper |
|---|
| Interviews with all passengers and crew members on board the flight |
| Forensic analysis of the airplane and recovered evidence |
| Expansion of the search along the Columbia River and its tributaries |
| Deployment of underwater search teams and surveillance planes to scan the area from the air |
Even with the help of advanced technology, including DNA testing and facial recognition software, the FBI has yet to identify DB Cooper or recover the full amount of stolen money. Despite the odds, the case remains open, and law enforcement agencies continue to follow leads and investigate tips with the hope of finally solving one of the most puzzling mysteries in American history.
The theories surrounding DB Cooper’s identity
DB Cooper, an unidentified man, hijacked a Northwest Orient Airlines Boeing 727 flying from Portland, Oregon, to Seattle, Washington in 1971, extorted $200,000 (equivalent to $1.28 million today), and then parachuted from the plane, never to be seen again. His true identity and whereabouts remain a mystery, and over the years, many theories have emerged. Here are three popular theories surrounding DB Cooper’s identity:
- Richard McCoy: Some believe that DB Cooper was actually Richard McCoy, a former Green Beret and Vietnam veteran who hijacked a plane six months after Cooper’s heist. McCoy was eventually captured, and some of the money found on him was identified as DB Cooper’s. However, the serial number of one bill from Cooper’s ransom money didn’t match, casting doubt on this theory.
- Robert Rackstraw: Another theory is that DB Cooper was actually Robert Rackstraw, a Vietnam veteran and pilot who had a history of extortion and had previously undergone training in parachute jumping. In 2018, a team of scientists claimed that they had found evidence linking Rackstraw to the crime, including his fingerprints on some of the ransom money. However, no conclusive evidence has been found, and Rackstraw denies any involvement.
- No one knows for sure: Despite years of investigation, there is still no consensus on DB Cooper’s true identity. Some believe that he died in the wilderness after jumping from the plane, while others think he managed to escape and live out his days in anonymity. For now, his true identity remains one of the world’s greatest unsolved mysteries.
The DB Cooper Money Found
In 1980, eight years after DB Cooper hijacked the plane, a young boy found three bundles of partially disintegrated $20 bills, totaling $5,880, along the banks of the Columbia River in Washington state. The serial numbers on the bills matched those of the ransom money given to DB Cooper. This discovery triggered an extensive search of the area, but no other significant traces of the hijacker or the remainders of the ransom were found. In 2017, another piece of potential evidence emerged when a team of investigators found what they believed to be DB Cooper’s parachute strap in the same area, but its authenticity has yet to be confirmed.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| November 24, 1971 | DB Cooper hijacks Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305 |
| November 25, 1971 | DB Cooper parachutes out of the plane with $200,000 |
| February 10, 1980 | The DB Cooper money found near the Columbia River |
| 2017 | Potential DB Cooper parachute strap found in the same area |
The search for DB Cooper and the remaining ransom money continues, and new theories and leads continue to emerge. But for now, the identity of the daring hijacker and the fate of the rest of the ransom remain a fascinating and enduring mystery.
The Hijacking of Northwest Orient Flight 305
In 1971, one of the most famous airline hijackings occurred. A man who identified himself as “Dan Cooper” (later known as “D.B. Cooper”) hijacked Northwest Orient Flight 305 while en route from Portland, Oregon to Seattle, Washington. The man claimed to have a bomb and demanded $200,000 in cash and four parachutes in exchange for the safe release of the passengers and crew.
- The flight landed in Seattle to meet Cooper’s demands. He ordered all passengers and two flight attendants to exit the plane.
- Cooper then instructed the pilot to fly towards Mexico City at an altitude of 10,000 feet, with the plane’s flaps lowered and landing gear partially engaged to reduce speed and noise. He jumped from the rear stairway of the plane with the money and two of the parachutes.
- The plane landed in Reno, Nevada, with the remainder of the passengers and crew safe.
The FBI conducted an extensive investigation that lasted for years, but Cooper was never found. In 1980, a young boy discovered bundles of cash near the Columbia River, which turned out to be some of the ransom money that Cooper had demanded. Over the years, more bundles of money have been found in the area, but Cooper’s fate remains a mystery.
Here is a breakdown of the ransom money found:
| Year | Amount Found |
|---|---|
| 1980 | $5,800 |
| 1986 | $3,000 |
| 2008 | $3,000 |
| 2017 | $20 |
Despite the discovery of some of the ransom money and additional evidence, the case remains one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in American history.
The ransom money and parachutes given to DB Cooper
DB Cooper’s hijacking of Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305 in 1971 remains one of the most fascinating unsolved mysteries in the history of aviation. Cooper, who boarded the plane in Portland, Oregon, claimed to have a bomb and demanded $200,000 in ransom money, along with four parachutes. After the plane landed in Seattle, Cooper released the passengers in exchange for the money and parachutes.
- DB Cooper received a total of $200,000 in twenty-dollar bills, which were unmarked but had their serial numbers recorded.
- The ransom money was given to Cooper in a knapsack, which he carried with him onto the plane when he boarded in Portland.
- The FBI later distributed the serial numbers of the bills to financial institutions across the nation in the hopes that they would be able to trace the money back to Cooper.
The plan was for the plane to fly to Mexico City, but Cooper had other ideas. He instructed the pilots to fly towards the Cascade Mountains, where he eventually jumped out of the plane with the ransom money and two of the parachutes. In the years that followed, various pieces of evidence were found, but Cooper himself was never located.
The parachutes given to Cooper remain a subject of controversy and speculation. There were initially four parachutes provided, but Cooper requested that two of them be non-functional. The final two were military surplus parachutes, with one of them having been sewn incorrectly, which could have caused it to fail in mid-air. Some people have theorized that Cooper was an experienced skydiver and may have been able to use the faulty parachute to fake his death and escape authorities.
| Ransom money facts | Parachute facts |
|---|---|
| $200,000 in unmarked twenty-dollar bills | Four parachutes provided initially |
| Serial numbers recorded by FBI | Two of the parachutes were non-functional |
| Given to Cooper in knapsack | Military surplus parachutes used |
Despite numerous leads and investigations, the true identity and ultimate fate of DB Cooper remains a mystery to this day. The whereabouts of the stolen money are also unknown, although several theories have been proposed over the years, including that they were buried in the wilderness or used by Cooper to start a new life under a different name.
The Search for DB Cooper’s Whereabouts
DB Cooper, the infamous skyjacker who successfully extorted $200,000 from Northwest Orient Airlines in 1971, has remained a mystery for decades. Despite numerous investigations and searches, his whereabouts and the whereabouts of the stolen money have never been definitively determined.
In recent years, new leads have emerged, and the search for DB Cooper has continued with renewed vigor. So where has the quest for answers taken investigators, and what have they discovered?
The FBI’s Efforts
- Shortly after the skyjacking, the FBI conducted a five-year investigation that ultimately yielded no definitive answers.
- In 2016, the FBI announced that it was closing the case due to a lack of new leads.
- However, in 2018, the case was reopened once again, and investigators continue to follow up on new tips and potential evidence.
New Suspects and Leads
In the years since the hijacking, numerous individuals have come forward claiming to have information about DB Cooper’s identity and whereabouts. Some notable leads include:
- In 2011, the FBI announced that it was testing a guitar strap that may have belonged to DB Cooper for fingerprints.
- In 2016, author Geoffrey Gray published a book claiming that DB Cooper was a man named Robert Wesley Rackstraw, whose military training and experience would have made him capable of pulling off the hijacking.
- In 2018, private investigator Eric Ulis claimed to have discovered evidence suggesting that DB Cooper had jumped from a different location than previously believed, and that the money could have ended up in a different location as a result.
The D.B. Cooper Backpack Discovery
In February 2019, a group of volunteers who were cleaning up around the Columbia River in Washington state discovered a backpack that they believe may have belonged to DB Cooper. Inside the backpack were several items, including:
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Strips of metal | Similar to those used to secure the money to Cooper’s body during the hijacking |
| Parachute cord | Similar to that used by Cooper to tie the money to himself during the jump |
| D.B. Cooper book | A book titled “D.B. Cooper: What Really Happened” was found in the backpack |
However, forensic testing has yet to verify that the backpack did indeed belong to DB Cooper.
The search for DB Cooper and the stolen money continues to captivate the public and inspire speculation and debate, and it seems likely that new leads and discoveries will continue to emerge in the years to come.
The Discovery of DB Cooper’s Remaining Ransom Money
After DB Cooper parachuted out of the Boeing 727 with a ransom of $200,000 in cash in 1971, much of the money was never recovered. However, in 1980, a young boy on a family outing found a rotting package of $20 bills along the Columbia River near Vancouver, Washington, close to the area where Cooper had jumped out of the plane. This package contained three packets of cash, which were a part of the ransom money dropped by Cooper.
- Only $5,800 was initially found from the $200,000 ransom money, leaving the rest of the cash unaccounted for. The discovery of the remaining money brought some closure to the case and helped rule out some theories that Cooper may have survived the jump.
- Forensic testing revealed that the money had been in the river for several years. This suggested that the cash had not been buried or kept in a dry place since the hijacking, but instead had been carried down the river and deposited on the bank after prolonged exposure to water.
- Despite the discovery of the cash, Cooper’s whereabouts and the majority of the ransom money have never been definitively traced. The FBI has kept the case open, and new leads and theories continue to emerge to this day.
The discovery of the remaining ransom money was a significant moment in the investigation. However, it did not provide any clear answers to the case, and Cooper’s identity and ultimate fate remain a mystery to this day.
| Amount Recovered | Amount Unaccounted For | Total Ransom |
|---|---|---|
| $5,800 | $194,200 | $200,000 |
The remaining ransom money may still be out there, waiting to be found, but until then, the search for DB Cooper continues.
Frequently Asked Questions About Where DB Cooper’s Money was Found
Q: Where was DB Cooper’s money found?
A: In 1980, $5,800 of the ransom money was discovered buried in a beach along the Columbia River in Washington state.
Q: How did the money get there?
A: One theory is that the money was carried by the river and deposited on the beach. Another theory is that the money was planted there as a hoax.
Q: Was the rest of the money ever found?
A: No, the majority of the ransom money has never been found.
Q: How much money did DB Cooper hijack?
A: DB Cooper hijacked a Boeing 727-100 on November 24, 1971, and he demanded $200,000 in cash and four parachutes. The total value of the ransom was $1.28 million in today’s currency.
Q: Who was DB Cooper?
A: DB Cooper was a man who hijacked a plane in 1971, received a ransom of $200,000, and then vanished without a trace. His true identity has never been discovered.
Q: What happened to DB Cooper?
A: DB Cooper jumped from the plane with the ransom money and a parachute, and he was never seen or heard from again. The FBI has investigated thousands of leads over the years, but the case remains unsolved.
Closing Remarks
Thank you for taking the time to read about the mysterious case of DB Cooper and where his money was found. Despite years of investigation, the case remains an unsolved mystery, leaving many questions unanswered. We hope to update you with any new developments in the future. Don’t forget to check back with us again soon!